Where in the World are You?

[Jodee]

I was just wondering where everyone comes from - I'm sitting here in Croydon (South London) having a chat with someone in Australia (or wherever) - it's great!

So what's your home town/country?

Hi Pamina, how are you? Hows the little one, has she settled down yet? If its any consolation its pouring in Macclesfield at the moment.

Hello from the sunny south coast, or it would be sunny if we were'nt covered by a big black cloud and blowing a gale.

Hello from sunny, no that was Sunday, thundery, rainy, bloody miserable Berkshire.

Allschwil, bit of a difference between Houghton & Switzerland. I'm orgionally fron Birtley, Chester-Le-Street, my best friend has just moved to Houghton le Spring

Hello hello hello from Sunny Earlsfield - (south west London near Wimbledon and Wandsworth) (well it's dark now but it was v sunnier earlier and if my neighbour decides to cut their tree down I might even get some in my garden...) Although I am originally a Barnsley lass ee by gum an' all that...

Pamina I am near you - we live in an area (according to the NCT) with the highest birthrate in Europe. Where did you have your little one? I am a St Georges in tooting girl

East Kent - nearest large town - Calais

Greetings from Stepney - according to Germany's Stern magazine (as gleefully repeated in the Daily Telegraph) it is "Britain's most miserable and depressed area". Oh dear.

we're in sunny Swansea, by the sea.

Midge....what part of worcs? (sorry didn't notice your message previously).We live in Droitwich.

Sylvev, we are in sunny Bewdley within earshot of the safari park lions and doing our best to avoid the tourists.

Confess to not having been to Droitwich for years, has it changed?!

Midge... Hello. I actually work down the road from the lions, tigers etc., at the Hospital in Kidderminster. (Visited regularly by politicians at the moment). To answer your question about Droitwich, yes it has changed. I was born there, 39 years ago, moved away for 10 years to study etc, and moved back. It is bigger,more populated but still retains some character i.e the old high street, crooked buildings due to subsidence from salt minings over the years. The brine baths is also well worth a visit.
It will be interesting to see how the 'hospital' candidate -Richard Taylor- fares in the election, Kidderminster could become famous!!
Best wishes.

Hi Penguinsmum - Swansea's a great place, I go quite a lot to visit the inlaws in Blackpill, but why does it always rain on my visits!
Best wishes ...

We are moving to Bushey (hopefully but things have a habit of going wrong). Anyone familiar with the area? And, if so, can anyone recommend stuff (toddler groups, nursery school etc)for a one year old in the Bushey/Watford area?

Sylvev, my lasting memory of Droitwich is of an ancient coffee shop that used to sell fabulous cakes, I cant remember what it was called but it was in one of the aforementioned rickety old buildings and was always the first port of call! (think it began with a B).

I haven't actually been in the brine baths but I know them (and the attached hospital) well from many trips to take my mother.

As a member of staff at Kidder hospital you are sadly one of a dying breed.

Best wishes, Midge

Midge.....Bullocks!! Yep, a rather unfortunate name for a cafe. The building remains, though the cafe closed down many years ago. I too have memories of tucking into fancy cakes, served by an aproned waitress, wondering to myself how the tables and chairs remained upright on such a crooked floor.

The Brine baths is wonderfully modern and relaxing. I remember the original baths, dark, green murky brine water and nurses in starchy costumes. (My mother had to go for treatment to her back in the '60s).

I know very little about the sites of Bewdley. We have done the safari park. (My husband hates the monkeys with a passion since they removed the rubber lining from the back windows of the car)!! (Children thought this the best part of the trip). Anything else worth visiting out your way?

Best wishes.

Hi from Worcester, originally from Morpeth, Northumberland, My first view of Worcester was 11 years ago, floods everywhere!! Now live right by racecourse which gets flooded every winter, the floods have been known to reach the back doors of the houses opposite us. In my opinion Worcestershire is a bit like Northumberland, but, without the coastline, which after 11 years I still miss. Never mind, I'm going back in a couple of weeks for a few days to visit, I'll be making a trip to the beach whatever the weather!!

Hi Jodee

I hope for your sake you weren't visiting your in-laws on Bank Holiday Monday - it was the wettest, coldest May Bank holiday I can ever remember!
It's sunny again today - now I've gone back to work...

I was a Service brat, as well as going to 12 schools, I've lived in Newquay, Padstow, Ringwood Hants, Ballykelly (N. I) Birchanger nr Bishops Stortford, Hurstpierpoint Sussex, Wokingham Berks, Oakington Nr Cambridge and I went to the CCAT so I remember all those places - especially The Whim, ( went out with the guy whose parents owned it) Wilsons, Silks, Shades. I worked in Heffers as a student. Highbury, and finnaly come to rest in St Albans. It is HOME !!

Sylvev, I would like to say there are lots of exciting things to do in Bewdley. I really would!
The steam railway is good for one visit but eveything else is out of town - Witley Court etc.

I believe the safari park had to cull the monkeys because of a herpes epidemic so the cars are safe for a while. If you want to see elephants free of charge just stop on Bewdley bypass (heading from Kidder to Bewdley) just before you go under the railway bridge, they are visible most days with the odd ostrich thrown in for good measure. On still summer nights we can stand in the garden and hear the lions roaring, it can make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

Kidderminsters old swimming baths (now a nightclub of ill repute!) used to have green water, nothing to do with the brine though, it had green slimy walls and a funny smell too. Cant imagine why it was closed.....

Midge. It sounds like Bewdley is a little like Droitwich. We've done the Severn Valley many times and I think it is wonderful. My son (now 6) was an avid Thomas fan, (in fact at one time he used to introduce himself as Thomas and insist I was James)! My daughter (2) also loves Thomas and we have plans to re-visit the railway on the next Thomas day.

I am rather ashamed to say that I know very little about the Kidderminster/Bewdley/Stourport area, even though I have worked there for over 11 years now. I must admit that whenever I have visited Kidderminster Town centre it feels rather depressing and gloomy. And what about the sugar beet smell?!! That was not good when I was suffering with morning sickness, infact the smell was so strong one morning during my first pregnancy that I was dramatically sick whilst in a meeting with my boss. Years later he told me that he was incredibly impressed with my ability to aim into the bin.

I think Kidderminster will be in the news a great deal now that Richard Taylor is standing. Lets hope it will spotlight the shameful treatment of the hospital and the people of Kidderminster over the past few years.
Best wishes.