Do the people in your town look a bit miserable?

petallus I think you may live near me! I am between an old, cathedral town and another which once had a huge dockyard but is now a depressing, grubby centre with a lot of pound shops etc. (Mind you, I do like a quick browse in a pound shop!) The people can be friendly but are clearly finding life hard.

Today they won't look miserable.

Most of them will be festival go-ers.

Must get on my bike and go and have a lok at them.

I'm sure they are getting younger! And how many colours can you get on one head of hair!

Glam round here people do acknowledge each other, even the teenagers smile as they pass you in the street. Just stand at the bus stup and you will find yourself good friends with the person next to you in no time. Sometimes you even want to say'too much information' when they are more than forthcoming.

We live quite near a junior and infants school and most of the parents drive but a fair number do still walk even though it is very uphill to get there.

I rarely visit any towns, but whenver I meet people here, even young children, they always bid me 'Bonjour'. I sometimes get into conversation with other walkers, which is good for my French - they usually want to know what brought me to France, and I reply honestly that I think it is a very beautiful country. That always get them smiling.

Greatnan that works for me too, when I tell people I moved here because it is beautiful and the people are so nice (which is true) the locals love it.

baNANA come and visit would love to meet up in my lovely town and go for afternoon tea!!

dorsetpennt thank you so much for your kind invitation, we have a week's time share in Bournemouth, I think third week in May, so would love to meet up with you, may I remind you nearer the time?, afternoon tea sounds good.

We live near the River Thames there is a boating community nearby people living on barges and houseboats etc. they are extremely friendly they always say hello. Back in the Spring a pair of swans were nesting near one of the barges and due to the rain sodden weather, the nest often looked near to collapse but the lovely boat people were always buying straw from a pet shop to fortify the poor swans' nest. There was also a great atmosphere on one of the main bridges when the crowds were gathering for the Olympic cycling events.

ariadne do you still have the Christmas and summer Dickensian festivals each year...think I know where you are ...am I right...

baNANA where on the Thames - DS and DIL live in Twickenham, almost my second home as I love to visit them and my two GDs as often as possible. I love walking along the river, mind you one does nearly get run over by cyclists from time to time. When I was young and lived in Reigate we used to go to a jazz club on Eel Pie Island, sadly long gone, tho' of course the island is there but apparently they don't like visitors!! Look forward to a GNetters meet up in May, lets see who else lives near Bournemouth for a bigger meet up.

Hi dorsetpennt, I'm in between Teddington and Kingston, not far at all from Twickenham, I know Eel Pie Island I believe the Rolling Stones used to play there, before my time! just! I know Reigate a little, I know Banstead and Epsom better. A meet up in Bournemouth in May sounds an excellent idea.

nellie Yes - Rochester! And yes, the festivals continue, together with the Sweeps in May, when the Green Man and hundreds of Morris dancers dance down the High Street. It's a lovely town to potter round.

ariadnefor many years my friend and I would go to the December one always the first weekend in December and wander around drinking mulled wine and eating mince pies,we used to love the funfair and the characters dressing up in Dickesian dress,I used to love the huge snow machine that was brought in,sadly we haven't been now for about 10 years,glad to hear it is still going so many happy memories from the visits..

Yes, definitely miserable! They look at their feet as they shuffle past. Our town is going to be a Mary Portas second rounder and it can't come a minute too soon. Even the pound shops are closing!

I've had the GCs here for a month. God save pound shops. Paints canvas spot the difference books tennis racquets tennis balls a complete ping pong set card making stuff....... all £1

Don't worry, Stansgran, it seems likely that high streets everywhere will have almost nothing but pound shops soon!

Not in ours they won't if things continue the way they're going

Just stop being mean - A smile costs 'nowt and makes everyone less gloomy both Smiler and Smilee.