I went to whitby and Scarborough for a family wedding over the weekend, been there many times before but not for a few years. I forget how the stereo type of friendly northerners comes about for a reason. I had more conversations with strangers in a weekend than I do in Hampshire in months.
Aside from the guests at the wedding I didn't already know which is a social event anyway I ended up chatting with people in shops, pubs, garages etc from peoples money problems to operations they've had where I came from and a range of other topics.
Strangest was with a lad working in mcdonalds via the speaker system when I asked for fries 3 times and he said he didn't know what they were, I said "chips" and he said oh why didn't you say and then 'fries' appeared on the screen. He did finish by saying "we an't got no gravy though!"
For the northern folk who don't get south its just not generally like that down here (although I'm sure there are places here which are different) its not necessarily unfriendly we are just more socially awkward and repressed I think!
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After that was up I moved back to Luton. Yuk! Everyone seemed so guarded and kept to themselves. Walking into a pub was like that scene from An American werewolf in London.
I didn't like it at all but got used to it again. North for the win though.
There are only a few good things coming out of the east and the A59 is one of them.
https://youtu.be/bQJrBSXSs6o
The Dales are just a short drive away and I can be in the Lake District in an hour. We have so much on our doorstep.
Whenever I travel south, the difference in people is always astonishing to me, it feels quite unfriendly at times. My son worked in Basingstoke for two years and he hated it, mostly because people were just not very friendly. He came back up north at the first opportunity and now works in Wakefield.
If you really want to see northern hospitality and sociability with complete strangers, take a trip to Newcastle/Gateshead, people will talk for hours!
Rob.
That is, you haven't been your normal every day self as you've been on holiday ( more relaxed open to new experiences,etc) or even on a business trip or visiting a sick relative you are outside your comfort zone and people respond to that warmth or even to your distress.
I guess the real trick is to be your holiday self every day.
I've lived in London and Surrey my whole life and found people often either ignore you, or look at you as if you're about to attack them, should you have the temerity to say 'Hello' when passing.
My mum and dad moved to a Somerset village for a few years, and everyone greeted each other when passing. Even me as stranger. I found it much more welcoming and friendly.
I can't help about the shape I'm in, I can't sing I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to
I was born in Ordsall, now live in Worsley...where no fooker talks to me cos I don't put a boiler suit and a pair of gloves on to knock a nail in a fence.
It really pisses the professional classes off that a scruffy bollocks such as I share the same air...
North/South..who gives a shite, sound people are sound people.