Flaming Nora

Regular readers will know that living in London does my head in , at times, anyroad. If it's not crowds , it's lack of clean air and space, but this time, it's the constant hum of the city that's cheesing me off. Ah, I sense familiar symptoms. Feeling stressed with London and homesick at the sight of seagulls ? I therefore prescribe myself a few days up north with family to cure my ills.

“Where are we?” my fella asked when our train got stuck in a tunnel this week on our way to work on the tube. We were deep, deep underground in a mess of tracks, wires and heat, buried beneath crumbling sewers, the remains of dead rats, sitting in a lifeless carriage breathing in other people’s dust, hair, snot, fear. “Just outside of Kings Cross,” I replied.

This summer will mark my 7th year of living in London. So it's time to take stock and think on what I've learned in that time. Being a Northerner and living in London has made me realise the following things, in no particular order: 1. When people in London say: "W e really must have lunch, I'll give you a ring, " there's no point waiting by the phone . 2. When you're given a job by the nation's second major media company and they tell you: " You're sensational" and "You're just what we've been looking for ", take their words with a hefty pinch of salt. 2a. A dream job should stay in your dreams (see 2 above) 3. When collapsing on the tube through work-related stress (see 2 above) there are kind and helpful people who will come to your boyfriend's aid to help move your unconscious body off the train and onto the platform. Thankyou, kind man. 4. There are kind and helpful people who will help you cope with panic att...