I've just done it..........after three and as half years!

[wiltsman]

Yes - I've finally added an Avatar .......... doesn't look much like me though!

[Prudie]

Well done wiltsman, hope you haven't been trying for all that time! Is that Malmesbury?

[wiltsman]

Yes Prudie - I was born in Malmesbury, but later in life moved to Swindon to seek my fame and fortune...............I failed!

By the way, this was my second try to get an Avatar. Easy when you know how, but normally my motto is - 'If at first you don't succeed, give up'!

[Maydup]

Well spotted Prudie, I was just wondering which Market Cross it was. And well done wiltsman - you feel dressed now!

[Jumbo747]

I love Malmesbury! But you have my commiserations, wiltsman, for still living in Swindon..............we lived there (in Old Town) for 34 years, but thankfully emigrated to West Sussex 3 years ago :)

[Prudie]

I grew up at Lyneham, my memories as a child of Swindon are being dragged screaming to get my hair cut, going to the swimming baths (probably long gone) and an old fashioned dept store my mother liked (can't remember the name).

[Jumbo747]

The Milton Road swimming baths are still there but McIlroys (store much loved by the older generation) closed several years ago. The centre of Swindon has 'gone downhill'.

[wiltsman]

Thank you Maidup - yes I feel complete now.

I actually live in a village on the Malmesbury side of Swindon. My living room looks over beautiful green fields, so I'm contented.

In answer to points raised, Lyneham has seen the last of the massive Hercules aircraft leave the base. Strange I know, but I actually miss them flying low overhead as they prepared to land. The RAF bases closes in a few months, but will still be a MOD base.

Milton Road baths are still there, but they've gone upmarket, so if you want to find it on the net now you'll need to type in 'Swindon Health Hydro'!

I agree with what you said about the centre of Swindon Jumbo747. It has gone downhill these last few years, but there is 'regeneration' ongoing, delayed by the recession, so it appears to be taking years. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what evolves.

Best wishes from a sunny Wiltshire.

[DTCwordfan]

Nice area to live......

from a very sunny mid-Cornwall.

Reminds me though:

Q. Why are there no French Fries in Wiltshire?

A. Because they aint got the Devizes for Chippenham.

[Baldric]

Is the "magic roundabout" still as crazy?

[Jumbo747]

Oooh aaarrrrgggggg! But d'you know why Wiltshire people are known as moonrakers?

[Prudie]

Oh my lor' DT :-)
McIlroys, that was it thanks Jumbo. Wiltshire, Cornwall (Dorset for me now) all beautiful areas to live, especialy on a clear day like today.

[wiltsman]

DT, I've never heard that joke before (well - just a couple of hundred times)............groan!

Baldric, every town should have a Magic Roundabout!

Oooh aaarrrrgggggg to you to Jumbo747 - the answer to your question is 'Yes'.

Prudie, McIlroys was demolished and there's now an H & M store in its place.

Thank you all for taking an interest.

[wiltsman]

I'm off to mow my lawn now - so no further replies for a while

[moonraker558]

Well done wiltsman from a Wiltshire Moonraker.

[moonraker558]

For those not already in the know, the name comes from an event that occured one moonlit night on Salisbury Plain in the late 18th century. A group of smugglers were hauling a consignment of brandy across the Plain on pack horses when they saw a band of excise officers approaching. They quickly threw barrels of brandy into a nearby dew pond and maintained contact with them by using rakes. When the 'revenuers' rode up, the smugglers, feigning simple natures, pointed to the reflection of the moon in the water and said they were trying to recover the large cheese that was floating in the pond. The excise officers rode off laughing at the apparent stupidity of the 'yokels'. Once they had gone the contraband was recovered and the journey continued. Henceforth, Wiltshire people would be known as 'Moonrakers'.

[ttfn]

Someone mentioned brandy? ;)

Well done, wiltsman - I recognise that :)

[moonraker558]

Mention brandy and the old soak pops up.

[wiltsman]

Thanks Moonraker for letting the ABers not fortunate enough to be born in Wiltshire, the explanation why we're called Moonrakers. There does seem to be some confusion where the actual pond was. Some people think it's the Crammer Pond in Devizes, but there's no actual evidence.

What is it you recognize ttfn? Is it my Avatar - the Market Cross in England's oldest Borough, Malmesbury?

[ttfn]

Oi, not so much of the ol...
Oi, not so much of the soa...

OK, as you were ;)

[ttfn]

It is wiltsman :)

I was born in Hampshire and now live in Dorset, though I have never relocated!