How I managed it on a reporter's salary in a village where the average house price is almost 50% higher than the rest of Suffolk can only be down to generous in-laws, who were prepared to sell their house to me.

As it turns out it was the deal of the century – as house prices will surely soar (whatever the economic doom and gloom) thanks to an estate agents' firm putting Long Melford in the top 20 best villages in the universe.

I lived in Melbourne, Australia, before arriving here. While I was there the city was named as the most "liveable city in the world". I was told this by the governor of Victoria, who feverishly sold the idea to me while I interviewed him in Melbourne's largest cemetery – surrounded by 100,000 dead people!

Funnily enough, within a year house prices in the city, attractively low until then, suddenly soared to Sydney prices and beyond.

And before that I lived in Saffron Walden. Not surprisingly, it was named as the best town to live in England and the district the best place to bring up children. Can a young person buy a house in the town without winning the lottery now? Unlikely.

I don't think it has anything to do with me but I'm planning a move to Clacton – within a year I anticipate it will be the East Coast Riviera.

I don't think there is a conspiracy but I wonder if there is a secret sect of estate agents who meet to decide where the next "best place" should be.

In the mean time it is great to be here and working for the Free Press –which will undoubtedly soon be voted the best newspaper in England!