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Forces sweethearts

If you have a family member in the Royal Navy, RAF or army, find support from other Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Well we're going to Colchester :(

45 replies

StrictlyKatty · 13/04/2010 12:57

My German dream has been shattered. DH has been posted to Colchester. I'm very very disappointed as I had friends in Germany and have missed it terribly.

Is anyone in Colchester? We're having DC2 in September so I need to find out about which hospitals are good etc too.

I'm finding it really hard not to be bitter with DH and he is thrilled about the new job and I am so distraught about not going back to Germany which he doesn't understand Is there anything good about Essex???

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peanutbutterkid · 13/04/2010 18:02

Not from there but we have visited often because ILs live nearby.
The zoo is very good.
Oldest city in Britain (they claim) and has some nice cafes.
Handy for access to beaches -- not all of it is Essex tat.
Handy for access to most the rest of the southern Britain, including ferry Xings and Stansted airport.

Rocinante · 14/04/2010 08:15

Very good grammar school in Colchester I've heard

Zoo is nice

Some beautiful villages like Dedham and East Bergholt (Constable country)

You're close to sunny Suffolk

liamsdaddy · 14/04/2010 09:29

My IL's live there. We are about 30 minutes down the road.

It's pretty much like any big town, university to the north east, usual array of out of town shopping, nice zoo, a few nice parks, castle. The shopping area has some interesting shops and some interesting older buildings. There is a steam railway nearby and it's close in on the Suffolk and Norfolk borders - both of which have some fairly nice little villages to visit.

If I recall correctly, the army areas are mostly south of the town centre, but fairly close in. Sometimes it gets an unfairly negative reputation because the army corrective training center is there.

The main hospital is in the north of the town, not sure what it's like as it's a different health authority to ours, but never heard anything negative.

Like many towns in the south east, it is still growing with ongoing housing developments.

AllBuggiedOut · 14/04/2010 09:40

I had DS3 at Colchester General 2 years ago which was fine. You will also have options of midwife-led units at Braintree and Harwich. Have you signed in to Mumsnet Local for Colchester yet? Infor about meet-ups etc and the'll be the place to ask really specific questions about the town centre and schools.

We moved to a village 15 mins out of the town 3 1/2 years ago and love it. Countryside is gentle and lovely. The coast is great. Colchester has a beautiful old castle set in a park in the town centre, the zoo is brilliant, shopping is OK (decent independent department store) and if you want more you have very easy access to London or Norwich.

Don't think of it as Essex, think of it as Suffolk Borders .

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 14/04/2010 10:20

Do you get the option of going into actual Suffolk for the baby? ... I'm finding it a little hard to accept the idea of my potential DD being down for ever as an official Essex girl! DH says I'm a horrible snob, but I can't stop thinking about it

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AllBuggiedOut · 14/04/2010 14:12

I don't remember being offered anywhere in Suffolk, but I didn't ask

Nettiespagetti · 14/04/2010 14:30

Hiya we live 20 mins up the road from Colchester. I think its a nice old town (originally from Scotland and feel your pain about DD being an Essex Girl).

I alsways think of essex as Denise Van Outen land, the land of Basildon.

Zoo is brill, Castle lovely, Caslte Park lovely do kid activities there quite a lot. Got Abberton Nature Reserve, Layer Marney Tower close by.

Coast is lovely, large stretches of beach. Clacton is proper lil seaside town, pier and amusements.

Had both DC at Colchester General and very positive experiences with both.

I havent been to any local mn meet ups but ive read their threads and they all seen lovely.

I hope you get settled in ok and dont worry, its not Basildon!!

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 14/04/2010 16:08

Hhahaha Nettie, I just can't get past it! It'll only be 2 years so thankfully too short for a full on Jade Goody accent to emerge I hope

Has anyone sent their DC to Littlegarth school? I'm looking at it for DS who is 2.3, a friend of mine went to pre prep there as a small child before moving to Scotland so it seems faintly funny to find myself looking at it!

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Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 15/04/2010 10:22

Hi Katty - I nanny on the colchester mq's - so if you have any questions etc Do you know whereabouts on the patch your moving too?

luciemule · 15/04/2010 14:04

Hi katty - just seen your post. Feel so sorry that you didn't get Germany like you so desperately wanted. There are always the holidays! We've known quite a few people who have lived/are living at Colchester and although some parts aren't great, it's mostly fine. we spent goodness how much time at the Zoo - best in country we reckon! You'll have a fab time and loads of garrsion support.

MadameCastafiore · 15/04/2010 14:36

Colchester is actually quite nice, like any big town there are undesirable parts but there are lots of afluent villages nearby where we do not speak at all like Jade Goodey or Denise van Outen.

If you find the idea of having a child with Essex on it's birth certificate go private - or are you not that much of a snob?

Really you aren't doing yourself many favours!

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 15/04/2010 15:02

Madame it was a joke you know... one of those things normal people do now and then...

lifeina we don't know the patch yet but that would be really useful, thank you! I think we've decided on Colchester High for DS which sounds insane as he's only 2 but apparently it takes them from 2 right the way through.

Lucie We're going in August as I really can't think of anywehere else I'd rather go on hols that Germany tbh I've heard some really horrible things about the quarters which is my main concern, oh and my mean friends constantly doing Essex accents to wind me up!

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Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 15/04/2010 17:46

The quarters are a mixed bag - quite a lot have been refurbished but some are still a little ....

The patch is well located though, close to town, supermarkets, the garrison pool is nearby there are also a lot of groups etc - and lots more as most the soldiers are deploying in October.

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 15/04/2010 18:29

Well the quarter we have now is pretty...dodgy! Everything is falling down! Are there new build and old build ones? What's the normal size? We have a '3 bed' now which makes me laugh as I can't imagine what bed you'd ever fit in the 3rd room... maybe a doll's bed counts

Do you known if it's like Germany and split into Officers an NCO's or not? I found in Germany the Officers houses were bigger but the NCO's areas were much better, closer to the town etc with much more around them.

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Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 15/04/2010 19:04

Yes we are split - theres an officers housing bit behind the naafi - a couple of roads of houses - which is away from the main housing lol and yes they are bigger lol

Some of the houses are in good repair and a decent size - however we also suffer the box room syndrome whereby unless you're in a cot bed - you won't be sleeping comfortably

They have just refurbished some houses - we are in these - which are nice. However some of the older/other houses are - pretty dodgy lol.

They have also sold of some housing to the council - they are just being redone at the moment so will probably be sorted by the time you arrive.

Are you Officer/Nco? Can tailor answers to suit either as have nannied both sides of the fence

luciemule · 15/04/2010 19:20

If there are no quarters, your DH could ask for a hiring in the nearby area. Our friends live in a huge farmhouse on Suffolk borders near East Bergholt. Their hiring is really lovely and he travels to work half an hour.
There are some lovely little towns around and Colchester is good for shopping. Nice National Trust places to take the kids too and castles!

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 16/04/2010 16:08

He's an officer Lifeinagoldfishbowl.

I'm not keen on the being split really as in Germany I found I was miles and miles away from my friends who were married to NCO's which was a shame for me... but one did point out that you don't want to spend your Saturday sitting in your child's paddling pool drinking beer if your boss can see you over the fence So I guess they have their reasons for it.

The house we have now used to be council according to the Postman who then told me the council deemed it 'unfit for human habitation' so sold it to the army... who did nothing to improve it!

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luciemule · 16/04/2010 18:53

Are you in Wellington square Katty or further down near the village?

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 16/04/2010 19:59

Up the other way... in the old houses One of the semis.

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Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 16/04/2010 20:01

I think I used up all my MQ luck of my beautiful Fally hiring, twas truly the most lovely of houses in the whole world

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luciemule · 16/04/2010 21:26

Aha - I know the houses you mean.
There's always something wrong with pretty much every quarter (except your hiring). I think it makes us better able to compromise though. In every one of our quarters (6 of them), we've always had a utility room so now, even though we're in our own house, I'm really narked cause we don't have one and I can't hear the tv due to washing machine and there's nowhere to put the washing and ironing baskets! I know that sounds really trivial but to me, it's very necessary!

Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 16/04/2010 21:35

Although away from nco's - you aren't segregated - literally 2 minute walk to the shop and thats where the nco housing is

Nice sized houses though in the officers quarters - large lounge - small/medium sized dining room - small kitchen - but can fit a dining table in Most have 4 bedrooms too

Alouiseg · 16/04/2010 21:45

It's fine. If you live on the garrison you will have the Iceni midwives to deliver your baby. They delivered both my dc and the service they provide is second to none.

There are some areas to steer clear of but there is a fabulous department store Williams and Griffin which stocks lots of lovely stuff.

There is a good choice of schools state and private, also the best Grammars in the country.

You can keep this thread going and we can organise a welcoming committee when you move in.

Alouiseg · 16/04/2010 21:48

My ds went to Colchester High if you need any insider info!

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 17/04/2010 09:27

Oh that would be great Alouise it says CH do Forces Discount which makes me think they are used to forces children and therefore might be a bit more open to children joining with less notice? ....

lucie I'd love a utility room! Our washing machine/TD are in the shed which is not ideal but there is no room for them anywhere else. I said to DH last night we shouldn't have started so high with the hiring! Although when even the MODern housing man says your house is a dump you know you've not done too well with you quarter

lifeina so are there any other Officer MQ areas or will it definetly be one of them if they have a spare one? I can't believe you can fit a table in the kitchen! Here the kitchen is the width of one dining chair so no chance of a table.

Thanks to you all! I'm attempting to get over the pain by planning my trip to Hannover in Aug. DH says what sort of person takes a holiday in Hannover so they can get Punica and Noodlesalat and shop in Galeria

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