Are people nicer in Brighton? (From The Argus)

Are people nicer in Brighton?

12:32pm Saturday 8th August 2009 in Blogs By Alice Wright - Reluctant Housewife

HAPPY TOWN: I'm off to meet all these lovely people

After having lived in London for so many years I would say that yes – generally people are nicer down here than in the capital. Could it be the sea air? OK maybe its not all sunshine and roses, there are always exceptions to the rule and am sure that I am seeing things through rose-tinted specs being new to the area, but let me give you some examples…

Bus drivers talk to you, some even let you travel for free if the sun is out. When you get off the bus you say thank you and they say it back, your travelling contract civilly at an end. In London you are lucky to get a grunt from the drivers let alone have them make eye contact with you. They never wait for an old, unstable chap to sit down before they set off again. Admittedly London buses are a more dangerous beast than the friendly, cream-coloured ones you get down here (I know - I’ve been mugged twice on them) but never once have I been delighted by politeness from a London bus driver in 15 years of living there. Believe me, I would have remembered if it had happened.

Coastal postmen stand on the doorstep and chat to you, I have trouble getting rid of mine sometimes. Delivery men are happy to wait for your signature while you put baby down and lock dog up, they’ll even discuss their own family with you! In London parcels get chucked at you or left in the street, once a delivery man threw a king-sized mattress down my basement stairs trapping me in the flat and breaking our door – he said it wasn’t his problem. I have never had to call up the post office to rearrange a package redelivery since I have moved here because my neighbours always take them in for me, I don’t think I knew more than one neighbour in London despite living in one of the most densely packed parts of it!

Even think of the most annoying thing you can – the traffic warden, parking attendant, whatever – here most of them are affable chaps who’ll explain what’s going on for you. In my first week I saw two of them chatting, they were off-season surfers making a bit of extra cash in the winter and rather charming. In London they hide in bushes and behind cars waiting for you to trip up and there is absolutely no remonstrating with them, in fact its rather scary trying to do so. People and places are a lot more tolerant and accepting of babies and dogs.

I can describe plenty of lovely, polite encounters with shop staff, waiters, passers-by, plenty of pleases and thanks yous and it pleases me greatly. Here I must mention the lovely lady who works at The Meadow in Palmeira Square who despite not taking public orders for Christmas turkeys decided to help me out when I asked if she knew anywhere that did, and ordered me one with hers (taking no profit whatsoever) and even keeping it in the restaurant fridge until Christmas Eve. She had only met me that day!

Now I am not stupid, I know why people can be more guarded or mean in London and I myself fitted into that too, I rowed with folks who got in my way on buses, I have tripped people up to get that cab and I would keep my head down during a shop transaction barely saying a word to the person serving. Sometimes it does feel a bit more intense, busy and worrying in London and everyone acts accordingly. I read the papers I know that Brighton also has crime, and problems with drink and drugs and I am sure that everyone will have an example of someone who has ruined their day, but on the whole, looking at the bigger picture, weighing it all up – we are lucky because I have found nearly everyone is nicer! And maybe I’m nicer too now I have moved to Brighton? I hope so!

Next time, I will tell you about the times I have come across those who did rub me up the wrong way – and me them….