Re: Jasper's Australian trip
Posted by:
jon (---.abel.net.uk)
Date: October 29, 2002 09:19AM
<HTML>I have been to both Reading and Swindon several times (the people I work for sell software to bus companies; the boss gets to go to Hong Kong, and I get to go to Swindon...sheesh) and, Ben, I think you're gonna be alright. Reading is (to me) a much nicer place than Swindon; it still has a real (i.e. not concrete) town centre, some good pubs, and a fast and frequent train service into London. The latter means that house prices have gone through the roof and real people (such as bus drivers) can't afford to live there any more. Lots of nice places along the Thames within easy reach, too. It is not true that the University of Reading is a remedial centre for illiterates.
Swindon, on the other hand, is a concrete and glass hell, the original railway town submerged under a tide of computer programmers. Of the various items re Swindon on Jasper's site, the only completely 'real' one is the Magic Roundabout, which is exactly as described, and it being the most interesting thing in Swindon tells you all you need to know about Swindon.
I was thinking of putting together some notes for the benefit of non-British readers re the various references to insular culture in the TN series (e.g. Swindon, Wales, George Formby etc.) Do people think this a good idea and if so, is there anything you want including?</HTML>