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You know you've been in cambridge too long when...

Got this off facebook. Full of typos, so apologies. I especially liked the bits about Grantchester Raves...

1: You find yourself saying "NOT in massachusetts...THE Cambridge"
2:You spent your teen years getting pissed in the Cambridge Arms, trying to avoid getting chucked out by D&P
3a:when you weren't getting pissed at above pub...it was at The Mill pond, or the Anchor.
3b: You are amazed at how mean doormen can be having known the Eagle boys!
3c:You've heard utterly trashed student talking about physics at 11:30pm...get out the puband get a life!
3d:you've nearly lamped a student for the line "oooh a townee I've always wanted to meet one"
4a: You Know it's Filth...not "cindies" as students pretend they know the town...nah ah it was cindies before you were born love!
b:same goes for "route"
5: You laugh when people ask where the university is
6a:You send said above persons 5 miles out of town for a laugh
b:You walk exactlty where you know that lovely shot of Kings will be ruined he he he!
c:you've had pee under the tree outside kings lol!
7: The arbury is the roughest place you know...ha ha!
8:You piddled in Newnham paddling pool as a 2 year old
9: You "bombed" Punts from the bridges at Newnham or at the Mill pond.
10: You don't use public transport...it's just too small..despite "city" status
11:you spent at least an hour going to school on a bus journey, that would take 10 on a bike
12:You learnt to ride a bike about the time you learned to walk.
13: You are amazed to learn that other cities have railway stations IN THE CENTRE...why on earth would they let their students escape?
14: You don't pay taxi fares, or bus fares home when pissed...you cycle!
15: You crashed your bike at least once while trashed into either of the below
- Low chain fence
- lamppost
-bus stop
-down a small ditch (please add if you've done any others)
16:You have learnt not to go to the rubbish "raves" down at Grantchester
17: You Learned about the tragic Captain Scott at primary school
18:You've spent several days after strawberry fair wondering what happened
19:
Your mum has pictures of you aged 2/3 or 4 in just nick nacks at Strawberry Fair or Folk Festival

Published by simon_b (not active) at 5:46pm on Wed 11th April 2007. Viewed 21,740 times.

20: The school you went to is going to be pulled down.

Published by tallthinkev (not active) at 5:54pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

That could be any number of towns mind.

Published by simon_b (not active) at 5:54pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

4a just makes me cringe...for all the wrong reasons!

Published by Smithy at 5:58pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

this is the one that rings truest:

2:You spent your teen years getting pissed in the Cambridge Arms, trying to avoid getting chucked out by D&P

Published by simon_b (not active) at 5:59pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

......or The Bath.

Does anybody remember Crusts?

Published by Dr Rhythm at 6:06pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

Or Waffles?

"What's your pleasure...?"

Published by space_echo at 6:15pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

Was that the waffle place on Castle Hill, where the Curry Centre now is? I loved that place.

Published by simon_b (not active) at 6:26pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

Yeah, that's the one.

Published by space_echo at 6:29pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

Waffles was on Burleigh Street or around there, when it was in the Kite.

Published by AndyC at 6:39pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

I never went to it when it was in the Kite, I was more interested in Ren Models at that time!

Published by space_echo at 6:41pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

"4a just makes me cringe...for all the wrong reasons!

It's when you catch yourself refering to it as Ronnells (sp?) that you know you've been in Cambridge too long.

Published by Mr-Grey at 7:08pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

I wouldn't mind but I didn't live here until I was six and then left during the 80's but I can still remember handbags and Ronnies ;) And going to a Cow (don't think it was called that then) for a pint of broon cos I've never drunk shorts in my life and they never sold beer in Ronnies.

Published by Smithy at 9:12pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

you know its too long..........when it's time to leave........

Published by bottom heavy at 9:59pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

...when you look at WAN everyday. :0)

Published by ozzyfrogspawn (not active) at 10:09pm on Wed 11th April 2007.

...and think to yourself how young so many of the other contributors seem to be.

And when you can remember the Lion Yard being built.

And when Mill Road was all just fields (OK I'm lying now).

Published by Kuryakin at 8:14am on Thu 12th April 2007.

^Ah, yes, Crusts - many a drunken evening had in there. Huge, creamy cocktails; huge leather armchairs - the perfect recipe for falling over!

I bet nobody remembers The Whim.

Published by Old Rocker at 9:18am on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by Father_Shabooboo (not active) at 9:49am on Thu 12th April 2007.

I remember The Whim - my parents used to take me there when it was still a bit like an ordinary restaurant - disgusting food. Then it reopened as a sort of McDonalds like place when all the other burger chains were still banned from Cambridge - I think it's Libertys now isn't it?

Crusts - oh yes, many drunken nights!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 9:51am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Correct FS. I still think of it as 'Ronnies' even though it was actually 'Cindies' for most of the time I went there. Cinderellas Rockerfellas, for god's sake...

Published by Old Rocker at 9:52am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Yep Dr R, it was the first burger joint in Cambridge (not including Wimpy, which had a proper sit-down service complete with tomato-shaped ketchup dispensers). The house speciality (a bit like a Big Mac) was called the Whimbo. Yes, they now sell expensive floral numbers for the ladies.

Published by Old Rocker at 9:55am on Thu 12th April 2007.

or when they replaced the rail bridge on mill road?

Published by Ahhhhhhh sodit at 9:58am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Ha Ha - yes - The Whimbo indeed!!

We used to go there after spending several hours drinking coffee/smoking fags in Belinda's.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 10:04am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Ah Dr R. The Whim what a great place, it had real chips. Closed about 83/84 I think.

Published by tallthinkev (not active) at 10:04am on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by jedimia (not active) at 10:07am on Thu 12th April 2007.

I remember the Whim, pre-burger days,from my first spell living in Cambridge (i.e. most of my childhood). I bet I'm the only person here who ever went in there carrying an air rifle.

Published by Kuryakin at 10:18am on Thu 12th April 2007.

I saw this thread earlier and was just about to respond with a "Does anyone remember The Whim burger bar" but got called away - come back, beaten to it. Used to scam the space invaders machine upstairs so you'd get free plays all afternoon!

Used to be an American burger joint run by an old black American guy next to where the Kambar is... I think it turned into a tea shop - but that was a cool place to hang out.

Also - Fagito's used to be a burger/fries bar with sliding front door, called - I think - McKenzies.

Golden Egg in Lion Yard, cafe in Bradwells Court.

Drummer Street yellow van which sold candy and pop and also - chocolate flavoured slush puppy type iced drinks.

Funny the shit you remember.

Published by ababoonsass at 10:25am on Thu 12th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 10:27am on Thu 12th April 2007.

It was a table-top space invaders at the Whim, wasn't it? I used to like the Galaxian machine in the old Victoria cinema on the market place as well.

Published by Old Rocker at 10:30am on Thu 12th April 2007.

table-top space invaders - like wot they have in The Bun Shop now?

This is my only contribution to this thread, as I'm a Cambridge incomer, rather than local...

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 10:33am on Thu 12th April 2007.

I think so Jude1 - they also had them in Sweeney Todd's many moons back.

Published by Old Rocker at 10:35am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Blimey - yes - I remember the Golden Egg in the Lion Yard - I hear the whole place is a building site at the moment.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 10:37am on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by jedimia (not active) at 10:38am on Thu 12th April 2007.

The Whim had table tops I am sure, also had a stand up Galaxian type game. The best space invaders was in a shop next to the old cinema called Jentri Burlington which sold fashionable clothes including Pods shoes... that was sitdown too.

One house that still stands today when taking that walk down memory lane - Martin's Cafe! You'd slip away from your mates on a Saturday afternoon, hook up with a lass and take her there for coffee and cake and be all sophisticated like and it was champion like.

Published by ababoonsass at 10:39am on Thu 12th April 2007.

I bought (well, got my parents to buy me) a pair of blue Kickers from that shop! Just before the arrival of punk rock...

Published by Old Rocker at 10:41am on Thu 12th April 2007.

ababoonsass - yes, Fagitos was called Mackenzies. When I was at CCAT, in the days when I used to eat meat I would avoid it - for a proper burger I would go to Colonel Fudpuckers (remember that?) which later became Pasta Fresca and is now something else.

I remember the Golden Egg in Lion Yard and also the cafe in Bradwells Court, which was called the Penny Farthing (it was what became Petsessories before they knocked the whole monstrosity down so they can build another more modern monstrosity).

The yellow caravan in Drummer Street - daily experience when waiting for bus on wayhome from school.

What a boring old fart I have become.

Published by Kuryakin at 10:41am on Thu 12th April 2007.

shop next to the old cinema called Jentri Burlington which sold fashionable clothes including Pods shoes...

Oh, amazing! Mr Jude 1 had one of his first jobs there! Closely followed by a spell working in "Dick's Discounts", apparently. Shop names aint' what they used to be, hehehe.

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 10:45am on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by jedimia (not active) at 10:46am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Also - I used to love Fudpucker burgers. My sis was at college at CCAT, and lived nearly directly opposite it on Mill Road, I used to come and stay with her and the evening would always end in drunken burgers from there, yummy.

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 10:47am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Days of thunder and glory... good arrows. I didn't eat a takeaway burger until I was 14 (shopping centre McDonalds in Derby - ill for two days) so never actually experienced burgers in any of those places... fries was my bag... my dad used to go to Colonel Fudpuckers... I would go to McKenzies after swimmming... OR... that old style chip shop and cafe on East Road that sold crinkled chips!!! Man, I am worried that my finest recollections are of food establishments of days gone by. I'm not a porkboy really!

Published by ababoonsass at 10:48am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Well, I used to get the number 1 tram to go into town, buy enough food on the market for a week, have a trip tothe cinema to see the latest Roy Rogers and still have chnage from a farthing...*nods off into his mug of complan*

Published by Kuryakin at 10:50am on Thu 12th April 2007.

"OR... that old style chip shop and cafe on East Road that sold crinkled chips!!!"

Paul's Variety Fayre? - now KFC, or there was an ordinary chippy as well, I think.

Published by Kuryakin at 10:53am on Thu 12th April 2007.

God, you lot are too old for me ;)

Show some respect, Jedimia - I lived through two wars for your generation

(Falklands and Gulf)

Published by Kuryakin at 10:54am on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by jedimia (not active) at 10:54am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Colonel Fudpuckers

KirstyM's dad missed her being born, as he got hungry and nipped out of Mill Road hospital for one. Apparently it was very nice.

Published by simon_b (not active) at 10:57am on Thu 12th April 2007.

The crinkle chip shop was on the corner of that road which the Tram Depot is one... all flats/student accommodation now. Further up towards the park there was Chan's super kitchen Chinese takeaway which has Scramble video game in there... then next to that was the old Post office drill hall where you could drink underage on a Friday night if you knew someone who's dad was a postie!! Pernod & black!!

I know this as my Nan's brother ran the Baker's Arms (or something) and I spent a lot of time there...

I also remember the old Tesco's opposite the University Arms Hotel...

Published by ababoonsass at 10:59am on Thu 12th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 11:00am on Thu 12th April 2007.

has anybody mentioned the still and sugar loaf?

Published by Ahhhhhhh sodit at 11:08am on Thu 12th April 2007.

"I also remember the old Tesco's opposite the University Arms Hotel..."

My mate had a Saturday job there (57p an hour) - this enabled me to buy beer underage,when he was on the till, as they weren't so hot on underage cashiers selling booze in those days.

(If any of you young whippersnappers are curious, it's now Mandela House.)

Published by Kuryakin at 11:09am on Thu 12th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 11:11am on Thu 12th April 2007.

"has anybody mentioned the still and sugar loaf?"

From what I can remember it's probably best left unmentioned. I never went in there as I was never a great one for indulging in mass brawls with off-duty service personnel.

Published by Kuryakin at 11:13am on Thu 12th April 2007.

re: Still and Sugarloaf - was that the underground place in the market? I seem to remember thinking that is was probably a bit dangerous!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:14am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Yep, next to the Victoria cinema.

Published by Kuryakin at 11:15am on Thu 12th April 2007.

"pint and a punch up "type of place next to the picture house ?

Published by Ahhhhhhh sodit at 11:18am on Thu 12th April 2007.

That's it - evil place

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:19am on Thu 12th April 2007.

21. you used to drink in bodrums after hours

Published by will_ at 11:20am on Thu 12th April 2007.

I seem to remember the Red Cow had a similar reputation to the Still.

Also - a sure indication of Cambridge veteran status is when you moan about the Corn Exchange and how much better it used to be when you went and saw bands there *cough* years ago.

Published by Kuryakin at 11:25am on Thu 12th April 2007.

You know you've been in Cambridge too long when the list of places that you refuse to go to on a night out is longer that the list of places that you will go to.

Published by Doris (not active) at 11:26am on Thu 12th April 2007.

In that case, Doris, I'd been here too long when I was 19 -which probably explains why I was delighted to leave at that time!

Published by Kuryakin at 11:29am on Thu 12th April 2007.

You know you've been in Cambridge too long when...

- You celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first CEN headline about a proposed new transport link using the old St Ives - Cambridge railway line and laugh at the thought that recent incomers might believe it's a new idea.
- You keep thinking of new things to add to this thread, in the sad belief that more recent incomers give a toss what shop/cafe/pub used to be where, and what it was like in Cambridge when you were young (i.e. like any other town, but with posh students and a lot of bikes)
- You read back over your contributions to the thread and realise that your mind is a squalid mass of worthless trivia,indicating that you have wasted your entire life.

*wipes solitary tear from cheek and shuffles off to sit in a darkened room facing a blank wall for six hours, sobbing quietly*

Published by Kuryakin at 11:37am on Thu 12th April 2007.

re - Corn Exchange - utterly guilty!

Before gigs - we used to meet in the Lion Yard, where all the tramps were, to drink beer - If we had bottles, the tramps would open them for us with their teeth - yeeeeuck!

No stripped pine foyer nonsense, straight into the hall - grotty bar on the right, never seemed to care how old you were - pure rock'n'roll toilet but I can still feel the excitement now!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:38am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Yes Dr R, cans of Newcie Brown or Tartan - 40p, no questions asked. Happy days!

Published by Kuryakin at 11:40am on Thu 12th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 11:41am on Thu 12th April 2007.

More Corn Exchange nostalgia - my first gig there was Elvis Costello. Bouncers outside eating raw meat straight out of Sainsburys packets. Used to get tickets at Harlequin Records on Bridge Street.

Published by Kuryakin at 11:49am on Thu 12th April 2007.

Friday 31st of March 1978 - 3 weeks after my first (Buzzcocks) - I know because they shared the same poster.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:55am on Thu 12th April 2007.

My mum took me and my brother to Cambridge to see Star Wars when it came out. No-one at our primary school would believe me when I said I'd seen it, because it hadn't come to rural Northamptonshire yet.

Published by sam i at 11:57am on Thu 12th April 2007.

There were queues three quarters of the way around the market square when Star Wars arrived in Cambridge - I remember the collective groan when they announced all the tickets were sold!

Published by Old Rocker at 12:00pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

"Friday 31st of March 1978 - 3 weeks after my first (Buzzcocks) - I know because they shared the same poster."

Yes,that sounds about right. I was 5 years old, of course, but tall enough to pass for older.

"There were queues three quarters of the way around the market square when Star Wars arrived in Cambridge "

Whenever I mention that I've never seen any of the Star Wars films, people's jaws drop and they look at me like I've said I've never been in a car or something. It's instant social outcast-status.

Published by Kuryakin at 12:05pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

No, that's cool by me Kuryakin. I fell asleep watching Star Wars at the Victoria Cinema, which nobody except my Dad, who was there at the time, will believe. I then managed to avoid seeing any of the Star Wars films until my boys got into them a couple of years back. Guess what? I still find them deadly dull. I've had 30 years of not understanding Star Wars references - last year, on a skiing holiday, a mate referred to the fog-bound scenery as "like Sith". I didn't have a clue what he was on about, much to his amusement...

Published by Old Rocker at 12:11pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Space Invader machine on the top floor of Jays records in Fiztroy Street. Many a 10p wasted there.

Published by tallthinkev (not active) at 12:27pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

'last year, on a skiing holiday, a mate referred to the fog-bound scenery as "like Sith".'

Hoth, surely?

Published by DJ Ohmygod at 12:28pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Probably DJOMG - which kind-of proves my point!

Published by Old Rocker at 12:42pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

When I first went to the corn exchange I was 15, and looked younger. They still served me a half of cider. Result.

Published by Silent Rob at 12:43pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I was almost 14 and definitely looked it - I got a pint of whatever rubbish keg bitter they used to sell in there.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 12:48pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Talking of Memory Lane, this took me back ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6546617.stm

Was anyone at the Bad Manners gig, at the *old* Corn Exchange? Scary shit.

Published by Old Rocker at 1:11pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Hooray for High Wycombe, eh?

I really REALLY used to hate that girl-skinhead hairdo, with all the ratty long bits at the sides and back. Very prevalent in Aylesbury in the 70s/80s too. Scarey girls.

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 1:12pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

There were a few of them around here as well Jude1!

Published by Old Rocker at 1:14pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

What about The Specials gig in the big tent on Midsummer Common - that was a bit scary!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 1:52pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Unfortunately I was grounded for The Specials gig Dr R - did you go? I remember people telling me it was a case of "dodge the punch" rather than "watch the band".

I went to see one band at the Corn Ex (Angelic Upstarts maybe?) when the band was about an hour late and most of the crowd just divided themselves into football teams and fought with each other. Completely mindless.

Published by Old Rocker at 1:57pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I did Old Rocker and it remains the only time that I've been genuinely frightened at a show (although it was exciting). There were a couple of other gigs scheduled in the tent - Motorhead was one - but the Council pulled the license as a result of the trouble.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 2:14pm on Thu 12th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 2:17pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Bands won't play no more, too much fighting on the dance floor

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 2:16pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

You should have left that typo Dr R - it sort of fitted!

Published by Old Rocker at 2:20pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I also missed the Specials gig, having just left Cambridge at that time. Fighting broke out,and Jerry Dammers and Terry Hall were arrested for inciting a riot (when they had actually been trying to calm things down). Any other old nostalgics going to the Junction tonight then? I'll be the old git with the pint of guinness hoping his left knee will hold up long enough for a bit of a dance.

Published by Kuryakin at 2:20pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

someone once told me very resolutely that the specials wrote ghost town about cambridge after the midsummer common gig, i wasn't having any of it, and still disbelieve it as another bit of self inflated ego humping by cantabrigians... anyone able to say definitively?

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 2:22pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

There was certainly a lot of talk in Cambridge to that effect JA - but i reckon there wold have been in a lot of towns. It's more likely to be about Coventry, really.

Published by Old Rocker at 2:24pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

No, I've heard that ol' chestnut before JA, and I reckon it's probably an urban myth that lots of towns/cities have. I'm pretty sure it's about Coventry.

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 2:24pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Jude, stop copying me please.

Published by Old Rocker at 2:25pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Hehe. It's just that you're my idol, OR. I aspire to your levels of sagacity and general greatness ;-)

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 2:27pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

wikipikipediamedia:

"Ghost Town" was a number one hit for the British ska band, The Specials. It was written in response to Margaret Thatcher's policies which the band believed would increase the large-scale unemployment already present in Britain, particularly in the UK's industrialised north and Midlands regions. This was highly relevant to The Specials as they formed and lived in Coventry and saw the effects of the policies first-hand, as their city experienced some of the UK's worst unemployment at levels of 20%. It was also the summer of large-scale riots in Brixton, London and Toxteth, Liverpool amongst others. Heavy-handed police treatment of young black men was especially relevant to the mixed-race group.

The song spent three weeks at number one and ten weeks in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart overall and is thought to be their honest impression of Coventry in 1981, although some believe it was inspired following one of the band's concerts in Glasgow. The track was recorded at the Woodbine Street Studios in Leamington Spa, UK.

Published by Itchen Ferry (not active) at 2:28pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Hehe... that's why you got married in the same place as me, i guess!

Published by Old Rocker at 2:29pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

and, although wikipedia is somewhat unreliable, anyone who believes that cosy cambridge was the subject of ghost town is, quite frankly, an imbecile.

Published by Itchen Ferry (not active) at 2:29pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

My mate who's originally from Coventry used to hang around with the Specials' bassist, so that makes me an authority and I can state that Ghost Town was definitely about Coventry, though I have heard the tale of it being inspired by the Cambridge fiasco.

Published by Kuryakin at 2:30pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

*carries on furtively stalking OR, as has been doing virtually un-noticed for last 10 years*

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 2:37pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

He He - yes I should have left it as fightened!

Everything I can find on the song seems to point to Glasgow but also to the generally miserable state of Britain at that time.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 2:38pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

You know you've been in cambridge too long when...

You know you've been in cambridge too long when...

You know you've been in cambridge too long when...

You know you've been in cambridge too long when...

Published by Matt R at 2:39pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Every time I hear it I still find it hugely hugely evocative of the era. It takes me right back. Great track.

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 2:41pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I think for me this thread is really "You know when you've been out of Cambridge for too long!"

Published by Dr Rhythm at 2:48pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

You know you've been in cambridge too long when...

you want to leave?

Published by moody l at 2:58pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Heheh, funny thing is that, as long as i remember you posting on this board you've gone on about how much you're sick of cambridge, but you're still here :-)

Published by simon_b (not active) at 3:00pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

i'm the same though, i adore cambridge and i absolutely despise it at the same time.

normally for the same reason depending on my mood that day/the weather.

i definitely think a desire to leave is a healthy thing. I get scared by people that want to spend their whole lives in a small market town. Nothing against them personally, just different mindsets, i guess.

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 4:11pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I think I appreciate Cambridge all the more for not having grown up here. I love it - there's nowhere I'd rather live :-)

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 4:14pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Yes, I'm not sure if I could find a place to live of an equal standard to that of which I have now.

Published by moody l at 4:14pm on Thu 12th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 4:15pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

i could see that jude, to me it feels very royston vasey ish at times because i grew up here and bump into people i went to school with but have no recollection of. i think i prefer the anonymity of bigger cities (i loved living in london for 2 years but teh money caught up with me in the end).

I could see cambridge being remarkably attractive to people who didn't grow up here though, and inbreds ;-)

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 4:23pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I've lived in a few other places and i love Cambridge. It's got plenty of green spaces, a reasonable amount going on, some good pubs and, if you get sick of it, you're within 50 mins of london and within decent train distance of a lot of other great towns. In my job being here works well with the proximity to london, as agents often come to my shows, as they're nearest too.

Published by simon_b (not active) at 4:26pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I don’t think there is anything I don’t like about Cambridge really. Nice people, nice green city centre, lots of cultural stuff to look at if I can be arsed, gigs, great cinema, friendly nightlife & I am lucky to have made good friends. However I think people who never leave there hometown are either plain weird or daft or got stuck. There is so much more to see.

Published by QueenBlag (not active) at 4:26pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I too think it's a bit of a shame when people only live in one place all their lives. Then again, if I'd been Cambridge-born perhaps I'd have done the same. Also, I guess it's not always necessarily that easy for people to move around on a whim.

When I go "home" I always walk around town expecting to know loads of faces, and nowadays I don't see *anyone* I know, virtually *ever*. I think this is cos all the sensible, interesting people wot I would have known got the fuck out!

Published by Jude 1 (not active) at 4:31pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I'm loving Cambridge so far for the same reasons QB says. Plus the fact that it's a relatively safe city. There's no saying whether I'll get bored of it further down the line though. I'd like to try Edinburgh, York and Manchester sometime. Don't think I'd bother with London though.

Published by katemac at 4:35pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I left Cambridge because I wanted more than it could offer at the time (it is clearly far far better now). I used to come back pretty regularly and, now that visits have become a rarity, I realise that I miss the place a lot - it's great and is still home really.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 4:37pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

i was the same when i moved down to the smoke Dr R, and i used to love coming back here for strawberry fair, visiting friends, etc... but there was an overwhelmingly nice sense that i was returning to civilisation when i got onto the train back to london. I know several others who have the same emotions doing that too.

btw... i'm sure we've been through this before but is the name Dr Rhythm an ode to the lovely boss machines?

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 4:41pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I like Cambridge because it is vageuly reminiscent of my country upbringing due to the green belt nearby, but it has a lot more going on culturally. There is actually an arts cinema! Also, there are far more gigs than a town of the size would normally have.

I'm glad I get lots of variety though, and my current stay in Geneva is really making me compare the UK harshly against the rest of Europe. When I came back to Cambridge for the weekend recently, I'd actually forgotten what Saturday night in a UK town centre is like- there is none of the aggro or mayhem over here. Food in France is very good and very cheap indeed, as is beer and wine. If you live a simple life like I do, consisting of beer and wine, thats a very good thing. Geneva is a bit slow for indie related things, but I am slowly discovering there is a lot going on that I hadn't previously notice (and Lausanne is even better).

When I visit my brother in Amsterdam, that is an even more perfect place to be. It has all the physical charms of Cambridge (flat, green, etc) but with a higher quality of life.

Published by mwhite (not active) at 4:53pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

... when you start supporting Cambridge United.

Or even just going, for that matter.

Published by hairyskiver at 4:56pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by Janeyferr (not active) at 4:58pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

No - it was because a little photo of me appeared in one of the local music mags in about 1984 with Dr Rhythm as the caption - it was never a real nickname. Our percussionist (a well known Cambridge DJ now) was captioned Doc Def in the same article.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 4:58pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

heheh- I have indeed been to United matches hairy, and much fun they were too*

*probably.

Published by mwhite (not active) at 5:01pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

ah cool... i thought it might be the fabbo drum machines of my youth :-)

i know what you mean mwhite about uk cities vs european ones. I think i've been to amsterdam 4 times in the last 18 months as it is such a nice city, and very similar to cambridge but without the inbred chav cunts, much cheaper food/drink, better all round attitude to people/each other, transport, etc and that really does just scrape the surface.

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 5:06pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

james - I always think this, but bear in mind you don't speak their language, so don't hear all the swearing, know the "common" accent etc. Also I've found that "agro and mayhem" does occur in European cities, but it just happes later, hehe - our yobos haven't got used to the fact they don't have to get bladdered by 11 now :)

Published by hairyskiver at 5:18pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

When I visit my brother in Amsterdam, that is an even more perfect place to be. It has all the physical charms of Cambridge (flat, green, etc) but with a higher quality of life.

I'd really like to move to amsterdam. I really, really, really enjoy being there. Is it expensive to live over there? Cheaper than London? Cambridge?

Published by joshua at 5:19pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

depend where you live, the centrum is pretty expensive but the outer bits are pretty cheap and they have fantastic transport so it is not too much hassle to get around.
There are things like compulsory health care to pay for that we don't have here, but i guess it would be levelled out in taxes (they just tell you upfront what you are paying for).
I haven't managed to do a proper comparison yet due to not knowing how wages are.

Food in supermarkets seems to roughly equate to 1 euro to 1 pound (stuff that would be £5 here would be 5 euro there), beer is about the same ratio once you get away from real tourist spots

hairy - probably true!

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 5:32pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

The only problem with Amsterdam is that during the summer the centre is absolutely packed with the yoof of all western nations there to sample the obvious attractions - very very humid as well. A very nice place though a lot more deprivation than Cambridge.

Last time I went it was a November - rather chilly with the wind blowing down the canals!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 5:40pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

The Netherlands have bit of a problem with unemployment at the moment. Its not very high above our rate but its increasing whereas ours is declining.
http://www.indexmundi.com/netherlands/unemployment_rate.html

so finding a job might be tough unless you can speak dutch or are skilled in job where it wouldn't matter. Average wages are E25-28k

Published by QueenBlag (not active) at 5:42pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

so average wage roughly equates to a euro to the pound too then, theoretically making standards of living about the same.
The dutch speaking is definitely important, which is easy to forget when everyone speaks english so readily. I know some people who work in english speaking offices out there but the majority require dutch language.

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 5:47pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by Janeyferr (not active) at 5:48pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

well, it is legal over there ;-)

*apologises*

Published by James Alternation (not active) at 5:50pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

When you've know where the Geldart is without guessing...

Published by Tonester at 5:50pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I stayed in a squat in Amsterdam Bijlmer once (run by Cambridge people) - it's a bit like one of those massive eastern bloc housing developments and actually got hit by a plane a few years later!

http://www.redvision.co.uk/rvprojectssecondsschipol.htm

Published by Dr Rhythm at 5:55pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by Janeyferr (not active) at 5:59pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Blimey Janeyfer - there really is a site for everything!

The photos are pretty spectacular!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 6:08pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

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Published by Janeyferr (not active) at 6:21pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

My brother is learning dutch, and it isn't too bad apart from some of the vowel sounds (it helps if you have some German though).

You're almost certainly right regarding the perception of agro hairy, certainly in Amsterdam. Geneva doesn't have it by and large though- the Swiss seem to really live up to their stereotype of being boring and reserved. There are the usual muggings, etc, that you get in any large city, but the atmosphere of communal insanity seems to be absent.

The advantage of being a scientist is that you get jobs much more easily in English speaking environments :-)

Published by mwhite (not active) at 7:22pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

The still and sugarloaf turned into "munroes" i think, was a squaddie fest drinking hole. The Victoria cinema next to it, remember going to a Rocky Horror show viewing there. There was a run for the box office when doors opened and glass of box office smashed. Then a riot inside people dressed in rocky theme letting off fire extinguishers and urinating from balcony, i remember CEN saying afterwards that Rocky Horror would be banned forever in Cambridge lol.
Crusts was a good coctail bar but even better was pub along from it that got turned into a house by the university years ago, had a great atmosphere. Temporarily forgotten name though.
I remember when Cambridge Resale was along East rd and a great Mad Max 2 mel gibson full sized cardboard cutout was in window.
Chelsea skinheads on top of Cambridge United roof hassling TV cameraman, last game I saw there.
My Mum taking me too Beehive Centre to shop with her and there was a guy wrestling a real life grizzly bear in a ring on car park.

Published by daggg at 8:24pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Daggg - was that the Cow and Calf?

Published by Dr Rhythm at 10:20pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

Hi Dr Rhythm , no Cow and Calf was the irish pub on Pound Hill. I just remembered pub past Crusts on Northampton st it was the Merton Arms . Then looked up on google and found a link to past pubs and breweries in Cambridge.

http://www.iankitching.me.uk/pubs/past.html

Published by daggg at 11:09pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I agree with JA, I both love Cambridge and hate it in equal measure, but as I've just moved back here for the 3rd time since 2001 it must be doing something right.
I get annoyed though when people act like it's the centre of the universe when actually it's a small market town, full of wanker students, in the middle of the fens.

Published by Three Headed Lizard at 11:30pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

I love Cambridge. I've been here for seven years now after travelling for years and beers and it's most definitely home for me. I can't see myself moving but you never know.

I was conceived in Holland. Useless fact of the day #934857

Published by barryella scott (not active) at 11:57pm on Thu 12th April 2007.

7 years service here too. It's definately home - although that's because it's home to the people I know. I still fancy Paris, Jersey, Rome and Tokyo - but perhaps not in that order. One doesn't start with Bergerac.

Published by TheChap (not active) at 12:03am on Fri 13th April 2007.

Blimey - yes - I do remember The Merton - a little bit goth I seem to recall but that might just have been me in 1984!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 12:12am on Fri 13th April 2007.

Dr R spot on again! The Merton what a great pub, been shut about 15 years now I think.

Published by tallthinkev (not active) at 10:41am on Fri 13th April 2007.

I wonder sometimes whether I'm having a "Life On Mars" period - I live in London in 2007 but find my brain drifting back to early 80s Cambridge all the time. Perhaps WAN is actually the devious project of some insane genius on the science park, communicating powerful subliminal messages to me so that what I think has actually been the last year is, in reality, me having a post lunch snooze at my desk!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:05am on Fri 13th April 2007.

A good sign is when you start meeting cambridge people abroad in the middle of nowhere and you have friends in common; or when new friends invite you to old friends parties & you find your friendships have gone full circle. :)
God I need a change!

Published by Virginie at 11:11am on Fri 13th April 2007.

All I am going to add is... Eaden Lilley's basement toy department - legend.

Published by ababoonsass at 11:17am on Fri 13th April 2007.

All I am going to add is... Eaden Lilley's basement toy department - legend.

Remember the old 'cage' lift to go down there,with the little old man attendant? The other places to get toys when I was a wee lad were Townsends on Burleigh Street (you could park outside it once upon a time) and a shop (name escapes me) that was above Bradwells Court, where Laserquest later appeared.

Published by Kuryakin at 11:23am on Fri 13th April 2007.

another one is: when you have known ARU under four different names and you remember the Grafton centre being built.

edited for bad spelling

Published by Virginie at 11:24am on Fri 13th April 2007.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 4:51pm on Fri 13th April 2007.

when actually it's a small market town

I know it must seem like it if you've live here since your youth but trust me as someone who comes from a small market town with nothing to do, its not that bad.

Published by QueenBlag (not active) at 11:52am on Fri 13th April 2007.

too right, if you've lived in Diss for over 3 and a half years Cambridge is a hub of metropolitan excitement

Published by katemac at 11:57am on Fri 13th April 2007.

I agree QB - Cambridge isn't really a small market town at all. Small market towns are places like Thetford, Saffron Walden, Swaffham and Diss. Totally different.

Published by Old Rocker at 11:58am on Fri 13th April 2007.

Yeah, it's definitely *more* than *just* a small market town...

Published by barryella scott (not active) at 11:59am on Fri 13th April 2007.

having places to drink after midnight is a novelty for starters!!

Published by katemac at 12:06pm on Fri 13th April 2007.

I remember Lion Yard being built and my dad lifting me up to see through the peephole at the earth movers that seemed "miles down in the ground"... walking along the old cobbled streets of Petty Cury at Xmas when they had carol services at the Market end with a huge Xmas tree. I remember the Grafton centre being built, I remember (didn't we have a thread on the Kite last year??) pre-Grafton centre... Victorian "Jack the Ripper2 style streets and building leaning over...

I remember Green Shield co-op stamps and cashing them in for dartboards down Burleigh Street.

Published by ababoonsass at 12:21pm on Fri 13th April 2007.

Yeah - Green Shield stamps - they were a big thing and I can remember how the collecting books used to bulge impressively when they were full. I think my parents still have some that never got redeemed.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 12:31pm on Fri 13th April 2007.

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Published by Statjusials (not active) at 2:51pm on Tue 4th March 2014.

25: You remember when WAN used to have enormous long threads about local nostalgia and 40 or 50 people used to add to it. :(

Published by Silent Rob at 2:58pm on Tue 4th March 2014.

If things had worked out differently, WAN could have been Twitter!!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 5:01pm on Tue 4th March 2014.

I still much prefer WAN to Twitter, I'm glad that this didn't turn into that!

Published by Silent Rob at 8:40am on Wed 5th March 2014.

I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to ban anyone I chose on twitter though. :0

Published by arthurCRS at 10:13am on Wed 5th March 2014.

In reality I'd have a full time job banning people like Statjusials above.

Published by arthurCRS at 10:13am on Wed 5th March 2014.

I've never really liked Twitter and I feel slightly Luddite as a result - that's probably a good thing really!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:16am on Wed 5th March 2014.

I think I much prefered the world before iPhones because people used to write blog posts, use messageboards and actually discuss things properly. Nowadays if you send someone a long email then you often get a reply that just says

"Yeah cool! CU.
sent from my blackberry mobile device"

Nowadays it's all two second bursts and Twitter is definitely symptomatic of this. Though obviously Twitter is brillant if you've got something to promote or if you're interesting enough to be witty enough to follow.

As this post shows, I'm not very good at being concise.

I think I'm going to learn copperplate handwriting and start writing people letters again! That'll freak everyone out.

Published by Silent Rob at 11:31am on Wed 5th March 2014.

Exactly - Twitter is not the place for a ramble!!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:38am on Wed 5th March 2014.

I like it a lot, but it definitely takes a good long while to assemble the right bunch of people to follow and I feel like I used it incorrectly for a few years.

Published by arthurCRS at 11:48am on Wed 5th March 2014.

I check Twitter a few times a day because it's useful for finding out what's going on and a few people I follow can be quite funny. Arthur is a good read, well worth a follow if you don't already.

I still get very annoyed when I want to reply to someone and what I want to say doesn't fit into the character limit though! I hardly ever Tweet myself for this very reason.

Oh, People who just put the exact same thing on Twitter as they do on Facebook should be banned from using it. :)

Published by Silent Rob at 11:53am on Wed 5th March 2014.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 11:53am on Wed 5th March 2014.

I might give it another go.

Published by Dr Rhythm at 11:57am on Wed 5th March 2014.

Aw shucks.

Published by arthurCRS at 1:12pm on Wed 5th March 2014.

Anyone remember Henry's the outfitters on Peas Hill? I had a friend who worked there full time who just happened to be called Henry, however he didn't own the shop just managed it. If your out there Henry give me a shout!

Published by Kevino at 2:36pm on Thu 19th May 2016.

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