South-North Differences

[TryingNotToWaddle]

I've recently moved and so far everyone I've met is scared of the capital "because of all the crime and terrorism", is on the right of the political spectrum, a 'loose' Christian, thinks being vegetarian is weird, vegan is impossible and stupid, husbands are useless at childcare and cleaning because it's for women, etc etc

I'm not saying I think different views are wrong... each to their own! I just feel terribly out of place. Everyone seems so cookie cutter up here

AIBU to hold out hope that It is just the people I've met and there are people up here with other views?

You need Puy - they hold their shape better.

Weaving lentils reminds me of a George Cole skit for a charity where he jokingly moans about the needs of eco-warriors (as we'd now call them) and wholemeal toilet paper.

Excellent!

To people in scotland Inverness is up north... If you are a Nationalist England doesn't exist.

Just tak tae oor Nikki she'll tell yeez. Pmsl....

I think the split is big city vs country/small town rather than north vs south.

I think we are all the same. I think it just suits some people to claim we are different. This leads to people being badly treated when they move out of the south east. Doesn't matter whether you are skint and do not agree with the current government and your mum was carer and your dad worked in tesco. You are still one of "them" southerners and always will be.

Maybe it would be ok if you give people a cv of your family's failures, social standing, tax returns and and political views....?

I reckon op knows peoples views because they have gone out of their way to tell her in the hope of discovering and confirming she is one of "them". Yes when you are "one of them" people seek you out for this.

I was approached by strangers again and again on the last scotref.

I was brought up in an outer suburb of London where the attitude wasn't all that different.

London is a big place and so is the rest of England. You might need to look outside your immediate locality.

I've recently moved and so far everyone I've met is scared of the capital "because of all the crime and terrorism", is on the right of the political spectrum, a 'loose' Christian, thinks being vegetarian is weird, vegan is impossible and stupid, husbands are useless at childcare and cleaning because it's for women, etc etc

I live in a city oop north and I don't know anyone here who fits that description. Are you sure people aren't just taking the piss when you go round town with your clipboard asking them their political allegiances, views on veganism/husbands' capabilities etc?

If you look at the political map of the UK (ie where the Tory/Labour councils/consitituencies etc are) I think you might find it doesn't quite tally with your assessment...

I am sick of hearing that the North includes places like Manchester and Sheffield - clearly the Midlands. The North of England is Durham upwards and across to Cumbria. Then it is the Midlands down to Birmingham. South West from Bristol to end of Cornwall and south from just below Birmingham to the south coast. Lndon is on its own- it is a bubble. The North- using my definition- is the most neglected bit of England by this government. It is different : geographically, in terms of population, cultural mix, infrastructure, lack of development and investment. We are insular. Partly we like it the way it is and partly it is historical. The poverty and deprivation in areas of the north-east is shocking. This government has done so much damage it will take generations to repair it.

I think the definition in wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_England is about right. The idea that Lancashire and Yorkshire are 'midlands' rather than North is ridiculous. Not so sure about Cheshire. Manchester and Sheffield are pretty much the extreme south of the north IMO.

But we're fairly neglected in Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield too Lulu. By anyone's definition, no-one from Yorkshire or Lancashire is going to consider themselves a Midlander.

Spending on infrastructure is tiny compared with what London gets. Leeds is the biggest city in Europe without mass transport. If we got a similar amount of spending as the south-east, we could have high speed underground rail lines from Liverpool to Hull with a branch line up to Newcastle as well. Imagine that?

Barbara I have just looked at a map and revised my view. I would go as far as Leeds but no further. Manchester and Sheffield are definitely the Midlands.

heinous that sounds great. The area doesn't begin with an H does it?

Lulu, i'm just South of Leeds, near Wakefield. please don't that the Midlands. I hated it when I lived there.

*make that. bloody weird tablet this.

It's very international here in north London, I love it. I only know one vegetarian although there are lots of faddy clean eaters. I'm a city girl, always have been. Two minutes away in one direction it's all very gritty, in the other direction you are in a local nature reserve. I always think Northerners pride themselves on being direct whereas here it's more of a comedy of manners.

Grommitsears no it doesn't begin with H. I'm in Leeds.

You could say pretty much the same about most other big cities in the UK Adams. International, vegetarians, gritty, nature reserves, friendly people, rude people, etc etc.

This is one of the most perfect posts I've seen for a long time:

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus

Yes, everyone is exactly the same up North. That's why election candidates win with 100% of the vote every time and supermarkets only sell one brand of cornflakes (with added meat, obviously).

I'd start conforming PDQ if I were you, before the locals remember where they put that big wicker effigy...

Did we ever find out where OP moved to?

Lovely view MaidofStars I pass it almost daily

I'm not going to say too much but...

Are you near Leeds?

Bet Ops in Gateshead