...In thinking Reading (the town) should change it's name?

[TiggyD]

It makes Googling a right pain in the botty. You put something like "BDSM Reading" for whatever reason into the Googlebox and it gives you a load of books you might like to read.

I suggest Tiggy City.

[CommanderShepard]

I like Reading; just wish there was an easier/quicker way to get there than the seven bends of death A4074.

[Punkatheart]

That's better, Tennis (does not smack TF's botty)

Oh you will know me. I wear a leather mini skirt and fishnets...you can usual see my butt cheeks...that's how I like it. I chew gum...'cos that's real classy innit and I hang out on Hemdean Road calling out to all the fellas. Oh and as for my cleavage...it causes red kites to tumble from the sky...

(Can you tell I'm a fiction writer?)

We should have some sort of Mumset masonic style sign and a secret handshake. I am often in the Alto Lounge these days......

Isn't EVERYONE on Mumsnet from Caversham? Oh my, I may have stumbled into a den of vice and strange outsiders.....

[notsofrownieface]

greetings from Reading

[CuttedUpPear]

I work at the Reading festival every year. My accomplice crew mate and I always compare which books we have brought along to read and bemoan our failure year on year to actually locate the literature tent.

[MajesticWhine]

Ah, happy memories of being a student in Reading. Is the Standard Tandoori still in Caversham?

[Marlinspike]

You won't see me in Caversham Waitrose as I have moved to to Yorkshire - left dear old Reading 20 years ago, before they made Friar Street buses only, pedestrianised Broad Street, and when John Lewis was still Heelas, with all the twisty staircases and floors at different levels!

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Hi Punk, Please and Marlin, Caversham girl here too... in fact I will probably be in Alto tomorrow scoffing a veggie brekkie

[Tanith]

I lived in Reading for 25 years.

It used to be spelled Redding, so maybe we should switch back to that, or one of the equally popular Chaucer-like spellings.

[MurderOfGoths]

Nooo you couldn't rename it, then Jasper Fforde would have to rewrite his Nursery Crime Division books!

[MurderOfGoths]

Ooh actually, while some of the Reading-ites are here, anyone here used to be a regular at the Turtle back in the mid 2000's?

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Majestic, it sure is, and serving up a mean chicken jalfrezi.

[MummyPig24]

The Turtle...haven't been there in years. Dp and his friends went there a couple of months ago and he said it wasn't the same. Probably something to do with the fact that he has aged by about 8 years. I think the last time I went there was about 5 years ago when I was 20 and I felt old in comparison to everyone else there!

[BlackBagBorderBinLiner]

After Dark, 1990's?

[fairimum]

Ooooo I loved the after dark.... Anyone remember Level One?

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Fairimum - it was Washington Shites in my time! Scruples anyone?

[AtiaoftheJulii]

I've been in Reading (not in a naice part either, Dontbreak, but like it where I am - my 10 year old can walk to the swimming pool and at least 2 parks in a few minutes) for 12 years (dh was born and bred here, though we met elsewhere), and I thought that article was very funny!

It's not somewhere anyone its likely to aspire to live, but it does have a lot of interesting stuff going on.

And I always just add Berkshire to my googling!

[Rosa]

I like another poster recall, Heelas, Knights and Barratts the shoe shop on Broad Street. Is the Butts Centre still there? Also recall going to the Hexagon and seeing Tears for Fears plus other things. Not been back in years. I lived about 9 miles out but Junction 11 from the M4 was always manic.

[RustyBear]

Butts Centre is still there, but is now the Broad Street Mall.

[Marlinspike]

Knights! That was in the middle of Broad Street wasn't it? anyone remember when it was the Cadena cafe (I must be going back about 40 years - my DM used to take me there as a child!).

I also remember the Butts centre - grim old place that it was. I always remember being evacuated from there in the 70's due to and IRA bomb threat (although it would have been a blessing to have it razed to the ground methinks!)

Smelly Alley - still there I believe, so named because of the fish shop an greengrocers down there. One of the early Body Shops was also down there - mus have been in the very early days as the labels were all hand-written.

Also the Boars head in Friar street - tudor inn knocked down to build a Premier Inn - scandalous! There were some really interesting vintage (ie 2nd hand) clothes shops near there - can't remember what they were called!

Is the Central swimming pool still there? I have a memory of jumping off the top diving board, although after watching Splash! I think I might have imagined that, as I can't see myself ever doing such a bonkers thing. I have become more wimpy in my old age!

[MurderOfGoths]

I forgot all about Smelly Alley!

[MummyPig24]

Central is still there, though I've not been swimming there in years. Smelly alley still there with the fishmongers, butchers and grocers.

Butts centre hashad a bit of an overhaul, its not too bad now.

[Rosa]

I remember Smelly Alley with the jeans shop run by an Indian chap down the bottom. Also the body shop. Was the in place when it opened. my uniform came from Jacksons ...eeek the place . Gives me the creeps thinking about it.School shoes from Clarks also on Broad street.

[Rosa]

The Butts in my era had E M Merits downstairs and Iceland upstairs... Can't remember much else apart from a few ethnic shops .