To wonder what Northampton has got going for it?

[Bluebellsinseason]

Anything? Apart from some nice villages?

come and join us Keema?

Have PMd you UnChartered I would be up for a meet up.

Blatherskite It wasn't a big meet up, just a couple of us met at a soft play one morning with the DC.
Think it should be without DC this time though

a couple have PMed me and asked about timings, ie day/eve

what do people prefer?

shall i start a new thread?

I can do most times - just exclude school run - say from 9:30am until 2:30 or evenings. I'll be DC free.

issimma Yes, I got rid of the Fork
I would prefer an evening but am happy to go with the majority

new thread so we can stop hijacking this one

Hmm, combining a visit to see Unchartered and a night out... Tempting, very tempting!!

Thanks everyone - especially fairy queen for telling me about Stanwick Lakes - I'll try it! Snakebite - where is the soft play area you speak of?

I've been away and just seen loads of posts, quite a few pages' worth - I didn't realise, thanks everyone for sharing. I raised a controversial question to stimulate debate. I too certainly appreciate the beautiful villages here and how untouristy the county is. I guess I find myself yearning for a bit more glamour and action from time to time. That's an ex-Londoner for you. I shall go away now to compose my Ode to Northamptonshire.

you're more than welcome to join our other thread Bluebells - thanks for getting us all together!

The town centre definitely needs a makeover, it is so nasty in areas... But not as bad as Corby where I had to go today - that place is GRIM!

easy now MsPaperback

unless you're Louise Mensch...

No! Am not HER! I have pm'd you my details for the N'ton meet up by the way so let me know when it is happening!

Corby was awful, sorry but it was. Northampton used to have some great little individual shops when I moved here but they are all nearly gone! The town is not great is it!

hehehehehehehe

it's much better than it was... and if you're 21 and want clothes

A decent little coffee shop that is not cafe Nero or costa would be great too. I don't think much to any of the indi ones in town...

Corby is better than it used to be. It's a start at least. It's never going to be a cultural hub mind you. But apparently we are getting a cinema soon. And a Tesco! Wow! I can hardly wait...

However, house prices are low here so we don't have to spend all our cash on the mortgage and can afford things we would not be able to if we lived somewhere else (a house slightly bigger than what we need, me being able to give up working for a couple of years to look after the baby, running two cars etc etc). And the country parks nearby are nice for taking kids to on a Sunday afternoon.

According to the free magazine that the council send round, both the Queen and the Olympic torch are coming to Corby this year!

Ah i'll always have a soft spot for Corby. It is what it is, without pretension and it actually has some nice facilities. And you're never far away from a lovely country pub, beautiful countryside and cheap cost of living.

Soft spot for Corby?! I was only there one afternoon and couldn't get out fast enough!

are you SURE you're not la Mensch, MsPaperback

just kidding

It's amazing how far nostalgia will take you mspaperback! I grew up there and had a lovely time.

Ooh I'd be up for a meet- up. Can I come?

Northampton, hmmm; I grew up there and lived in many parts of it up to the age of 21 when I ran away to London and never looked back. It makes me feel quite panicky to go back there now, but family there so sometimes I have to.

My Mum (born & bred) says that it was a lovely market town until the 1060's town planners got hold of it, then the London overspill council estates were built in the 70's and that nailed the coffin shut. You can still see what a lovely town it must once of been in the bones of the high street and the market square, but I'm afraid it's beyond resurrection. What a shame they didn't save the castle - at least that would have given it something.

It was a dump when I grew up there and IMO it's an even bigger dump now.

The villages are beautiful if that's where you want to be, not for me though.