Stranger in a Strange Land By Rich Mills

Concrete kid. That's what I told her I considered myself. Bollocks to the countryside. The fresh air would probably kill me! Urgh and the smell of cow-shit! Ah, how wrong could I have been? We travelled up to the Dales, far up in the north of our great county. A place where they have proper hills like! Not flat-land like 'ere! Dry-stone walls, sheep, community, peace, harmony, and a local pub where I spent a vast amount of my time while there, as did most of the indigenous population in the area - there is nowhere else to bloody go!

However issues of alcoholism aside, and my need to admit myself into a clinic for the next few weeks afterwards, I had a cracking time! I was welcomed wherever I went.

The concrete kid striding through green fields, and over said dry-stone walls, waving hello to sweater and bobble hat wearing middle aged, middle class, ramblers. With a cheery how d'you do we went on our way. In the land of grey and brick, they would have probably crossed the road and tutted at the image of such as me. Here we were all God's children, and the land was ours to enjoy, free of attitudes built up by the city walls bearing down us from all around, day upon day, year after year, etc... Earth first and all that green stuff the liberal Avenues Veggies rant on about.

I can see their point to some extent. Although you'd never get me to sit in a tree for 3 months defending a quarry, or some small clump of trees of historical interest, or a henge (some lumps and bumps in the ground apparently, and not a stone circle necessarily, I've come to learn). Or just whatever. It's not part of who I am to do that.

But I get why others my wish to. All power to them and their struggle, however futile and an utterly pointless waste of good political energy as I may see it. Anyway. All this experience has done for me at the end of the day is confirm what I've been thinking for many years. I need to escape Hull. Now I love and hate Hull in equal measure, but more recently the resentment for this place has been building-up.

I've done my bit, exhausted all avenues, burnt many bridges, etc.. it's now come time to move on. Sorry guys!

Six months I reckon. Then outta here! Who know really? But the decision has been made, and I will do it this time. Too many opportunities have I passed by, in the past. Not this one. There is a world out there to conquer.. Erm.. I mean discover! And I will bring back whatever I see, hear, or experience to the good people at thisisull.com, or even thisistheworld.com.

But whatever I do, and wherever I go, my digital self will always be near at hand. Anyway you've got at least 6 months of mad ranting here to go, before I spread my wings.

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