I was walking back from school this morning, and part of my route is a long, straight, slightly uphill road, lined with large terraced houses and the occasional semi. It was a still, slightly chill morning, with a fairly boring grey sky overhead, and I just grew to thinking, what am I doing here? Why am I spending my life pounding the beat of grey, cracked pavements, looking at views of tightly packed houses with very small, neat gardens? I thought, man is a social animal, so it's good to live close together isn't it? How come then, everyone lives in such close proximity, but probably doesn't know the names of their nextdoor neighbours? Where is community in this?

I found myself looking around the cityscape this morning and wishing, so desperately wishing, I lived in the countryside instead. I love the city, I love being so close to everything - to people, schools, museums, libraries, shops... but I couldn't help think that this grey still day, so boring in the city, must be beautiful in the countryside. I looked across the valley at the car dealer's, the Trebor factory, and the main road with cars and emergency vehicles trundling past, and a dull grey sky overhead. I overlaid this with another valley, with fields, trees, stone walls and farm outbuildings, and moors on the tops. In the still grey sky, I could hear larks, and curlews.

I think I've done City Living now, I'd like to retire to the countryside please, to make bread and keep chickens and go for long, muddy walks without pavements. I'd be happy. As long as there was a good bus service...