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Well after months of trying, I've finally managed to register. I think my old computer was stopping me with one of the security things that were on it, couldn't figure which or why Anyway got a new computer now and even though I've still got high security settings it let me on this time.
I'm looking forward to lots of help and advice as I start growing stuff
Last edited by *stuffed* on Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I've only been to Milton Keynes a couple of times (to help on a strawbale building project), but I do wonder what it is that people have against the place.
For those that don't know, MK is a 'new town' that was created, when, 70s?. It has quickly established itself as a place that is the butt of a great many jokes. I think this must be because it was 'designed' rather than evolved over hundreds of years, and is perceived as soulless and without merit. It's certainly true that it has an abnormally high number of roundabouts, but I met several people who were enthusiastic about the place - it has designed-in cycleways, energy efficient buildings, green spaces, an apparently vibrant LETS scheme, arts centres, sports venues... It also has some notorious concete cows - these are art, but as London is full of bronze horses (and we have a concrete lion here), I'm not sure that this is a reason to mock the place.
Anybody know what's actually wrong with the place?
I remember reading an article during my student nursing days (I remember it particularily clearly as my school of Nursing covered MK general so it was hot local interest!) that it had the highest suicide rate in the under 25 males. But I think that was due to the skewed demographics (the young men being babes/bumps) when MK was populated. The only thing I have against the place is that the designers (apparently) had 2 deigns to choose from for MK - 1 that relied on public transport and had an infrastructure with that at the core, and no2 relied on everyone owning a car and a grid system to aid navigation....guess what they went for no2! but other than that I have always found the place friendly and vibrant.
Muddypause wrote:It's certainly true that it has an abnormally high number of roundabouts,
And I thought that Dundee was the world capital of roundabouts! I always feel sick after going through it... I've also read that the Highlands and Islands are supposed to have the highest suicide rate for young males? Maybe that's a more recent development.
Anyway, MK seems to have a straw bale building project, so it can't be all bad.
Welcome, *stuffed*!
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
It's not all bad, I don't drive and because of all the redways it is easy to get anywhere I need to. I like the way it is designed.
I think what I don't like about the place is that it is so consumer driven, at least in the part I live which is quite central. I'm sure that there are nasty people everywhere but I feel safer walking around London than Milton Keynes especially around the local night spots.
MK is chav central.
But hey if I hated it that much I'd have moved wouldn't I!?
Hello Stuffed; I missed the post where you said you actually lived there (wondered how we go onto that subject). Didn't mean to tread on your toes with my description of the place.
I guess any conurbation of a certain size will have its problems with chavs <pretents to know what they are> and suchlike. But I didn't venture into the town centre, so maybe I got an unbalanced view of the place.
I actually know MK pretty well as I originate from just up the road in Northampton. The MK bowl is an excellent venue I must say. It was the place we would go to if we wanted to go shopping, so I can see where you are coming from with the consumer driven comment. The one thing I do take issue with MK for is the MK dons, now what is all that about
If you want roundabouts- has anyone else here experienced the 'magic roundabout' in Hemel Hempstead? brings you out in a cold sweat first time you see it! One large roundabout with 5 mini roundabouts around it like petals! traffic in all directions-noone wanting to give way...