Requests

A little Town called Corby

This posting is dedicated to Lady Luck, as she has asked for a little description about the place I live. So for everyone else below is a description of Corby, Northamptonshire, in all it's glory. It is not a bad place to live at all, it's just got a bad reputation.

I moved to Corby in November 2002, and had repeated warnings from people who didn't live there that it was a rough area and advising me not to go. Well after only two days of moving into the area where we are (only 23 houses there!), we received "Welcome to your New Home", cards from everyone on the estate and a bottle of wine and box of choccies...Hummm definitely a rough area!
The house I live in is an experimental home, that was built on the site of an old land fill, and was built in 1976, still no subsidence or problems have been encountered so the experiment has worked. Our house also features blow air heating, which is great, no radiators means more space and the option of air conditioning in the summer is a definite bonus.
It is also very quite where we are, although they are building a huge development behind us, it has not affected us so far.

So to Corby itself, well it is pretty well known for it's steelworks, which closed sometime ago. It also has a massive Scottish population, ad that adds to the friendliness of the town. In 6 years of living in Grantham we hardly knew anyone and rarely spoke to the neighbours. In four years of living in Corby, the wife has a nice circle of close friends, has a shedload of clubs and support groups to go to, and most importantly of all has a stack of facilities for the young kids to enjoy.

I am an active member of the fathers group, where dad's can go with their kids on a Sunday for a few hours and do all sorts of activities, whilst mum has a rest at home, run by Sure Start it's probably the best and only thing this government has got right.

The thing that spoils Corby is the town centre, it is outdated and a typical new town style, but that is been revamped and millions is being spent on it. We also have a nice boating lake, and park, where the annual FREE firework display is held.

Corby is attracting a wide range of nationalities too, as well as the predominantly Scottish contingent there is also a large East European contingent too. But, the beauty of it is most (I did say most) people get on well, and there it is extremely friendly feeling.

Downside is there isn't a lot to do of an evening, and there are a few rough areas (but isn't there everywhere?), things are changing though, and I fully believe that Corby will be a magnet for commuters in the future.
Cheap housing, cheap public transport, and so many friendly people it is going places.

Unfortunately, I am not going to be able to stay for much longer. Sadly my wife and I are separating, so I will have to find somewhere else to live. If I can get somewhere even half as friendly and open as Corby, it will at least allow some of the pain I feel to ease.