Comments on: The way we were

By: Expat Mum

Expat Mum — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:26:16 +0000

I think Carol might prefer a comparison to Vanna White than Alex Trebec!!! But you obviously weren’t reading the Mail online when the whole thing blew up a few months ago. What a scandal.
And if you think Chester has changed, try going back to Newcastle on Tyne after 20 years. I got two buses in and out of town every day for god kows how many years and I swear I don’t recognise a single street now. Half of it is pedestrianized and the other half has been razed to make way for the mighty St. James’ stadium. And the quayside, which used to be like something from Oliver Twist, is a thriving little city unto itself. Amazing – if I could find my way round!

By: Josephine

Josephine — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:51:09 +0000

The thing i don’t quite understand is that my relatives seem to forget how long I have lived here in the US. When talking to them about various happenings at home, they refer to street names, and landmarks as if I still live down the road, I have to try and keep up, and for some unknown reason, I DO remember all those streets, and names !
I always feel as though I pick up, where I left off the last visit, it’s funny how we refer to places (shops, pubs, etc ) as the ones we remember as kids, maybe now long gone, but that site will always be the Woolworth’s or Marks and Spencer.
At least you still have Chester Zoo !

By: Sven

Sven — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:31:20 +0000

MFI has gone bust too. No more cheap MDF kitchen units and crappy adverts around Christmas time. A black day for all of us.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:48:53 +0000

I feel the same. My parents are constantly telling me of the closing small business in out small village and even when I lived there they were always knocking down lovely places to build big apartments.
Here in Iceland, I have come to love a few places and it always saddens me how quick they are to just get rid of the old and build a huge monstrosity. ALthough I don’t know if some of the proposed places will still go ahead now, what with the depression and all!

I was sad to hear of Woolies demise, I spent my fair share there when I lived in the UK.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:46:50 +0000

I know where the Slug & Lettuce is.

By: Esther

Esther — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:59:16 +0000

Countdown without Carol? Travesty! And no Woolies? No pick ‘n mix? There’s almost no point in going home to visit. Well, there’s still sausages.

By: Almost American

Almost American — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:54:08 +0000

My small Cheshire village seems to have more charity shops and Indian restaurants every time I go home! My bank in the UK has long since been taken over by HSBC – but can I get them to link it to an HSBC account over here? Of course not!

The nice thing about having lived in the US for 23 years, and for a good chunk of it in roughly the same area is that I do remember some of the things that have changed. There was a Woolworths here when I first arrived. It’s long gone. My father-in-law hates going downtown because it’s changed so much – if he went more often the changes wouldn’t be so noticeable. The same goes for me visiting ‘home’ in the UK – if I could go more often, I’d only see little changes at a time and it wouldn’t be so disconcerting.

I just accept the fact that half the shops in Chester will have changed – so long as the cathedral, the walls, and the precinct are all in place I can deal with it.

By: MikeH

MikeH — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:12:54 +0000

I feel your pain. Last time I went back to my home town I found a round-about where a legendary (for it’s awfulness) intersection used to be. A round-about! Talk about a WTF moment.

And, yeah, I miss Carol.

By: Trixie Trouble

Trixie Trouble — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:11:13 +0000

Sweets, Woolworths has gone under. And the Vorderman issue – well that’s been on the cards for ages.
The man who created Bagpuss died too.

I’m taking to my bed.