JUST recently I feel I have been turning into a real Victor Meldrew (or, as a colleague corrected me once, a Victoria Meldrew).

Funnily enough, about ten years ago my only real ‘moan’ was if I didn’t have enough cash to go to the pub.

But these days I find myself bristling with annoyance and concern with a variety of topics, from current affairs to just experiencing what I think are the injustices of everyday life.

I find myself shouting at the panel on Question Time and I frequently talk back to the radio. I really get quite passionate about how such dreadful decisions can be made that affect us all and there isn’t much we can do about them. This recent change in my personality has come as a great surprise to me as generally I consider myself to be quite a laid back and cheerful person. I guess it is just that modern life seems to be pushing those buttons.

However the biggest part of that is I get really quite passionate about conserving the area where I live and I find myself sending reams of emails to the council to ask about the most minor things (although they aren’t minor to me).

The word nimby is bandied about quite often, including in this column, and I am always amazed at how most people seem to feel embarrassed to be called the term (short for Not In My Backyard).

But for me I see it as an obvious part of human nature: we are passionate about our community and are keen to preserve it – and rightly so.

Because, when we spend thousands on a house, which is so carefully chosen, is used as a sanctuary against the rest of the world and is where we spend years of our lives, why wouldn’t we want to keep it perfect?

Indeed, watching the High Speed 2 fight so closely highlights how difficult it is for us all to live on this one planet. Yes, there arealways going to be differences of opinions when any plans, particularly of this magnitude, are put forward – not least by the householders that will have to live with the consequences.

I have often felt quite envious of those who live in remote parts of New Zealand and only have sheep for neighbours, or thought how amazing it would be to literally live in a field miles away from others. You bet though, someone would build a power plant or a drive-through fast food venue next door.

Yes, I’m sure there will be a time when most of us, like Victor, will exclaim, “I don’t believe it.”

Because the reality is we shouldn’t feel cosy in the knowledge that these grand schemes are happening in someone else’s backyard – something big like the High Speed 2 plan can happen to anyone.