My home town's been written about in The New York Times.
Not in a good way.
I feel I should point out that the photographs in the article are not really representative. Regarding the first one (and, really, who else goes there?), as some bright spark here said, two steps to the side and the photographer would have been in the river. The second is from a part of town that's being demolished and rebuilt.
At least there was something positive in yesterday's budget and the area is to be an Enterprise Zone which might attract new business and industry and help fill a gap that the declining iron and steel and chemical industries have left.
Middlesbrough does have its problems, we're all agreed on that. I worked in social work for many years and understand the challenges some people live with.
It's certainly not the prettiest of towns, being highly urbanised, but that's against a backdrop of the Cleveland Hills and with both coast and countryside just a whisker away.
Oh yes, and we talk funny here.
But I'm very fond of this place I call home. I've lived and worked here all my life, apart from three years in leafy Warwickshire when I was at university, and I'll probably stay here. (Years ago, my cousins emigrated to the American mid west after their dad, my uncle, was invited to spread his steelmaking expertise. They've told me they spent months looking out of the window in their apartment, wishing for nothing more than a bus with "Middlesbrough" on the front to turn up).
I'm not alone in wanting to spread the love and there are some who believe we should be granted city status.
Now please excuse me as I join my fellow Smoggies in dodging all the pregnant teens to rummage for food in bins.
As if.