Eek - first blog post.

So here is my first ever blog post.  I have not much idea where to start, what to include and what to completely leave out.  You'll never guess that I am new to this! You have probably already assumed from the title that I do not belong.  You'd be right (ish).

I live in the Gateway to the Dales, a town which tries to cling on to the Yorkshire Dales and all the grandeur that goes with it.  I moved here seven years ago when I was married at the age of 21 (it'll never last - my wise father said) but we are still married seven years later and now expecting our second child.  We moved up north from London, where I had lived for five years whilst working in a good job at the BBC.  I had moved to London at the age of 17 from Oxford (where I was brought up) to get a job. I had no fear and the kind of self-confidence that teenagers have.  I was bolshy (and still am), cocky and a smart-arse.

Anyway, I digress.  When I moved here I had not expected the 'you're not from round here are you?' questions.  They threw me.  I had also not expected that because I didn't have a 'local' accent, I would be labeled as 'posh', 'prim' and, the most ludicrous 'rich'.  Little do people with small minds know, I am local. I was born in the local hospital. My family have lived in the area since the 50's and I started school up here.  What they are not to know is that we moved to Oxford when I was five after my father left my mother with three children under 4, one of which was severely disabled.  Don't get me wrong, I am not having a go at him here, merely explaining why we moved. 

I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover but I would like to think that I do not make rash decisions based on accent or a person's upbringing.  I live in a small house and am not rich.  I object to the assumption that, because of the way I speak that I have lots of money and have clearly had a wonderful upbringing.  It also frustrates me that I feel the need to justify my story every time I speak to anyone who suggests I might be an Offcumden.