I HAVE started to feel at home now in Ely. Everything in my new house is unpacked and the bills and junk mail have started to drop on the doormat at regular intervals. Two weeks of postal oblivion and then a bombardment of material for the recycle bin,

I HAVE started to feel at home now in Ely. Everything in my new house is unpacked and the bills and junk mail have started to drop on the doormat at regular intervals. Two weeks of postal oblivion and then a bombardment of material for the recycle bin, which reminds me, I still haven't received a black box yet!

One of my mailings was from Tesco. The retailer, having received a change-of- address request for my club card, sent me a route planner to ensure that I would have no trouble finding their store in Ely. Whatever you think of Tesco, you have to admit that's pretty efficient marketing.

I groaned a day or two later when the Council Tax demand landed on the doormat, but being in possession of a utility bill does mean that I can claim some free visitor passes for attractions in Ely.

'How lovely' I thought, so I decided to take a walk over to the cathedral and see what I could get in exchange for a Council Tax demand. I came out 20 minutes later, with a one-year free pass and thinking what an absolute privilege it is to live so close to this beautiful building. Apparently, some of the other attractions in Ely also offer visitor passes, and if you live outside of Ely, in one of the surrounding villages, you receive a discount on entry. I did feel a bit guilty that I was depriving the cathedral of some much-needed revenue, after all, the running costs are £3,000 per day, which is a lot of heating and lighting, but I have resolved to take all my visitors to Ely attractions, which I hope will help a bit.

I walked round the town on Good Friday and was delighted to see so many people had turned out in the freezing conditions to take part in the Walk of Witness. More than 300 people, from the Churches Together in Ely, a group consisting of Christians from several churches in Ely, carried a wooden cross from St Mary's Church to the cathedral. How nice that traditions like this still exist in Ely and that people are prepared to put themselves out to take part. Another example of why this is such a special place to live.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Write and tell me what you think makes East Cambridgeshire a nice place to live.

The Ely Standard, 38 Market Street, Ely, Cambs CB 7 4LS or email: debbie.davies@archant.co.uk