48 year old female Historian and Classicist living in South Wales

Question 1. Give your reasons and analyse your motives for living in the district where you do live.

I moved here 18 years ago on a temporary basis! The plan was to buy this house, 'do it up', then move somewhere better. But then the children came along, went to the local playgroup, we made friends with other similar families, enrolled in the best local schools..... I would still LOVE to move, but it may not be possible for another five years as my eldest has just begun college and his sibling is in the secondary school, and both have lots of good nice friends locally that they don't want to leave behind just yet.

Question 2. In what ways do you consider yourself different from your neighbours?

This was the only house we could afford at the time. It is in a (very) working class area, next to - a few hundred yards - a really nice upper-middle class area where I first lived, in a lovely garden-flat, when I first came to this city. I hate my loud, bad-mannered, inconsiderate, blousy, noisy neighbours (with good reason), but just have to stick with it for now. Unlike these fast-food, soap-opera-watching, spitting, swearing and bad-language shouting people, I like peace and quiet, Radio 4, museums and history, the Classics and countryside - and no-one living next door with amplified muzack or constantly barking dogs! On sunny days I try to sit in my garden here and read my book, but am often driven indoors by the foul language, loud music, and smoke from barbecues of my neighbours. My house has been burgled and I have had property stolen and cars vandalised several times by these people (I have seen them do it), and so now through necessity and for my family's safety I have a security video camera keeping an eye on the front of my house. It's a bit like 'running the gauntlet' leaving the house each day, as some neighbours like to stare at you with hostility. Can't wait to move away from here!

Question 3. When you go into pubs, which bar do you use and why?

I don't drink.

Question 4. What priced seats do you use at the cinema and why?

I sit in the Circle with my children when we go; but we prefer to see films at home on our (widescreen) tv! Then we can pause it mid-story and have a meal if we want to.

Question 5. What forms of food, drink or amusement are thought “infra dig”* or not quite the things in your circles?

We would NEVER go to McDonalds or any 'fast-food' so-called 'restaurants'. We would never wear clothing with any advertising or 'Designer' logo's. We never watch junk tv, such as sport (especially football!), talent shows, or soap-operas such as Coronation/Ramsey Street or Eastenders. We have not the slightest interest in 'celebrity culture' - culture: a contradiction in terms, there!

Question 6. Are you sensitive on the subject of accent and have you made any attempt to change your own?

No. I'm English living in a cosmopolitan (nominally Welsh)city. There are all kinds of interesting communities here, including Chinese and Somali, several have been here for generations, as it was a trading port in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Question 7. Do you make a habit of using the following words and phrases? If not, what is your reaction when they are used by others?

I've never met anyone in my life who says, "tooleyoo", "chum", or "old boy", sorry! Everyone you meet these days says, "ok/okay", it is standard-speak, as is the abbreviated "bye". 1960's DJ's used to say, "not 'arf", (they thought it was "cool"), but I think most of them are dead now...and the "DJ rappers" have since moved in. Apparently, nowadays, they "smack their bitch up, innit, mista" (and worse). Courtesy, good manners, consideration for others and innocence, it seems, are long gone - in the wake of Americanisation, obsessive sexualisation of the prevailing common culture, and a selfish 'individualism'. Such a shame.