I don,t like it Here

[Old bird]

Hi Betula

There are parts of most large cities that are considered "dangerous and no go areas"  I don't think that Birmingham has the worst record but in Bristol there is an area where I drove through - where the whole environment was very run down and there was a distinct feeling of menace all around.  I was very pleased to get out of this area and was later told by my son, a detective, that it would not have been safe for me to get out and walk round!

All cities have these places - so don't feel that Birminghas has been singled out!

Old Bird

;D

[Old bird]

[tonybloke]

'all cities have these places'
maybe they do, but not many villages do!!  ;)

[Old bird]

Exactly so Tonybloke! 

Thankfully.

O B

[shirlton]

Well , Put it this way. I do not go out alone after dark and I live in what is supposed to be a nice decent area.

[davyw1]

Why don't you go out?

Lincoln,skegness,cleethorpes.

Go over the brige to Beverley or York.All within a short didtance.

You are within spitting distance of the coast line. ???

The long haired general would not let me drive here so no transport also she wont venture far (thats another story) But she has been informed that the next time its by car, it would have been quicker to go to London by train than here.
I cut the grass this morning and while sitting having coffee yes i thought this garden will be changed before i leave, so guess who is taking me to the nearest B& Q or Focus.

[cacran]

I don't thnk it is  just a country thing to say hello. I live in  Bradford which is a city and find that if I go around smiling at people and passing the time of day, I get it back.

[Ninnyscrops.]

Being a Londoner and just back from the Oval, even the Londoners have lost the plot. Plugged into Ipods, laptops and mobiles. I would have loved to have said "Hi" to someone in the rush hour, but they are now all automatons  :'(

[bridgehouse]

I agree Birmingham is a lovely moden city  with a lot to offer .
There are certain parts that have a bad name, but like any big city you will find that.
All most all of the old brummies have moved out of these places, I live on the Shirley/Solihull border and its a nice place to live, except for all the traffic passing through from other parts of the country.
        June.

[Kea]

I have moved about the country a bit, am originally from Merseyside so am used to people being chatty and outgoing, down here (Hampshire) people often look at me as though I am weird!

T.

When I first moved to the UK I lived in Edinburgh where I was always having long conversations with strangers i met. On my first visit to London I tried smiling at people in the tube and they all looked panicked and moved away.....probably thought I was deranged. However it's a useful technique to clear some space just smile manically.