I was looking at this journal section last week and was surprised to see that I hadn't posted anything in it since July 15th.

I could rationalize this by saying that my life has been somewhat uneventful since midsummer, although a more a likely and probably more truthful explanation, would be that it has been of kind and a colour that I had no wish to describe in lurid detail.

Living in Huddersfield, with little money, few opportunities, no chance to travel outside of a very narrow daily orbit, with a non existent social-life, has certainly NOT been the stuff of high adventure!

The physicality of much of my existence here, has consisted of visits to the local-shop, walks with Dexter, and occasional trips down-town. Once there, my task has been to view the list of non-vacancies at the town jobcentre, spend a paltry sum of money on some small insignificant item, visit the local library, and catch the return-bus home.

Fortunately, the tide is turning. I find myself in a more determined mood of late, and am completely resolved to shift this spirit of lethargy and defeatism. Thus it is that I have poured myself into finding work, creating a new site (citizenscoop) and shifting the mood of defeatism that has gripped a large part of my year.

I've secured some temporary employment, thus (partially) staving off a very Dickensian Christmas, am busy organizing the citizen-journalism panel for podcastconuk in November, and my wife and I are both actively planning our escape route back to city life in Manchester in the early months of the new-year.


I've learned a great deal from my three years in Huddersfield. Lessons I believe will prove valuable throughout the rest of my life. I've seen my own small world in a different context and been forced to re-examine certain aspects of my reality. I bear no malice towards this town, or towards my time here.

All of this will serve me well, but, it's time to move forwards. Staying here much longer would be too much like standing still, and I hate inactivity! Life is for living, and after a period of reflection I'm determined to make sure that both Bethany and I live ours.