I’m born into the Cockney tribe, known mostly for
Pearly Kings and Queens, rhyming slang,
and possibly dealing in things that fell off the back of a lorry.
As a family we have zero to do with the royals and not a lot of
contact with stolen goods. We do use phrases like give us a
butchers, frog and toad and me old china but that’s about it.
For six decades inner city London is my home
until I swap it for Leeds. It’s not so much culture shock
but the drop in temperature that affects me most. I arrive in
September and wear my coat, hat and scarf indoors for the
first autumn and winter. Amusing for some, no joke for me.
What I first enjoy about Leeds is how easy it is to
get about and you can get a cab home without having to
take out a loan. But I did and still do miss the Tube.
A rapid transport system wouldn’t go amiss
or even a train that turned up and went where it said
it was going would be nice. But maybe I’m asking too much.
I’ve since found that Leeds appreciates creativity and there’s
lots of opportunities to start projects, have an outlet for them
and find an audience willing to support them. It’s not a city
where only the rich are allowed to express themselves.
There’s a lively mix of free thinking, friendly residents,
including those who came as students and never left,
who help make life interesting and feel like a home.
I think I can say with some confidence it’s been a good move.
Jackie Parsons