Where Are You From?

**Jezer** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 08:57 PM

Not where are you now, but where you were born or brought up in your early years.

We had this thread a couple of years ago, but maybe those who were not around at the time would like to contribute.

For those who don't know, I'm a Moonraker meaning that I was born in Wiltshire.

It is in the most part a lovely County and I love the rolling downs, the lovely vales, the old remains- even Stonehenge, though it isn't the best one.

How about you chatters?

**Amy-Hols** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 12:13 AM

I'm from Shropshire. I was born here, I lived in Wales for 10 years but now I'm back.

daveagle · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 04:17 AM

i am a Kentish Man-born west of the River Darenth-but was brought up in South London

dave

**Adam** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 12:29 PM

I'm an Essex Boy!

Bunny · #5 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 05:58 PM

I was born in Birmingham, we left there when I was 2 for Lancashire where we lived till I was 5 then moved to Plymouth where I have lived ever since apart from 2 years near Looe on Cornwall and 5 years in Bristol.

Escafeldia · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 06:52 PM

I was born in Sheffield, which used to be part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is now called South Yorkshire. I was born in a two up two down corner terrace house which didn't even have a hot water boiler behind the fire until I was about three. The bath was put in the kitchen. The oven range was a Yorkshire Range which needed black leading every week. I left the area where I was born about 6 weeks before I got married in 1953. I now live in a semi detached house with an integral garage and have been here for about 18 years. Prior to this I lived further down the village in a Victorian house, with outside toilet for some years, which was bullt in 1898. We lived in this house, with various conversions over the years for 33 years. The only time I spent any major amount of time away from the Sheffield area was duirng the period 1950 to 1952 when I was in the forces. For anyone who doesn't know what a Yorkshire Range looks like; this is one.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...eRiponType.jpg

Archangel · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 09:59 PM

I was born in Khartoum (Sudan) but left at c.6 weeks of age. My father is a retired Colonel, so until age 11 (when I went to boarding school) I lived all around the World, literally.

I consider Manchester as "where I'm from" because it's where my parents had a house and also where my maternal grandparents lived during my childhood. However, my fondest early (under 11) childhood memories are of West Berlin and Tel Aviv.

I'd say that "where you're from" is as much, or more, a state-of-mind, as a geographical accident.

**Jezer** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the posts and keep them coming!

As a newbie Archangel, thank you for that really interesting post.

A real Globetrotter!

Tell us more if you ever get the time or inclination.

Yorkshire range looks great Esca. I wonder how many are still around.

I was moved to Yorkshire at the age of three for eight years and generally liked it.

Archangel · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 11:05 PM

Thank you Jezer.

I'm quite interested in the idea of "where I'm from" - because I feel a little bit as though I'm not from anywhere in particular - for the reasons I gave.

I can name the city in which I was born. I could (at a push) list the places in which I was resident thereafter.

But where one is FROM is subtly different - rather more about how someone self-identifies - don't you think ?

I self-identify as being FROM Manchester - but never spent more than two consecutive weeks in Manchester until I was in my twenties. Similarly, I consider myself 100% English, but had probably spent less than a total of 6 months in England between birth and age 11.

Many will probably find that that lack of geographical stability in childhood, is unfathomable. But, in many respects, we all have the childhood which is thrust upon us. As such, I have as much difficulty imagining how it might have been if I had had a geographically static upbringing.

From someone who feels they are from nowhere specific, I'd like to hear about how other people feel that the place they grew-up in, impacted upon their adult lives. If at all.

**Jezer** · #10 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 11:14 PM

This thread has had 58 views at the time of my posting- don't be shy!