There’s a Smile Waiting For You
Archie Hume of A Hume Country Clothing on why everyone is moving to the country
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‘Committed to thoughtfulness’
At first, I thought it was just another pandemic tale being spun by columnists looking to fill space in the Sunday supplements but it’s really happening. For the first time in centuries, urban populations are in decline. City dwellers are packing their bags and fleeing to the country.
I’ve been reliably informed it’s a trend backed by stats, but for me it’s the personal stories that are most revealing. I turned on the radio the other day to hear another resident of Glasgow’s trendy West End declare her intention to move out of town inspired by her desire to swap socially distanced queueing outside her (previously) favourite Baristas for all she’d longed for during lockdown: hills, country walks, a veg garden. Even easing out of lockdown, none of the pay offs of city life – endless restaurants, cinemas, entertainment venues, proximity to work – seemed worth it anymore.
And she’s far from alone. It’s taken lockdown for many people to re-think what’s most important to them. With the result that, top of most people’s post-lockdown list is outdoor space, including access to nature and the countryside. But I don’t think it’s just the desire for a garden and idyllic walks that’s driving the trend towards country living. The reasons people cite for upping sticks for the sticks are remarkably similar in tone to the values expressed in my personal country code.
Now, I don’t want to sound like a pompous git, my country code isn’t available as a leather bound edition*, it’s more of a dreamt up over-a-pint sort of a list - the ‘rules’ of country living. It goes something like this:
Always remember you’re lucky to live in the country. Take time to look around and enjoy where you live; the towns, the villages and the landscape.
Respect for other people is fundamental to country life, we recognise that we need each other to make the countryside work.
The countryside goes at its own pace, this pace is not as fast as the city. Slowing up was something a lot of people liked about lockdown. So, slow up and enjoy it.
Saying hello is part of country life, almost without exception people are welcoming and genuinely interested in others.
Enjoy the seasons, each one has its good points. Fields dotted with lambs in spring; hazy summer days in the sun, played out to a soundtrack of buzzing bees; woodland walks in autumn and the bracing chill of a day in the hills that ends in front of a roaring fire in winter.
Country sports and events are open to everyone, from everywhere. Forget your preconceptions. At the end of the day, it’s the social side that largely matters most.
Always help each other out; I help you; you help me; we get the job done. Community spirit is vital to country life.
The countryside is a fantastic larder, from field to fork/ farmshop, or fresh fruit and veg from your own garden. Plus, there’s foraging for mushrooms, brambles, sloes to make gin and masses more.
Smiling is big in the country and smiling makes people happy. Being happy can be a big ask in the modern world. Smile, be happy – live in the country. Or at least take time to visit, there is a smile waiting for you.
Finally, country people have a healthy disrespect for rules, once you know and understand the rules…you can break them. It’s just another perk of country life.
* Although my country code isn’t currently in print, I am open to offers should any estate agents wish to include my code as part of their glossy schedule for country properties!