I cycle to the coast in the drizzle. The low tide exposes a smooth bank on which tiny crabs scuttle between pebbles and bladderwrack. This stretch of the coast – the closest to us – is a world away from the northern part. In fact the coastline as a whole is as clear a demonstration of the British class system as you could wish for. To the east, Great Yarmouth with its familiar story: once a rich port and Victorian holiday resort, now one of the most deprived towns in the country after decades of budget airlines, package holidays and a spiral of unemployment and neglect as the regional cities have gentrified and pushed those in the margins further out. Here are discount chain stores, betting shops and gaming arcades. Litter everywhere. The dogs of choice are terriers and rottweilers. In the north, at a suitable distance from the caravan parks, second homes in tasteful muted colours and Range Rovers have replaced the old fishermen’s cottages and carts. The beaches are wider and sandier, the pubs have Michelin stickers on their doors, the dogs are spaniels and labradors.
-
Everyone carries a room about inside him. This fact can even be proved by means of the sense of hearing. If someone walks fast and one pricks up one's ears and listens, say in the night, when everything round about is quiet, one hears, for instance, the rattling of a mirror not quite firmly fastened to the wall.
-
– Kafka
- Follow Notes from a Room on WordPress.com
Categories
Archives
- December 2019 (4)
- November 2019 (4)
- October 2019 (3)
- September 2019 (3)
- July 2019 (4)
- June 2019 (3)
- May 2019 (1)
- March 2019 (1)
- February 2019 (12)
- January 2019 (7)
- December 2018 (7)
- November 2018 (6)
- October 2018 (2)
- September 2018 (2)
- August 2018 (14)
- June 2018 (3)
- May 2018 (6)
- April 2018 (15)
- March 2018 (15)
- March 2017 (2)
- September 2016 (5)
- August 2016 (2)
- February 2016 (1)
- December 2015 (2)
- November 2015 (3)
- October 2015 (2)
- August 2015 (1)
- June 2015 (2)
- April 2015 (1)
- July 2014 (3)
- April 2014 (1)
- March 2014 (1)
- December 2013 (1)
- November 2013 (2)
- October 2013 (3)
- September 2013 (1)
- August 2013 (2)
- February 2013 (1)
- January 2013 (6)
- December 2012 (10)
- November 2012 (27)
- October 2012 (14)
- September 2012 (14)
- August 2012 (18)
- May 2012 (1)
- April 2012 (2)
- March 2012 (7)
- February 2012 (8)
- January 2012 (10)
- December 2011 (1)
- November 2011 (11)
- October 2011 (19)
- September 2011 (18)
- August 2011 (38)
- July 2011 (21)
- June 2011 (21)
- May 2011 (9)
- April 2011 (12)
- March 2011 (8)
- February 2011 (13)
- January 2011 (18)
- December 2010 (3)
- November 2010 (7)
- October 2010 (28)
- September 2010 (26)
- August 2010 (35)
- July 2010 (32)
- June 2010 (34)
- May 2010 (10)
- April 2010 (7)
- March 2010 (12)
- February 2010 (4)
- January 2010 (1)
- December 2009 (27)
- November 2009 (20)
- October 2009 (10)
- September 2009 (12)
- August 2009 (7)
- July 2009 (14)
- June 2009 (31)
- May 2009 (38)
- April 2009 (13)
- March 2009 (17)
- February 2009 (19)
- January 2009 (18)
- December 2008 (19)
- November 2008 (8)
- October 2008 (2)
- September 2008 (2)
- August 2008 (15)
- July 2008 (5)
- June 2008 (8)
- May 2008 (2)
- April 2008 (1)
- March 2008 (5)
- February 2008 (4)
- January 2008 (8)
- December 2007 (4)
- November 2007 (12)
- October 2007 (6)
- September 2007 (2)
- July 2007 (1)