until the end of the world

hi

something of a constant, or perennial (if that means the same thing) for life here in England is that question concerning the so-called "great north-south divide". this is a matter which tends to dominate thinking in our area of the United Kingdom, or even the British Isles entire, look you see. no idea if a similar debate is wrestled with in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, but i would presume they have better things to consider. 

it is a divide regularly considered to be less geographical, more state of mind. we, in the north, do things proper, and refer to things by their proper name, whilst that bunch of shandy drinking softies in the south, alas, do not. this is absolute fact, of course, but just where does this divide commence? 

for, or as, a frame of reference, the actual, geographical centre of England happens, or is to be found somewhere in the middle of a field in Leicestershire. which is in the "midlands", hence the name Midlands. yet there are those which say the state of mind divide, the true line between north and south in England, happens at a place called the Watford Gap. so, i went there. 

no, i did not go there specifically, for to do so would be silly. it was (just) so that my now natural course of travel meant that i could go see it, and so i did. happy accident, if you will. kind of. 

with respect to this place representing the so-called, as in for many (if not most) actual north-south divide, it's about forty (40) miles south of the centre. this divide point, one has to bear in mind, is believed to have been originally or initially set by them lot down south (or "dahn sarf" in their language, let me not be accused of some ism or ist). either that's generous of them, giving us in the north so much extra, or a sign of them being immediately insular, wishing their "bubble" to be as small as possible. you determine which is most likely. 

the main thing about this Watford Gap is, now that i have seen it, i understand a lot more things. all is clear, even. after just a few moments in the place it became very clear why so many visiting it from the north believe the south is going to be precisely as bad as they had been warned, or feared. comparatively, or by the same margin, them what are travelling from the south to an actual, proper place in England (the north) see this place, go "no", and turn around to go back to from whence they came. from what i recall legend has it that Harry Redknapp once considered being employed off of Newcastle (why aye man, pet, etc), but mysteriously on the drive north decided "no, too far" and turned around, heading back south. i now suspect the mystery in that legend is the Watford Gap. 

being fair, strictly speaking it is not that service stations on motorways are meant to be tourist spots, or places of interest. certainly, to be sure, various oddballs (and i do not exclude myself from this group) view them exactly so, but still. functional, is what they are supposed to be. a place to get fuel, use the facilities (go for a p!ss), get an astonishingly overpriced coffee or bankrupt yourself by ordering food there, that is what they exist for. yet this one has, for many generations, been spoken of as the "true" place of the north-south divide. maybe this is what them "no man's land" places in wars all look like. 

rarely have i ever set foot in a place which aspires so much to achieve desolation and despair, and exceeds in achieving it. well, maybe not. some places come close. the inane road system in Colchester, a certain hotel in Ipswich and virtually anywhere what traffic wardens do sneak attacks in Hartlepool evoke similar feelings, but the Watford Gap is something else. no, dreams do not go there to die. it is rather that long dead dreams, previously considered discarded, are dug up and dumped there to serve as warning to all for no specific reason beyond misery. 

could it be that simply getting rid of this Watford Gap be key to finally ending England's class war? would removing it entire free us of this north-south divide business? that strikes me as a little harsh, or draconian, even. neatening it up wouldn't be a bad idea. also putting a disclaimer up, noting to anyone visiting that it, in itself, is not a fair or true reflection of the north or south, it just exists as its own, less than merry thing. besides, it is a handy place to go for a mildly uncomfortable comfort break (p!ss), and also a place you are absolutely guaranteed to be able to buy vastly overpriced petrol off of. 

yes, i do understand that sociologists, scientists and what not have spent years wrestling with the issue of the north-south divide. politicians certainly have not, bar abstract references. my realistic view is that i doubt my observations will add much to the understanding, but then again maybe some of them clever types what do the research and that have not considered how Watford Gap is of neither side of the fence it apparently is. just as well i have drawn attention to it, then. 

perhaps some of you wish to explore, discover or research this "north-south divide" business for yourself, yet cannot visit the Watford Gap directly. or are far too intelligent or clever to. other ways to test this artificial yet real barrier exist. the easiest, when not sure if you are in the north or the south, can be done by going into a pub and ordering a "pint of fizzy, squire", or perhaps even a shandy. should this request see you get your f*****g head kicked in, be it by fellow patrons or maybe the landlord, you are in the north. if what happens is you hear "certainly, sir" and get served one of them, well, welcome to the south, enjoy it, ching ching. 

maybe is, as a word, the best possible answer (or at least most correct) to any question concerning if i shall do any further research into this topic, or subject. being of the north it is not a matter i am particularly interested in, for it is so i am from the better bit of this line or divide. however, should any stray observations come my way, yes, likely i will share them here. 

be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!