The situation in Lewes is all very well, Snail, and if I lived there I'd doubtless be stuck to the Lewes Arms like a limpet, but the fact is I don't live there.

I have to contend with the reality of my own neck of the woods. Can you not accept at least that my reality is as valid as yours? I know we should all constantly be painting a rosy picture to persuade the outside world into believing that all is well on the chance that some of them may venture in, but to be honest, I think we'd be better off painting some of those grimy back rooms.

(Incidently, my partner did get offered a job in Brighton a few years ago, but as we were just back from a year and a half blowing our savings on a round the world trip, we couldn't afford the deposit for a flat - bloomin' extortionate, it was - and had to limp back to the relatively affordable north, tails bitwixt our legs. Not strictly relevant...).