I wasn't in the north east during the periods of downturn that have been illustrated above. During that time I was raising a young family on an airbase in the south of England. Glad that I had the umbrella of AMQ's as I watched friends and colleagues who owned property become consumed by negative equity and high interest rates.
A period of time that I hope no part of the UK ever sees again. Despite my leanings towards preserving the union, more and more I see better social and economic ideas emerging from Hollyrood. Cameron, Osborne and co are letting us down.