Do the people in your town look a bit miserable?

Not particularly. There appears to be a mix of people - young, old, well-off and not so well-off. Not many who look 'unkempt or ill' Obviously some who are obese, but I think that's everywhere.

I also live in a town in the North East and the other people who live here seem fairly cheerful and friendly. Yes, there's a lot of guzzling the ubiquitous Greggs' pies on the hoof, a great deal of excess adipose tissue – perhaps these two are connected – and some extremely orange skin as this seems to be tanning salon capital of the country. Nevertheless, it is a pleasant place to live and I have no regrets about moving here a couple of years ago.

frida, was it a miserable rainy day? It does seem to improve peoples' feelings if the sun is shining.

Not here. I don't think we see many people eating in the street either. However, we do seem to have perhaps more than our fair share of obesity,

I'm a very fortunate person in that I live near to the market square in a lovely market town. People here generally appear to be happy and we don't have a Greggs. However I have noticed that people in the nearby city where I used to live are beginning to look more downcast, with more orange women and unruly children.

I think the general malaise is more obvious when I'm on a day out. Last Sunday we were at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens....a totally stunning place....and some people just seemed to be so miserable I wondered why they were there.

Living in a small Scottish village, is a blessing. We've just one shop - a visit to which, is an open invitation to share in merriment and much blethering.

Like Vampire I live in a market town sans Greggs, McD, Starbucks etc. but with a couple of nice butchers, fruit and veg shops, bakers, tea shops and pubs and the locals still seem happy enough. Aren't we lucky?

Our local NT properties are full of holiday makers very happy in the sunshine. But the city definitely has more morose people aimlessly wanderingand I was in Wroxham on the Broads last week - so many obese youngsters. I felt positively svelt.

Oh, memories of Wroxham! When we lived in Norwich I loved going over Wroxham Bridge into the little town. It aways felt so holidayish, even in winter. Good old Roys!!!

Roy's have got a sale on!

Not too bad here in the small town where I am in the South. Very mixed community, economically speaking, but I guess employment here is probably higher than NE. we have a couple of residential homes for adults with learning disabilities and I have to say that when the residents are out and about in town it is always a bit more cheerful.

This small town is full of retired people with a fair number of young professionals. It's not nearly as gloomy as the nearby large town in which there's a huge social mixture but the ones that use the town centre shops do look a bit depressed. It has the highest percentage of closed retail premises in the North West.

Come you on, together, up tha in Noorfolk. You can't be tellin' me they aren't all full of the joys of spring in Wroxham - even tho' tha's August. Down here in the suburbs of London, people often don't return looks, let alone smiles unless they know who you are. Too often, people are plugged in to music or mobile - or texting. If I go to Central London, I usually join those in their own world. A man who struck up a conversation with a stranger in London would risk being seen as a weirdo.

Eating in the street?
I couldn't be more shocked.
Pasties too!
Whatever is the world coming to?

The juxtaposition of the three words eating, street and pasties really is a bit much for the system.

And as for paper bags.....

Think I need to go back to bed to get over the shock.

We play a game with Cubs sometimes where they have to blow up a paper bag and pop it as loudly as possible as part of an obstacle course type race. Apart from being shocking (paper bags, you know), it's very funny.

* Wonders how we could include pastie..... *

B

The people here always look fairly content if a little reserved. We have a Greggs and a Costa but not all that many people eat in the street. My six year old GS does now and then; he loves their hot sausage rolls

I live in the South East, affluent little town with yuppies and a public school.
Not that much obesity. Plenty of four wheel drives!

Oddly, a town just 5 miles away has a very different character, more obesity, poverty and raucous behaviour.

I'm so glad driving a 4x4 isn't regarded as raucous.

My nanny (as in gran! Not posh) always said that eating in the street was 'common as muck'

Have you got one then Bags?

lot of elderly retired in seaside town where we live and most people like to smile and say Hello or good morning, which is lovely.

lot more overweight mums and kids than there used to be lifestyle I guess the road to school near us is jammed with cars every day!
no one seems to walk the kids there anymore.

lack of time |I suppose, but it all adds to the obesity problems I guess.

I live in the South West, a large seaside town with' 6 miles of golden sands', the Purbecks on one side, Isle of Wight seen on a clear day and the New Forest a 30 minute drive away. Got it yet? It is a lovely town and as we have a lot of tourists and foreign students everyone seems happy. In fact one year we got a mention as one of the happiest towns to live in, in the UK. I live in a lovely suburb about 10 minutes walk to the beach. We have a mixed population with all ages, but there are a lot of elderly people who all say good morning or are happy to chat at the bus stop. It is a happy place and I'm glad that when I had to leave New York with two small children 28 years ago I chose to live here. [my late MIL lived here then]

dorsetpennt, it's Bournemouth, love it!

You must live beside me frida

It would make a big difference if people acknowledged each other,said Good morning or hello to each other,chatted to each other at bus stop's etc.Maybe some people look so miserable because they don't converse with anyone all day and go back to their lonely homelife.
I always pass the time of day if I am out and about and chat to people you will soon get the hint if they are not interested.