What it’s like growing up in Hertfordshire

Just north of London lies the most wonderful of all counties: Hertfordshire.

Growing up in Hertfordshire included many things that could be expected of British teenage culture, however there are a few staple things that make us stand out from the rest.

We’ve seen a surprising amount of B-list celebs

As Herts is home to the likes of Big Brother, Eastenders and Holby City, many “stars” live amongst us. But telling people you saw Stacey from Eastenders in Tesco café isn’t as exciting as it used to be.

We claim that we’re from London

It’s just easier to say, everyone knows where London is. If I was to say I was from Borehamwood you’d have no idea would you?

We have a mild obsession with Oceana Watford

Any other Oceana just will not do. You all have that special place in our hearts for the club(s) you went to when you just turned 18 but what Watford has to offer is of a magical supremacy and will always be number one in our eyes.

Squuuuuuad

We’ll never admit we’re as posh as we actually are

Back home loads of people we know went to private school, so by going to your standard comprehensive school we have legitimate reasoning for not thinking we’re posh.

School trips to Thorpe Park

The annual trip where you’d fight to get to the back of the coach and blast N Dubz off of your Sony Ericsson just to spend a small fortune when you got there.

Our early teens were spent at Jarman Park

It was a wonderful place where you could swim, ice-skate or watch the latest films and although it’s no longer in it’s true glory, it will forever stay in our hearts, memories, and Facebook photos from 2008.

Baby Batchwood

The highlight of the school holidays where your parents would drop you off after a week of stressing about what to wear over BBM with your best pal. Thank God there wasn’t Snapchat in these days.

It seemed like almost everyone had a Corsa

It was the boys first car of choice and them short months after they passed their test where they hadn’t wrote it off yet, they would either all cram into it and just drive round and round. Or if several had passed, they’d all drive around separately.

A stereotypical driveway in Hertfordshire

The year 8 Jack Wills phase

I’m sure that the herds of 13 year old girls that would enter the St.Albans Jack Wills on a Saturday just to buy a pen would must have pissed the workers right off. Some of us even saved the huge tags that came on each item just to hang them somewhere in our room to show our friends how cool we were. Bonus points if your parents got you the bedding.