Hello and Happy Tuesday! I know, two posts in two days! Sorry didn't mean to give you a fright! What can I say this weekend and my new template has got me all motivated!

I always take it for granted that people reading this know I am a northerner born and bred forgetting that the wonder of the internet means that you can know my inner deepest darkest thoughts without ever having heard my Yorkshire accent.

So for any of you who didn't know, I'm a Yorkshire lass, although currently, I live in Lancashire. I have spent my entire life up North, and the last 8 years crossing back and forth over the Pennines. I grew up in York, went to University in Lancashire, lived for a while in Manchester and now find myself in Blackburn.

Yes sometimes the bright lights of London seem alluring especially when you consider I work in the arts, and unfortunately the majority of funding does still head south (yeah I said it). But I love the North, and when I when I hear people bleating out the old cliches about it being grim or boring I do actually get a little mad.

So when The Car People got in touch asking me to shout loud and proud that it's Not So Grim Up North it was an easy YES. So for those of you who aren't convinced, or for those of you who are by my side fighting the good fight, here is a list of why It's Not So Grim Up North....