Like many people my age, I fled my hometown to escape the banility of small town life and attempt to make something  it all. My reasons remained the same throughout “I hate Ayr, there is nothing there and I need to get out!” – Now, as I sit in the middle of Leicester city centre,  (Costas at the Clocktower, which stinks of BBQ sauce, ciggys and B.O.) and I see the same as what used to depress me about Ayr – in droves!

But the difference is now that it is all about plugging into the right networks of people. It is always tough “back home”, you have the history of growing up to contend with – and then you have the joys of shared connections, build on who’s going out with who – or who as the most drunk last night, or who wore what – a history of social grooming (not getting things done). It’s no wonder that there is nothing going on in your life (and your town) if all you do is work, drink and bitch.

But I’ve rethought my attitude about it all. It’s impossible for a city to be crap, only your network can be crap. If you only expose yourself to crap ideas – you are never going to see beyond them. Therefore, somewhere, somehow there is a possible chance that our generation and society (in its current guise) isn’t as depressing as it seems. (But I’ve got to thank the Internet for a lot of this! )