Anyone from around Stone/Stoke?

[ToneMonkey]

With Dave and gwem both getting new jobs, it seems to be the season for it.

We've had a big restructure at work and I've had to apply for two jobs. I've applied for the same position in two places and I've already had my interview for my first choice. Anyway, I was supposed to have my interview for my second choice today, but they phoned me up and said that one of the interviewers was in the other interview so there was no point coming in. Basically, what I can read into it is either:

a) They've already allocated me my first choice
b) They already know I'm an idiot and I'm not getting either position

Hopefully it's the first one, but it does mean working out of Stoke. I know it's hard to believe that anyone would put Stoke down as a first choice for anything (other than annihilation), but it had to be done. The other choice is Hinckley, so it's not like I'm missing much.

Anyway, does anyone here live around the Stoke or Stone areas? I'm looking for a bit of advice on places to live... and pubs to drink in.

Cheers

[ToneMonkey]

It appears that no one is from Stoke. All I can say is that I can't blame you  :lol:

[WezV]

all i really know is to avoid it a rush hour

[ToneMonkey]

You could have just left that as 'All I really know is to avoid it'

[Andrew W]

It appears that no one is from Stoke. All I can say is that I can't blame you  :lol:

Well I spent my entire childhood in a village just outside Stone but haven't lived there for 25 years though I visit family on occasion.

There's a lot of very beautiful countryside once you get out of Stoke itself. Hawksmoor, near Oakamoor, is one of my favourite places on earth. However I can't really advise about pubs etc. as I was 10 years old when I left!

[MrBump]

I quite like it round that way.

Isn't the Triumph motorcycle factory in Hinckley?

[Brow]

Isn't the Triumph motorcycle factory in Hinckley?

Yep, it is  :D

There's 1 in Taiwan too but it's a bit out of the way  :roll:

[ToneMonkey]

Yeah, it's just up the road (I live near Hinckley now). We've also got Ultima and Noble just round the corner.

[ToneMonkey]

Thanks Andrew. I really like the countryside around those parts. At the minute we're looking at heading in the direction of Leek, so we're off into the peaks.

What's Stone like as it's on the list?

[shobet]

Leek has one of the best whisky shops around here!

[ToneMonkey]

It might not be such a good idea then  :lol:

[Andrew W]

Thanks Andrew. I really like the countryside around those parts. At the minute we're looking at heading in the direction of Leek, so we're off into the peaks.

What's Stone like as it's on the list?

I only really remember it as a kid in the early 80s. As far as I know it's still a fine smallish market town.

[ToneMonkey]

Well, the letter is in the post telling me where I'm going to be working. Hopefully it will say I'm off in that direction (actually, I kind of hope it says I'm redundant as the stress of the job is really starting to get to me).

We've found two houses, one is in a small place called Winkhill. It's an old stone cottage right on the banks of a river and it's right up my street. The only problem is that its not really been touched since the 50's and needs a fair bit of modernization. It's only single glazed and it's oil fired central heating, so that sounds bloody expensive. We've been talking to the owners and it's possible that something may come of it, but I'm rather doubtful. It's a pity as it's the sort of place I'd be proud to live in and I'd love driving up to it everyday.

The alternative is a a hideous dormer bungalow where demonstrates just about everything I hate about 70's architecture. It really is ugly-buggly, but it's a good size and there's more storage than even my wife could fill (it's the polar opposite to what I live in now). There's a bit of painting to do, but not too much.

We'll see how it goes.

[JDC]

Leek has one of the best whisky shops around here!

And a really long road with 5 speed cameras on it (visited once 7 year ago)

[ToneMonkey]

Stafforshire is crawling with speed cameras  :?

I got my letter yesterday and it looks like I'm stuck down here for the immediate future. All in all though, I've still got a job, which is (kind of) good news.

Expect more threads asking where people live soon as I'm determined to get out of this place and head further north.

Mr Bump - Where you from then? Sounds like we're near each other.