With the risk of having a pitchfork poked in my midriff, I think I ought to stand up for the folk who have not lived in Brixton that long.
My flatmate and I got a joint mortgage for a flat in Brixton two years ago because neither of us could afford to buy anything outright ourselves.
House prices in Brixton are completely barking, but they are slightly less insane than in most other places in London. Given the choice of forking out a fortune in rent or the same amount on a mortgage, I choose a mortgage. I am not going to apologise for it.
I didn't buy in Brixton because it was cheap, I moved here because I love the place. I don't want it to be just like another bit of boring, uniform, dull, expensive crappy Clapham.
I am not having a go at anyone, but sometimes it feels that anyone who happens to wear a suit to work is not welcome within this mythical Brixton community.
Sometimes people who claim to be champions of Brixton's unique character do its reputation the most damage by making it clear that they don't want to share it with anyone who hasn't lived here for 30 years. So much for a spirit of tolerance.
Accusing anyone who wears a suit and has a job in town of being a yuppie twat is like saying that anyone with dreads is automatically a drug-ridden shitbag.
Yeah sure, there are sloany boring twats who move to Brixton because "yah, you know, its like the new Notting Hill, rah rah", but I think those people are the exception rather than the rule.
So please guys, give us newcomers a break.
Right, I am off to the local shop for local people before the folk with the flaming torches turn up.
x 10.
