Another country. Having returned from “The North” as people in “The South” are wont to refer to it as, I managed to get past border control at Birmingham, with my rounder sounding vowels and soft Southern ways. A misfit now in both parts!

There’s lots of things about heading home that make me feel rather wistful – and so much of it has no real relevance for anyone else in the Mackerel clan. Places you went to when you were too young to be going there anyway (don’t tell the parents!), loud and lairy fun fair rides that the sprats rather fancy (and you went to when you should have been at school), awesome fish and chips where you step outside to have the wind whip your breath away before the salt and vinegar has even had time to crystallise on your tongue. A big-hearted place where people are kinder to strangers, much more straight talking and generally a lot bloody funnier. The place where I grew up.

So now I’m back and a little bit of a fish out of water. The times they are a-changing…yet always a Northern lass at heart.

Mrs Mackerel

Download Woodpigeon – I Live A Lot of Places mp3 (well, just because I like it and it’s a darned good fit).

Incidentally, the photo is borrowed from a blog by Curly called the South Shields Daily Photo. I really hope he doesn’t mind – he’s got some great photos. Spread the word.