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This idea that a person's character is formed in part by where they live is relatively new to me. It managed to escape my observation for the reason that I have lived in one area my entire life, my parents' home town. I have always lived around the city of London, and I knew no other lifestyle than the one I have grown up in. However in the past couple of years, my long distance relationship with my fiance has opened my eyes and I have perceived noticeable changes to my character as I have been dividing my time between living down South and travelling two hundred miles up North to visit my fiance and his family and friends.

I am a southern Londoner, brought up watching The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. My fiance is a typical northern lad, brought up watching Red Dwarf and Doctor Who. We are as different as chalk and cheese in many areas, however over the past couple years these clear north/south distinctions have softened and merged considerably. I have noticed however that while I have changed in myself, this transformation occurs only up North. At times it feels I almost have a Jackal and Hyde persona; this is not deliberate, and is not necessarily a result of my fiance's influence, but as a result of living in two very different areas.

Down South I am my parent's child; unimaginative in hairstyle and dress, have a regular pattern of when I wake and sleep. I am essentially the girl I have been my entire life, listen to the same music and watch the same music. Northern lifestyle is far different from life down South; it is far more laid back and spontaneous. There are nights when my fiance and I go for an early morning stroll across the nearby meadows, sitting under the moon, enjoying the peace and isolation. It feels safe out there under the stars and in the middle of an acre of grass. I feel safer on the streets during the day, and have the confidence to wear skirts, heels, new hairstyles and makeup around town, and have a new network of friends up there whom I go out with to cinema, parties etc. I love my new life up North and the small village my fiance and I have chosen for our new home.

My fiance maintains I am a different person up North; less uptight and restricted, more relaxed and confident. He sees less of the tomboy Londoner, and more of an exploration of the inner Northern lass. Now readers may say that this change is due to the people I am with rather than the place. However I strongly maintain that the place in which you live has

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