Used to live in Finchley for years, renting. Loved it. Met someone and suddenly we could buy - So we did, but ended up in the slums. That's what we could afford. East London; where Stratford meets Leytonstone meets Forest Gate. For three years we have had crack smokers, drug dealers and pavement defecaterers outside our door. Four times I cleaned up turds -human ones- outside my door step - Once I caught a lady in the act; I opened my door and there she was; squatting, knickers down and, as she quickly stood up and pulled her dress down, an impressive dump behind her...
Not to mention the smashed car windows, bloody paper tissues, used condoms and needles. It's supposed to be diverse, but, no offence, it was mainly three demography groups: white junkies, black drug dealers and Bengali deliveroo cyclists...
Then the market played around and we managed to sell and buy in Finchley. It's like I'm back with the woman I always loved but thought was lost. And boy, do I love her! I haven't even seen a man urinate in the street! Unless you count the one behind a tree in Darlands nature reserve the other day, but that might have been me! And it's more diverse here; I know people won't believe me, but it's true.
London, you're mine again.