I really like Northwich, I always have. I loved working in the town centre. I found it compact enough to get about and it had everything I needed.

But, and don’t take this the wrong way, my experience was that the people had a tendency to be a little dour. In fact I would go as far as to say they had a propensity to moan about almost anything and everything.

So it came as more than a little surprise when I read that Northwich has been named among the UK’s happiest places to live. Who knew?

According to the report on the Northwich Guardian website, the town was listed at number 16 on the Rightmove survey making it the happiest place to live in the north west as it beat Altrincham which sits at 17th place and Macclesfield at 18th.

Chester ranked fourth last year but failed to make the top 20 list for 2022. (What’s gone wrong with poor old Chester, I wonder.)

The annual Happy at Home survey features 20 locations that are considered to be the happiest places to live. It takes into account the average asking price for houses in the area as well as average house rental prices. Locations are ranked based on factors such as whether people feel there is a sense of belonging, the proximity to green spaces, and local amenities and whether there is a community spirit.

It was lovely to hear that people in Northwich are so happy about their home town but I have to say I have now come to the conclusion that there are two separate and distinct types of people. On the one hand we have the shiny, happy people who contribute to Rightmove surveys and think Northwich is wonderful, and on the other hand we have the less shiny, less happy people who contribute to the Guardian’s online comments and Facebook pages for whom complaining is the go-to state of mind.

And I have evidence to support my views. Take, for example, the announcement of plans to convert the former Bratts shop in Northwich into two retail units and 17 apartments.

What’s not to like, I thought? An empty building will be brought back into use and perhaps bring a little footfall to the town.

Oh no, not good enough for the keyboard warriors of Northwich and so the complaints started.

What about the drains (yes, they’ve always needed sorting out); what about flooding, what about noise? We don’t need more housing, said one comment. (Yes we do, we really do).

Or how about: “We have enough shops/empty shops. We need to fill Barons Quay first.”

And here’s another: “More apartments that won’t sell and more shop units that won’t fill.”

See what I mean? Moan, moan, moan. Look, no one is forcing you to buy one of the apartments. Yes, there is no car parking on site but that’s a decision for potential residents to make and isn’t a reason to oppose the plans. (Aren’t we all meant to be using more sustainable modes of transport?)

You are not being asked to stump up your cash for this project. You don’t gain anything if it is a success and you don’t lose anything if it fails. The risk is being taken by the developers so as long as they meet planning regulations, why don’t you let them get on with it?

After all, Northwich is one of the happiest places in the country to live and your moaning comments are just killing the buzz and bringing us all down.

To put it another way, as Thumper famously said in the Disney classic Bambi: “If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all.” (Thumper really should have said ‘don’t say anything at all’. The colloquial double negative rather spoiled the message.)

On another topic and apropos of nothing, I was delighted to see that Natalie Imbruglia has been announced as a special guest, supporting Jack Savoretti at the Forest Live 2023 gig at Delamere Forest.

I’ve been to a few of the Delamere Forest concerts in the past and generally speaking I’ve enjoyed them (although getting off the car park at the end can sometimes be a bit of a trial.)

I really like Ms Imbruglia and quite fancy going to see her. But then again, the tickets are expensive (£49.95 once the booking fee is added) and I don’t know if I can afford it in the middle of a cost of living crisis. I just can’t quite make my mind up whether or not go. To be honest, I’m torn.

(If you know, you know.)