Carlisle......always home to me (Carlisle in General)

Member Name: sarahluvsvintage

Product:	Carlisle in General
Date:	13/10/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Countryside, history, where my mam and dad are!

Disadvantages: Not many jobs or opportunities careerwise, bit remote from other cities

Carlisle will always be home to me even though it's been 13 years now since I left to work in Manchester, and now rural Cheshire. With work and two kids I hardly ever get home now, though I still get that feeling when we pass the 'Welcome to Cumbria' sign on the M6 that I'm nearly back!
It's changed a lot in the time I've been away in some ways but not in others. The shopping centre has altered a lot with more big names coming and there is certainly more choice than before. Then, if you wanted anything really, you had to go over to Newcastle. Me and my friend used to get the Irvings bus on a day trip to either there on the Metro Centre which was a big trip when we were 13! Now, there does seem to be more choice. Also, there are more bars that before but to me it's become a bit faceless, all a bit 'chainy'. We only used to go to the Kings Head, the Boardroom then off to the Twisted Wheel in our indie days!
But it's not changed in the fact there is little in the way of jobs and work. I left at 21 with my job and am not likely, now married and with kids, that I'll ever go back because what would I do? I was desperately homesick after my first born and really wanted to go home. Carlisle is a smalltown, surrounded by fantastic countryside, and I was a little fish in huge Manchester and hated it. But it amazes me, the more I go home that new apartments and houses are springing up everywhere, but where are the jobs for the people they are marketing these house at?
I'm aware my review is starting to sound like I'm whinging (twining!) but I'm not, cos if there were more opportunities I'd be back. It's a great place to bring up families. But then, if there WERE all these jobs and what not, I suppose that would mean it would grow and then it wouldn't be Carlisle anymore. It would be another urban sprawl spreading over the lovely countryside. So I take back what I said! If you live and work in Carlisle, you're lucky. It's a great place. Anyone else, go and visit soon. Lots for the visitor if you like your outdoors and your history. I must stick the kids in the car and head back up the M6 very soon...... Bacardi and Coke at the Pagoda anyone?

Summary: Great place to visit, lots to do. Great place to live if you can get a good job