I grew in the Boston of fifty years ago, and to be quite honest - the picture that Tim paints is entirely recognisable to me.

I don't think the stuff you are talking about is the result of Thatcherism. Much as I would like her to be blamed for everything.

The sort of class of petit bougeoisie that Thatcher sprung from had its equivalent in every Lincolnshire town - a freemasonry in every sense that kept Lincolnshire a backwater - culturally and economically. That way they were the big fishes in the pond.

I warn you though Tim - you have a discovery yet to make.

Namely Americans love America, The Irish love Ireland, Russians love Russia - and even though you may not be aware of it - Lincolnshire is deep somewhere now in your make up as a person, and you may not realise it, but you love your homeland - Heimat - call it what you will.

Parts of Lincolnshire are undeniably flat - but to us lot, it is never featureless - never disinteresting.