100 replies to this topic

[gingerjon]

PS Kelvin McKenzie is a t_w_a_t.

Something's wrong with the sweary filter. I can still "Kelvin McKenzie".

[RidingPie]

Just looks like another attempt to start up a political libertarian organisation in the UK. About a year or so ago there was talk by some conservatives of starting a UK Tea Party (somehow missing the irony of having a UK version) that fizzled out quickly. Sadly though if Murdoch/The Sun promoted it there might be more traction for such a movement than we'd hope.

[WearyRhino]

Back to McKenzie's opinion piece. His main argument is that the south east are carrying the rest of the country. That might have something to do with the fact that rest of the country was sacrificed so the south east could flourish.

Moreover, I think we have enough credit in that particular account from the inception of the industrial revolution onwards that the south still have a few generations to catch up, whatever essentially unproductive ' industry' they engage in.

[Wolford6]

My sister is sixty, speaks two languages professionally, and has spent most of her adult life in London. She has been a senior teacher, a liaison officer for the USAAF, a senior manager for a retail group and now works as a freelance deal-with-the public trainer. She had to deliver a course in Barnsley and asked if she could stay at my house in Bradford because she knew Barnsley was somewhere in Yorkshire. She doesn't drive.

[Severus]

My sister is sixty, speaks two languages professionally, and has spent most of her adult life in London. She has been a senior teacher, a liaison officer for the USAAF, a senior manager for a retail group and now works as a freelance deal-with-the public trainer. She had to deliver a course in Barnsley and asked if she could stay at my house in Bradford because she knew Barnsley was somewhere in Yorkshire. She doesn't drive.

I'm a bit guilty is this sort of thing. Planning our trips for next year I somehow thought Plymouth was just a little bit down the coast from Portsmouth . I know I'm from the South West but to us a trip to the next vale incurs the risk of running into dragons.

[dhw]

People in the South East do work longer hours and commuting is crappy.

That is a personal choice though and most people work relatively locally.

The quality of life is terrible in that part of the world unless you happen to be a loaded jorno / editor that is.

Depends how you define quality of life. Speaking in general terms life expectancy and general health and lifestyle in the SE is higher than in the north, quality and diversity of food is far greater, climate is better, available enterntainments are better, close proximity (or located in) what is regarded to be one of the best cities in world. You do not need to be loaded to enjoy that. Good transport links to just about all significant cities in the UK (the exception being Norwich).

The downside is in areas population density is amongst the highest in the UK and the problems that entails.

We're much better off in the north really.

Why do so many people from Northern England move south and never relocate back ?

[Hornetto]

Unlucky you. Another couple of miles up the road and you'd be in Yorkshire

Oh, Littleborough sits right on the border - and resolutely on the right side.

[Wolford6]

Why do so many people from Northern England move south and never relocate back ?

Because most of the major organisations have their headquarters down south. Naturally, the northerners will soon see off the competition when it comes to landing the senior positions.

[dhw]

Because most of the major organisations have their headquarters down south. Naturally, the northerners will soon see off the competition when it comes to landing the senior positions.

It is unlikely the those who have migrated will work at the headquarters of Major Organisations, earnign and lifestyle will be a far bigger factor. I assume by 'the Northerners' you mean Scottish.

Edited by dhw, 04 December 2012 - 01:05 PM.

[Wolford6]

Oh, Littleborough sits right on the border - and resolutely on the right side.

Oh it's definitely on the right side ... of the M62 if you're going from Yorkshire. You can't miss Littleborough, it's right next to the Death Valley flyover and it's got an enormous lake for the locals to drown their cats in.

Actually, I quite like Littleborough ... they had the foresight to use Yorkshire stone for most of its town centre buildings.

[Wolford6]

I assume by 'the Northerners' you mean Scottish.

No, Corby was far enough for them.

[Exiled Townie]

My sister is sixty, speaks two languages professionally, and has spent most of her adult life in London. She has been a senior teacher, a liaison officer for the USAAF, a senior manager for a retail group and now works as a freelance deal-with-the public trainer. She had to deliver a course in Barnsley and asked if she could stay at my house in Bradford because she knew Barnsley was somewhere in Yorkshire. She doesn't drive.

I'm a bit guilty is this sort of thing. Planning our trips for next year I somehow thought Plymouth was just a little bit down the coast from Portsmouth .

It's amazing really. Got a phone call from my cousin a few weeks ago. He drives some sort of foreign motor bike and needed a specialist part for it, and found one on ebay. Could I go and pick it up for him, " as its down south and you live in London" (I don't). It was in Dorchester, return trip of 300 miles. I told him to pay the postage for it.

Edited by Exiled Townie, 04 December 2012 - 01:14 PM.

[gazza77]

It's amazing really. Got a phone call from my cousin a few weeks ago. He drives some sort of foreign motor bike and needed a specialist part for it, and found one on ebay. Could I go and pick it up for him, " as its down south and you live in London" (I don't). It was in Dorchester, return trip of 300 miles. I told him to pay the postage for it.

I used to work for an online car sales company, and my sister worked for a short period in their "sales support" department. One year, a memo was passed around from the logistics team, asking for only deliveries within a couple of hours radius of the Doncaster base on Christmas Eve, to allow the drivers to get back home at a reasonable hour. My sister promptly booked in a delivery in John O'Groats, as she didn't know where it was but though it "sounded local".

[Exiled Townie]

I must admit to not have spent much time in the southeast but when I have been I did find the people a little rude and unfriendly.

When I moved darn sarf from West Cumbria I found the biggest difference in the people was that in west cumbria they welcome strangers immediately and are friendly towards them. I found that the southerners tended to weigh you up and make up their minds first as to whether they like you or not, then become your friends.

There's nice places and dumps all over the country and its ridiculous to pretend otherwise.

Here, here Johnoco. As I said in the thread about county flags " ..... for some reason that I can't put into words I am fiercely proud and protective towards my county of birth, Cumbria, but feel little towards the county that I moved to, Herts, and have lived in for most of my life (but to make it even more weird, I don't think I would move back up to Cumbria and leave the life I have down here in Hertfordshire.)

[Methven Hornet]

Middleton is alright, only because its on my cycling route to Saddleworth moor .

D'yer cycle through Langley?

[Northern Sol]

That is a personal choice though and most people work relatively locally.

It's personal choice insofar as you need a job and your salary dictates where you can afford to live.

"Relatively local" varies a lot. In the South East people spend a lot of time commuting, more than we do in the north.

Depends how you define quality of life. Speaking in general terms life expectancy and general health and lifestyle in the SE is higher than in the north, quality and diversity of food is far greater, climate is better, available enterntainments are better, close proximity (or located in) what is regarded to be one of the best cities in world. You do not need to be loaded to enjoy that. Good transport links to just about all significant cities in the UK (the exception being Norwich).

The downside is in areas population density is amongst the highest in the UK and the problems that entails.

The thing is that Londoners are always telling me how there are so many great things in London but they never go to these things. I have.

Why do so many people from Northern England move south and never relocate back ?

Why are there so many folk from the South East living in Leeds?

[Steve May]

Well the only group of 'women' (and I mean group, not 1or 2 individuals) to squat and ###### together in full view of kids we had in our party at the side of a coach they had just got off were from Bradford. This scene was at the GF a few years ago.

The only time I've ever seen anyone taking a dump in public was in Claygate. Just driving along, looked over at a bus stop and there was a man crimping off a length.

I have also spent a lot of time recently in Guildford. It is a ######. It has no redeeming features whatsoever.

[Steve May]

To be fair, Rochdale is a depressing s**thole.

LIke most places, in the North and South, it has its good and bad sides. A good friend of mine grew up around there and I've always found it a good place.

[gingerjon]

It has no redeeming features whatsoever.

Guildford Flames ice hockey.

[Steve May]

We looked at moving to Slough once. I quite liked the place.

The short distance from Windsor to Slough must be the steepest gradient of nice to hell hole anywhere in Europe this side of Berlin circa 1985.

I once spent a week in a hotel in Slough, near the station. Dreadful. Just dreadful. Worst place I've ever been to, and given I've been to Wakefield that's saying something.

On the plus side, that same week I saw Natalie Imbruglia in a shop in Windsor. Jesus wept, she is a good looking lady.