The Great North/South Divide

Yes, Jalima I think because I was only there for a short time, I felt a fish out of water. No contacts anywhere except for my son and family.

My Dh was called my luvver by the woman from whom he'd requested directions to M&S!

A couple of years ago my neighbour said she and the family had been "up North" for a wedding. I enquired where up North and smiled inwardly when she said Luton.

Before I moved to Cornwall I was told I'd never fit in and people would be standoffish.

They weren't. From the outset they were lovely, helpful, friendly and went out of their way to help me and my boys settle in.
There was always a friendly smile, chat and offer of help.

I do dearly miss that, my lovers.

Before I moved to Cornwall
Bradfordlass; Which part? We had family at Par; Uncle Len, a very nice Cornishman, was an engine driver with GWR. But I thought, from some of your recent posts, that you were in NZ? Reason for posting, assuming it's NZ, is to ask if you get SBS? Sunday evening is a railway travel doc. following the Ghan and Indian Pacific style in OZ, called North-South; NZ rail. Looks terrific! If you're still freezing in Poldark country it's of no interest, but thought I'd save posting again! Cheers;
OoRoo

When I worked in London, some twenty years ago. I was walking along Oxford Street, when a Canadian lady stopped to ask for directions. I spoke to her, had a laugh when she said. I’m British but think I’ve landed in a foreign Country, you are the sixth person I have spoken to, and the first that speaks English. I pointed out to her that few Londoners would be strolling along Oxford Street, in the middle of the day, they would be the ones rushing from point a to b, she had probably spoken to tourists like herself, as they had the luxury of time. On the other hand my son who worked in London, now lives in a Wiltshire village, came back from his first visit to Manchester where he went to Old Trafford, and could not stop extolling the friendliness of the people he met there. Mostly people are all nice.

I find if you want people to be friendly to you, where ever you live, you need to be friendly to them. Simple really.

I disagree Dannie well, certainly about people you meet casually. I have lived in different places and I'm the same me who treats everyone the same. One place I lived strangers could not have been nicer in any way, then there are those who are just friendly and others who would never say hello when they walked past a stranger.

Perhaps Nonnie it might be the difference between a Remain area and a Leave area?

that's just daft varian

I have been in parts of Australia where people are very friendly and others where, if you smile at someone in a queue or say something, they look at you as if you should be locked up.

38 years ago as a young wife and Mum I moved to Scotland, with excitement but also a certain amount of trepidation, as I was under the impression it was cold and unfriendly. It wasnt; well it was certainly colder than Sussex, but far friendlier than I'd ever imagined. An electrician working in the house informed me that he'd lived 'down south' once when he heard my accent. Ooh, 'where' I asked excitedly (still feeling homesick). Carlisle came the reply which in my mind was almost as far North as you could get! I moved a year ago to Wiltshire and am still struggling to find more than a few friendly neighbours. I've joined a number of activities and groups but the friendliness is only skin deep. I long for the welcome of my adopted country Scotland

DanniRae
You've obviously never lived in Tollesbury Essex

Oh petra I know nothing about Tollesbury, do tell, what do you mean?

Carlisle is the arm pit of the world

I enjoyed the years I lived in Carlisle. I especially remember potato cakes from Carrs (of Carlisle). They have a magnificent museum www.tulliehouse.co.uk/

Sorry Monica, I am talking absolute rubbish. My view is coloured by events.

No worries, Lily We all have places we feel like that about

You can see some lovely pre Raphaelite Art in the museum. Very few people know its there.

There is absolutely no question Yorkshire rules ! God's own county of course.
( you may well ask why I am writing this from my home in France )

sodapop The unfriendliness of Yorkshire people drove my closest friend to her grave.

The county also gave me my wonderful DDiL, 2 Yorkshire grandchildren and a county that has been home to DS for nearly 25 years.

A lovely friend relocated to Yorkshire - ended up coming back south as she couldn't make any friends. She did have children too, which usually makes it easier. Speaking personally I had the misfortune to work for an Area Manager from Yorkshire who relocated 'down south' with a massive chip and was always talking about us 'soft southerners'. He didn't fit in and made no effort to do so. I experienced the only case of workplace bullying from him in my 45 years of working life. He made a catastrophic error, lost the bank a lot of money and was forced into early retirement. I so enjoyed attending his leaving do!!!! My lovely boss said to him 'I hope you find that you're looking for!!!' Having said all that I'm sure Yorkshire people in general are lovely - just two unfortunate experiences. I would add that I am married to a northener - a real gentleman who hailed from the Northwest (public school accent though lol!!!). He thought I was from London as I have a Hampshire accent and he confused the two!!!!!!

I was born and bred in Birmingham and I love it. A friend who was also born and bred here moved to 'the seaside'. Fair enough, lovely in fact. Each to their own. She never stops 'rubbishing' Birmingham, although she met her husband and had her children here. She says things like 'last time I visited, I was frightened' and 'It must be awful to be stuck there'. No it isn't. I'm not stuck. I like it.

Isn't it all about perception? As a Brummie, I have spent a lifetime moderating the accent, which is the only thing wrong with the place. A strong Brummie accent is laughed at (remember Beryl Reid's Marlene) and even Peaky blinders had to have a sort of hybrid version. The actor Martin Shaw soon got rid of his Brummie accent and Julie Walters only intensifies her for effect. This is why you do not have call centres in Brum!

Oh KatyK I really dislike it when people move away from an area and then say things like "I don't know how I ever lived there" or "You don't realise how awful the place is until you have moved away". It makes my blood boil - and is so rude and thoughtless. I sometimes think that are trying to convince themselves that they made the right decision to move away.

Beammeupscottie makes a good point about accent snobbery. I am a Glaswegian living in England and although It's many years since I've lived in Glasgow I have never changed my accent. I don't have a musical ear . I speak clearly and grammatically as most Glaswegians do.

When I'm asked where I come from and I tell them I come from Glasgow they usually say "you don't sound like you come from Glasgow". For some reason they expect all Glaswegians to speak with a very broad Glasgow accent, like Rab C Nesbit.

It's like telling a Londoner "you don't sound like you come from London" just because they don't speak like Alf Garnet or the cast of East Enders. I wouldn't say that to a Londoner.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend MOnica but I hope you don't feel it was all Yorkshire people, there are good and not such good folk everywhere.