A boost for the little town

For all the stereotypes of living up north I have to admit, my street conforms to several.

Cobbles – check.

Little alley way at the back of the house – check.

Neighbour to chat to over the garden fence – check.

But then there’s certain things you realise living in Crewe, or Stone, or any small town, certain things you know you won’t get to see. Madonna turning on the Christmas lights, the first branch of Harrods in the North.

Certainly the town buzzed with excitement when Costa Coffee opened and it had nothing to do with the coffee they were serving. It was just as much as we could take.  Suddenly, people in Crewe were drinking latte and sitting around reading books and looking at their lap top. I cheat when I go. I don’t drink coffee so I order a babyccino. What’s a babyccino? It’s the frothy milk no coffee and it’s yummy.

Now I learn that the town might actually get an ice rink to help shoppers get into the Christmas spirit. It’s not Madonna but it’s a little something that bigger towns have. I’ve seen these in several cities. Last year I went to Manchester to enjoy the ice rink which was put up in Piccadilly Gardens. There was plenty of mulled wine served. To think I’ll be able to pop for a skate in town is enough to make me go out and buy a pair of gloves in readiness. They are essential. The Christmas ice rink in Leicester always drew crowds to the Haymarket where it was based. It won’t beat the rink in Central Park, NYC but it’s something different.

And for little towns make good think of the excitement in Stone. The train station will have an hourly service to London from December 1 when the timetable changes.