I have moved to the UK’S most depressed place.

—–Prologue—–

I always think back and remember that patience is what it takes to start a book. To even get into the book, you must give it time – time to begin.

It is exactly the same with almost anything, you must give it time.

And your capacity to give things time? Patience.

The lesson learnt was this,

“Patience is a virtue only the best can bear its burden”.

Not my words, but the words of iGooner1886 on X. And yes, I am also a Gooner, for as long as ART-eta is around.

—–End of Prologue—–

I was only sat at Brinnington station this morning, when the thought dawned on me – where the hell am I, and what in the who is Brinnington. Of course my next action was the following Chat-GPT prompt:

A brief history of Brinnington UK (please).

However, it was NOT then when I discovered the fact that Brinnington is the UK’s most depressed place, but rather, the article from the Guardian that told me.

Brinnington, it turns out, is to be the place you go where you have no where else to go. How does even this, link to the Beatles and Nowhere Man? **

** A small disclaimer – I am not depressed nor have I no where else to go, I just found this particular new learning interesting about the place I now reside

Brinnington

This has obviously made me think. This allows for something, and this affords me something.

I decided to hunker down for winter, to give myself time and space from everyone and most things. I have discussed previously the role of the seasons and what one should be doing this time of year, and on this occasion, I hope to do it properly.

But what else does this experience afford. Well, it links to my recent conversations, and my particular conversations between my lover and I.. However, it is oh-so difficult to articulate, and see how I am struggling now? – but, True Empathy. The ability to see beyond your own personal biases to the point where you not only see, but live within someone else’s shoes. You literally can’t do this, but this is the when the power of intuition and feeeeeeling come in. To have a greater understanding, to feel what it is like, to live another life, to know another life. I see the value in doing this, and being here. This is a long term vision. A long term vision of understanding. To better understand, the world in which I live, I must take myself here.

I have moved to Brinnington because I want space and time to do what I need to do. However, the longer I spend here (it has only been less than a week), the more it makes sense to me. I firstly recognise on the map that Brinnington is situated, within a ‘Sea of Green’ – wow. Then secondly, the ‘no-where-man’ thing!..but besides the bloody Beatles, it makes sense to me because Brinnington allows me to live a different world; a new life; a change.

It’s far too easy to sum it up as that, I’ve spent two days since, trying to think it through and get it down on here. I know it will come, I just have to have a little patience. Patience with thought, and articulation. Nothing ever good comes out from being in a hurry, but a sense of urgency is a must. Interesting isn’t it.

But why Brinnington, and why the most depressed place in the UK. Well, I’ll think about it – the writing, has only…just begun.