Author Topic: Didcot  (Read 166702 times)

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Didcot
« on: 11 June, 2010, 06:09:03 pm »
I think it was better before the new shopping centre was built. What do you think?

Also, which is your favourite cooling tower?
It is simpler than it looks.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #1 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:16:18 pm »
Did you know that it's the only town in Britain with a one-sided high street (according to the Crap Towns book)?

And the power station was architect-designed to harmonise with the natural scenery?   I think the architects were the same guys who did the Emperor's New Clothes  ;D
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: Didcot
« Reply #2 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:16:59 pm »
Well the new footy stadium wouldn't have happened without the shopping centre, so its a compromise.

Tower C for me, but it depends where you stand.

[not entirely sure where you're going with this, but I can guess ... ]
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Didcot
« Reply #3 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:18:40 pm »
Did you know that it's the only town in Britain with a one-sided high street (according to the Crap Towns book)?


Has something happened to Edinburgh? Or is that the only city in Britain with a one-sided high street (or has it been taken out of Britain by the SNP  ;D )
It is simpler than it looks.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #4 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:20:14 pm »
Didcot Parkway is only one of many Parkway stations in the UK.  Bristol was the first, but there is also

    * Alfreton railway station (formerly Alfreton and Mansfield Parkway)
    * Aylesbury Vale Parkway
    * Birmingham International railway station
    * Bodmin Parkway railway station
    * Callerton Parkway (Tyne and Wear Metro)
    * Coleshill Parkway
    * East Midlands Parkway railway station
    * Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station
    * Edinburgh Park railway station
    * Haddenham and Thame Parkway railway station
    * Horwich Parkway railway station
    * Lelant Saltings railway station (Park and Ride for St Ives)
    * Liverpool South Parkway railway station
    * Luton Airport Parkway railway station
    * New Pudsey railway station
    * Port Talbot Parkway railway station (despite its name, located in the town centre)
    * Southampton Airport Parkway railway station
    * Sutton Parkway railway station
    * Tame Bridge Parkway railway station
    * Tiverton Parkway railway station
    * Warwick Parkway railway station
    * Wednesbury Parkway tram stop
    * Whittlesford Parkway railway station

Didcot is the only one which begins with "D", though.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #5 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:20:30 pm »
Did you know that it's the only town in Britain with a one-sided high street (according to the Crap Towns book)?


Has something happened to Edinburgh? Or is that the only city in Britain with a one-sided high street (or has it been taken out of Britain by the SNP  ;D )

It's a city, you fool.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Eccentrica Gallumbits

  • Rock 'n' roll and brew, rock 'n' roll and brew...
Re: Didcot
« Reply #6 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:23:24 pm »
Did you know that it's the only town in Britain with a one-sided high street (according to the Crap Towns book)?


Has something happened to Edinburgh? Or is that the only city in Britain with a one-sided high street (or has it been taken out of Britain by the SNP  ;D )

It's a city, you fool.
And the High Street in Edinburgh has two sides. Princes Street might be the main street (although just now it's more of a total disaster area) but it's not the High Street.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #7 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:24:48 pm »
To get to Oxford from Swindon by train you have to change at Didcot.  This is the way that the authorities discourage regular sackings of either town by trainloads of thugs from the other.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Didcot
« Reply #8 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:25:15 pm »
He said high-street, not High Street. Even I can see the difference!  ;D
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: Didcot
« Reply #9 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:25:23 pm »
I've only been to Didcot once. That was for a job interview. It remains the only job offer I've ever turned down  :P
Those wonderful norks are never far from my thoughts, oh yeah!

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: Didcot
« Reply #10 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:26:17 pm »
Yup - The Broadway is the road in question.

Bit like New York ...
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Didcot
« Reply #11 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:26:21 pm »
I once woke up in Oxford Station. My car was in Didcot. My wallet was £25 emptier when I got to it.
It is simpler than it looks.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Didcot
« Reply #12 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:27:18 pm »
If I stood on the roof of my house I could see the cooling towers.

I didn't really have a favourite, I liked all of them.
It is simpler than it looks.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #13 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:34:40 pm »
You can see the power station from Uffington White Horse on a clear day.  And the Honda factory at Swindon.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Didcot
« Reply #14 on: 11 June, 2010, 06:59:35 pm »
You can see the power station from Uffington White Horse on a clear day.  And the Honda factory at Swindon.

Also visible from Ivinghoe Beacon (though not the Honda factory, I wouldn't think) and the road out of my village.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #15 on: 11 June, 2010, 07:35:19 pm »
Didcot used to be in Berkshire, but they sold it to Oxfordshire in exchange for an inner tube.  Oxfordshire are still smarting from that one.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: Didcot
« Reply #16 on: 11 June, 2010, 07:40:28 pm »
The workshy of Wantage (which is nearly in Swindon) closed their Job Centre to give them an excuse to visit Didcot.
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #17 on: 11 June, 2010, 07:44:17 pm »
Wantage's claim to fame is as the birthplace of Alfred the Great, Saxon Britain's worst cook.  Didcot's claim to fame is as the birthplace of the first bloke to grow watercress commercially.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Didcot
« Reply #18 on: 11 June, 2010, 07:48:01 pm »
I used to live there; all I could afford as a newly graduating PhD student when I joined AEAT. I don't have great memories of the place per se. The job was a great exp though.
Frenchie - Train à Grande Vitesse

David Martin

  • Thats Dr Oi You thankyouverymuch
Re: Didcot
« Reply #19 on: 11 June, 2010, 07:55:55 pm »
I used to live a few miles away in Steventon. Whilst further away, we always described our location as 'near Abingdon'. There were some good curry houses in Didcot though.

..d

"By creating we think. By living we learn" - Patrick Geddes

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Didcot
« Reply #20 on: 11 June, 2010, 08:16:48 pm »
Anyone who lives within a 15 miles radius of it is a cnut.



(except mattc)

Nah, Alfred was a century later than him.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Didcot
« Reply #21 on: 11 June, 2010, 08:46:31 pm »
I think it was better before the new shopping centre was built. What do you think?

Also, which is your favourite cooling tower?

The best tower is the one closest to the A4130 (237.5m distance). Definitely better with the centre too, the staff at the many new mobile phone shops are really helpful.  
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Didcot
« Reply #22 on: 11 June, 2010, 08:53:20 pm »
   * Tame Bridge Parkway railway station

Spookily I read this post, looked up and the train was just pulling in to Tame Bridge Parkway station.
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."

Re: Didcot
« Reply #23 on: 11 June, 2010, 09:51:11 pm »
I used to live a few miles away in Steventon. Whilst further away, we always described our location as 'near Abingdon'. There were some good curry houses in Didcot though.

..d

Milton Park's address is 'Abingdon' - and it's a stones throw from Didcot.   Didcot wishes it was Sutton Courtenay, but has to make do with bridges across the railway line rather than the Thames...  

But still, the staff at the new centre are surprising helpful.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

HTFB

  • The Monkey and the Plywood Violin
Re: Didcot
« Reply #24 on: 12 June, 2010, 08:00:44 am »
And Appleford "-on-Thames" wishes it were Didcot. They don't have bridges over either the river or the railway. There's a level crossing, which presumably opens twice a day to let the smock-wearing yokels trudge off to sell their rustic wares in the big town or to seek work in the dark satanic mobile telephone shops.
Not especially helpful or mature