Never go back?

[woodelf]

They say 'never go back'...whoever 'they' are...but I'm going back to visit (possibly/hopefully to live? my home town after 31 years and I know there must have been and have been changes, but has anyone been back to where they were and have been disappointed or hopefully pleasantly surprised at what they've found? Memories are so hard to break and the yearning doesn't make it easy. Any advice?...I probably won't take it, but it would be interesting to know. Ta Muchly.

[tamborine]

I stopped off in Singapore in hotel near Raffles (?) & searched for my convent that was nearby. Couldn't find it anywhere & asked Reception; they pointed to a pile of bricks - it was flattened for an underground station & shops above :(

[bednobs]

you are a nun, tamborine?

[lardhelmet]

Hi Woodelf. About a month ago, we went back to Broadstairs and drove past the house I grew up in as a kid. I was really disappointed. It was a big four bedroomed house, but when I saw it again after 35+ years, it looked really small and the whitewash outside was definitely grey! The balcony that was there when we lived there had been removed (not surprised about that) but the mark where it had been was still there!

[tamborine]

I got some bad habits

[woodelf]

A very nice twist tambourine!...I might find the same Lard, but nowt as flash!

[Meg]

I went back to Toronto where I lived as a kid a few years ago. The street I lived in was quite odd, some of the houses were exactly the same as I remembered but my home, and a few around it had been demolished and and office building was there. Was nice to return and see the changes although pulled at the heart strings a bit!!

[shaneystar2]

Hi woodelf ..Smile ..
We came back to my home town to retire after twenty odd years in London and racketing about in various other places in the world .
I must admit in spite of frequent visits to family over the years actually living back here was a total culture shock for me .

It wasn't the place of my childhood memories ,but ,they say you can get used to anything and we've settled in now but it took me ages . I reckon the next move will be the old folks home :))

Smile ....

[tara20]

Out of curiosity, I went on Google street view to have a look at the street I grew up in.
It was still there, but all the houses (3 storey blocks) had been demolished and now it's all semi detached houses. Unrecognisable! What a disappointment. I'd often thought about going back to visit, but not now. In a way I'm glad i looked first on the net. I'd rather remember it as it was.

[Sqad]

Yes, I went back and took my 4 sons. There were rows and rows of terraced houses and there are still rows and rows of terraced houses.
I parked the car, dragged the boys down the street, house full if Indians and Pakistanis and the boys were not impressed and wanted to get out quickly.....so did I.

[redman41]

Didn't know you were from Karachi Squad !! :-)))

[Sqad]

red...LOL. The slums of Karachi would be like Mayfair compared to where I grew up LOL

[pastafreak]

3 years ago,I made my first visit back to the States in a number of years.
My brother took me past the house we grew up in...it was unrecognisable. What had once been a very small 3 bedroom ranch was now a Dynasty-inspired 2 storey monstrosity with massive columns around the front door,that bore no resemblance to 'home'........very disappointing.

[Bobbisox]

I don't think I would ever want to move from where I am now, I like the warmth of my fellow Geordies and our ability to laugh at ourselves.

[redman41]

Ello Mrs Villiams !! ;-)))))))

[rowanwitch]

Been back to a house I lived in with my ex husband...the garden I'd designed and filled with unusual and beautiful plants was a playground with a swing a slide and twee birdhouses and gnomes.....At that point I realised you shouldn't look back except at memories....That goes for relationships too... don't think about going back... if it was that good why did you leave in the first place

Really love the avatar Red by the way

[redman41]

Thought you would Rowan it's the one you wanted to frame !! x

[Bobbisox]

hello red and rowan x

[redman41]

Ello again Mrs Villiams, hope you are good !!

[Bobbisox]

yes been out for lunch , Bills son was up from Cambs so the whole family went out for lunch, really enjoyed it