A PUBLIC-SCHOOL educated boss has casually admitted that in his 43 years he has never visited the North of Britain.
Julian Cook, who lives in London, joined an office conversation about York and said that even though it was in the North, his friend Tamzin had told him it was actually of significant architectural interest.
Colleague Mary Fisher said: “Then he said, ‘Of course I’ve never been further than Rugby. I once considered Old Trafford for an Ashes game but I’ve heard things about the women.’
“We discussed the fact that – since I started here – he’s been to Bahrain, Italy, Uruguay, Kenya twice, Hong Kong and the US but never to a large region of his own country, and he replied ‘I honestly didn’t know there was anything there to see.’
“Then he said, ‘Are all the houses in those rows, or are there proper ones as well? And I do prefer green countryside. I’d miss that up there. I think it’s the better type of countryside to have.’
“He wouldn’t commit to an actual visit, no matter how highly we sung its praises. He seems to suspect we’re trying to trick him.”
Cook said: “They are oddly convinced of its merits. Perhaps when I’m flying up to Scotland for the grouse shoot in May, I’ll take a little look out of the window.”
