Does anyone else find the idea of the ‘slower pace of life’ outside London talked about in programmes such as Escape to the Country a bit patronising?
Watching it for the first time in ages (I’m on maternity leave but don’t end up watching much tv!) and it’s the usual couple from London wanting to move to the countryside and open a B&B or something. Talking about the ‘slower pace of life’ when the places they’re looking aren’t too far from cities like Bristol, Worcester and Gloucester.
It just seems to be a bit of a stereotype that living outside London is somehow ‘slower’ and more wholesome. It’s as if anyone outside London couldn’t possibly have a busy social life, high flying career etc. I’ve lived in London for a period of my life and now live in a small town. My life is just as busy, if not more. In fact, in my experience a lot of people end up living an even faster paced life with long commutes etc. High flying careers where they work in London but live rurally and have to juggle both (which is what I was doing for a while).
Not sure where I’m going with this but it’s just reminded me of people’s attitudes when I lived and worked in London, as if anywhere else is provincial and backwards.
Nothing against the couple on the programme today, I’m sure compared to their current life, upping sticks and opening a B&B is a real change but Escape to the Country in particular seems to show this patronising, outdated view of what it means to live outside of a big city.