Are the natives friendly?

I visited quite a lot of different locations such as Cornwall, Devon, Hampshire and Surrey before deciding Kent was where I wanted to live. The one thing I did notice very quickly was how different people were outside of London.

I was definitely becoming very jaded living in London. If you don't push and shove to get on the tube someone else will and you would never get to work. It doesn't matter that you're female or if you're older or anything else that's just tough luck! People bump into you all the time and don't say sorry, I was once literally pushed off the pavement into the road on Westminster Bridge (where I could have been knocked over by a passing car or worse a huge bus), the man that did this when he barged his way over the bridge didn't even give me a backwards glance.

I don't know why but words like please and thank you seem to be a foreign language and rarely used, you can hold as many doors open as you like but the chances of getting so much as 'thanks' is rare.

It took quite a while but I found myself starting to push back until one day I thought this isn't me, I don't want to be rude like this!

On visits to Kent the people seemed a lot more relaxed. On a number of occasions I got into the 'no please, you first' conversation in doorways. They smiled lot more than people in London and were happy to have a conversation with you - again that doesn't happen much in London - unless you're in the back of a black cab!

The other thing I found was the difference in service in shops. I went to Argos and was asked if I could manage to get the items I had purchased to my car, heaven knows what my face must have been like when he said that - a picture of shock probably. At Halfords I asked about something for my car, the assistant actually took the trouble to go out to my car and checked all sorts of other things, even looking for my tyre pressures so I'd know what they were in future!

But the best so far has been B&Q. I quickly discovered that the staff there (even though it's a huge warehouse!) have all the time in the world to try and help - and they really know their stuff. I have literally spent a small fortune in there simply due to the fact I can always get help and advice. I'm tackling jobs that had I got someone in to do them would have cost a small fortune, again down to the fact I felt I could have a go myself after getting some advice. 

It's got so bad there now that lots of the staff know me (by name!) and stop me to ask how my house is coming along. Last week I even used the staff loo - I seem to be an honorary staff member. Some of the staff have said I should work there and at this rate I'll be highly qualified to advise on all sorts of DIY projects!

So, are the 'natives' friendly? Yes I can most certainly say they are!