Post by ronturner on Oct 1, 2015 9:46:37 GMT 1
As I mentioned in another post, I was in UK for 6 days. Its a visit we make about once a year and have done for the last 5 or 6 years.
First impression upon exiting the channel train was how crowded the roads are now. Three lanes chock a block from Folkestone to the beginning of the M3 and then two lanes with road works almost the whole of the M3 down to Southampton. No delays, but full concentration required at all times.
Next shock was the cost of a snack, even at an "off motorway" service area.
The cost of diesel is about 30% more than in France.
However, we enjoyed a very nice time in the Bournemouth area, in good weather, especially the beer, the pub meals and the curry
We have seen the Bournemouth area as a bit run down in the past. The suburban communities of Southbourne, Springbourne, Westbourne, Boscombe and Winton have all been a bit down. This year there was a very marked difference. In Southbourne, a very traditional High Street, there was not one shop vacant. In Boscombe, more of your middle ground, it too was spruced up, thanks to the local council and a shop which had been desserted for years. (T.J.Hughes) is in the process of being incorporated into the next door modern shopping centre. The Victorian arcade has been brought to life in a very smart way, with only a few units left empty. There were very few other vacant shops in Boscombe. Even Sprinbourne, more down market, dominated by the old temperance society building, the Unite Headquarters, a second hand tyre depot and the nearby Bournemouth railway station, was busy with traditional shops such as the iron monger, traditional butchers and the inevitable pound shop. Again few empty shops.
I found customer service to be exceptional, especially coming from France where it is non existent.
In Bournemouth itself I found the town centre busy but unattractive. The gardens leading to the sea front were spectacular and the beaches themselves spotless and served by clean modern buildings, some of them of quite interesting design.
This seems to be a very vibrant area. It is not the retirement town it used to be. Foreign tongues abound, especially east European with a few Kurds and Albanian. Not much evidence of Arabian or African there. When you can actually hear the English language it is usually in a foreign accent.
A snapshot of a small part of England; nevertheless interesting to see a rapid change in fortunes in the space of 18 months.
First impression upon exiting the channel train was how crowded the roads are now. Three lanes chock a block from Folkestone to the beginning of the M3 and then two lanes with road works almost the whole of the M3 down to Southampton. No delays, but full concentration required at all times.
Next shock was the cost of a snack, even at an "off motorway" service area.
The cost of diesel is about 30% more than in France.
However, we enjoyed a very nice time in the Bournemouth area, in good weather, especially the beer, the pub meals and the curry
We have seen the Bournemouth area as a bit run down in the past. The suburban communities of Southbourne, Springbourne, Westbourne, Boscombe and Winton have all been a bit down. This year there was a very marked difference. In Southbourne, a very traditional High Street, there was not one shop vacant. In Boscombe, more of your middle ground, it too was spruced up, thanks to the local council and a shop which had been desserted for years. (T.J.Hughes) is in the process of being incorporated into the next door modern shopping centre. The Victorian arcade has been brought to life in a very smart way, with only a few units left empty. There were very few other vacant shops in Boscombe. Even Sprinbourne, more down market, dominated by the old temperance society building, the Unite Headquarters, a second hand tyre depot and the nearby Bournemouth railway station, was busy with traditional shops such as the iron monger, traditional butchers and the inevitable pound shop. Again few empty shops.
I found customer service to be exceptional, especially coming from France where it is non existent.
In Bournemouth itself I found the town centre busy but unattractive. The gardens leading to the sea front were spectacular and the beaches themselves spotless and served by clean modern buildings, some of them of quite interesting design.
This seems to be a very vibrant area. It is not the retirement town it used to be. Foreign tongues abound, especially east European with a few Kurds and Albanian. Not much evidence of Arabian or African there. When you can actually hear the English language it is usually in a foreign accent.
A snapshot of a small part of England; nevertheless interesting to see a rapid change in fortunes in the space of 18 months.
