[garinda]

This is the result of a scientific survey, just observations about my recent holiday to Greece.

Having lived in London for nigh on twenty years, and encouraged visiting relatives not to make eye contact, never mind start a conversation with the insular travellers on the tube system for fear of abuse or worse, I was until recently convinced that we northerners were friendly, polite, and salt of the earth sorts, and southerners weren't.

Having flown from Manchester airport I'm afraid I've changed my mind. It may have something to do with the flight being at night, and delayed on the outward journey, but I have never encountered such a lot of rude, boorish, ignorant, ill manered people in my life.

Swearing infront of young children, drunkness and a downright abusive attitude to other people, is something new to me. This isn't the result of anything that happened primarily to me, though one group of foul mouthed Mancunian girls did shut up after encountering the sharper end of my tongue.

Whilst in Rhodes as well, the northerners we encountered were under the misapprehension that everyone else would miss out on their witty conversations if it wasn't drunkly shouted at the top of their voices.

On the otherhand, the people we met from the south of England were friendly, well mannered, and fun to chat to, without being in your face.

These observations aren't based on anything to do with class, if there is such a thing, as the nicest southerners we met were a bin driver from Ascot in Berkshire, and a brickie from Chingford in Essex.

I really hope the character of us northerners isn't changing. The character that means we'll stop and chat to anyone, give help whether its required or not, and are always ready with a friendly smile even when its cold and pouring down, and willing to give you their last penny if you need it.

I certainly see a diference for the better in my neighbours in Ossy, compared with the ones I had in London, and am hoping that the appalling behaviour noted on my trip was confined to our neighbours in Manchester, and not here in Lancashire.