Big move, new life, North/South divide etc.
Discussion
We currently live in not so sunny Yorkshire, I like the place and it does have benefits (not least fantastic relatively empty driving roads). But given my skill set wages up here are poor. Really poor.
We are planning (well to be honest it's beyond planning, more planned) a move down sarf, we have a few friends down there already and are moving in to the Bedford/MK/Cambridge area, mainly as after we are settled and financially stable we will be starting a business down there. The location is ideal really for the planned business as it is near enough London and also accessible from the rest of the country.
It's still a hell of an upheaval though, I've spent a lot of time living and even working abroad, but even so this effectively waking up one morning and closing the door on a whole life built up here, a load of personal relationships and baggage (good and bad) and opening the door in to a whole new life where virtually no-one knows me!
Ironically Emma who is a bit younger than me, much less experienced in the ways of the world is less worried than I am, sh is one of those women who tends to build her life around her partner so isn't really leaving that much behind except a pretty mediocre job and her Mum who is probably going to move back down to Leicester at some point anyway.
One thing we have noticed is that while costs are a little higher down there, for our lives it isn't that noticeable, but wages are a lot higher, in theory at least the plan should work! Famous last words!
We also can't get our heads around the benefits and attractions, the thought of being able to hop on a train and be in London in less than an hour is bizarre, all the race tracks are close by, there are loads of "touristy" attractions nearby too, up here there is none of that and even though I've lived up here all my life I miss it!
All in all I can't wait to leave to be honest, there's nothing I can imagine missing up here, the thought of all those new experiences waiting is fantastic too!
Has anyone else done anything similar?
We are planning (well to be honest it's beyond planning, more planned) a move down sarf, we have a few friends down there already and are moving in to the Bedford/MK/Cambridge area, mainly as after we are settled and financially stable we will be starting a business down there. The location is ideal really for the planned business as it is near enough London and also accessible from the rest of the country.
It's still a hell of an upheaval though, I've spent a lot of time living and even working abroad, but even so this effectively waking up one morning and closing the door on a whole life built up here, a load of personal relationships and baggage (good and bad) and opening the door in to a whole new life where virtually no-one knows me!
Ironically Emma who is a bit younger than me, much less experienced in the ways of the world is less worried than I am, sh is one of those women who tends to build her life around her partner so isn't really leaving that much behind except a pretty mediocre job and her Mum who is probably going to move back down to Leicester at some point anyway.
One thing we have noticed is that while costs are a little higher down there, for our lives it isn't that noticeable, but wages are a lot higher, in theory at least the plan should work! Famous last words!
We also can't get our heads around the benefits and attractions, the thought of being able to hop on a train and be in London in less than an hour is bizarre, all the race tracks are close by, there are loads of "touristy" attractions nearby too, up here there is none of that and even though I've lived up here all my life I miss it!
All in all I can't wait to leave to be honest, there's nothing I can imagine missing up here, the thought of all those new experiences waiting is fantastic too!
Has anyone else done anything similar?
That's really the next job, we need to get down and start looking at properties and find an area we like, obviously rents make a big difference to our living comfort so I can't see us living in one of the best areas but we certainly won't want to live in a hole, having looked generically across the area though a lot of the houses that stood out were well within budget and looked fair areas.
wildoliver said:
That's really the next job, we need to get down and start looking at properties and find an area we like, obviously rents make a big difference to our living comfort so I can't see us living in one of the best areas but we certainly won't want to live in a hole, having looked generically across the area though a lot of the houses that stood out were well within budget and looked fair areas.
No idea if you'll be interested but there is a new small Estate being built in Sandy, Bedfordshire. Its quite close to the Station and the houses look quite nice.
. Ps Sandy is 7 miles East of Bedford.
Flanders. said:
wildoliver said:
That's really the next job, we need to get down and start looking at properties and find an area we like, obviously rents make a big difference to our living comfort so I can't see us living in one of the best areas but we certainly won't want to live in a hole, having looked generically across the area though a lot of the houses that stood out were well within budget and looked fair areas.
No idea if you'll be interested but there is a new small Estate being built in Sandy, Bedfordshire. Its quite close to the Station and the houses look quite nice.
. Ps Sandy is 7 miles East of Bedford.
tholes" 
Personally I wouldn't live in MK - a very soulless place. Some very nice villages around it though.
Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
Zippee said:
Personally I wouldn't live in MK - a very soulless place. Some very nice villages around it though.
Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
That's a special train you have there, usually take 53 minutes.Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
spikeyhead said:
Zippee said:
Personally I wouldn't live in MK - a very soulless place. Some very nice villages around it though.
Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
That's a special train you have there, usually take 53 minutes.Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
Zippee said:
spikeyhead said:
Zippee said:
Personally I wouldn't live in MK - a very soulless place. Some very nice villages around it though.
Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
That's a special train you have there, usually take 53 minutes.Bedford is a hole though same as MK with regards villages.
Cambridge is nice but very expensive.
I live in St Neots, a large market town 1/2 hour from Cambridge and 15 mins from Bedford. A very nice place, good access to the A1 (right next door) 40 minutes by train into London and very good road links to pretty much everywhere.
Lets not argue about train times lads.
St Neots has appealed actually, Cambridge is unlikely to be on the living list due to it being a bit far from that central corridor up the country, plus as said it's expensive, a village around Bedford/MK will be the way forward I think.
We're aiming for circa next sept/oct moving and be down for xmas.
St Neots has appealed actually, Cambridge is unlikely to be on the living list due to it being a bit far from that central corridor up the country, plus as said it's expensive, a village around Bedford/MK will be the way forward I think.
We're aiming for circa next sept/oct moving and be down for xmas.
I moved from the north east coast of Scotland to Essex and now live in Kent. It was a great move for me from a work perspective - as you say, salary, prospects are much higher.
However don't underestimate how difficult it can be to build up a new social circle when you don't know a soul. I'm only now (18 months on) making decent friends and at a point where I generally have plans for the weekend etc.
And don't underestimate the increased costs. They are generally more than you think. It costs me a few hundred quid a month just to get into work and the same to rent a shoebox as it did to own a two bed flat on the seafront in Scotland.
For what it's worth Essex is a stehole. Don't move there, and Milton Keynes (have friends there) is one of the most boring towns in the UK I've ever been to.
However don't underestimate how difficult it can be to build up a new social circle when you don't know a soul. I'm only now (18 months on) making decent friends and at a point where I generally have plans for the weekend etc.
And don't underestimate the increased costs. They are generally more than you think. It costs me a few hundred quid a month just to get into work and the same to rent a shoebox as it did to own a two bed flat on the seafront in Scotland.
For what it's worth Essex is a s
tehole. Don't move there, and Milton Keynes (have friends there) is one of the most boring towns in the UK I've ever been to. Herbie58 said:
However don't underestimate how difficult it can be to build up a new social circle when you don't know a soul. I'm only now (18 months on) making decent friends and at a point where I generally have plans for the weekend etc.
I know what you mean. I've lived in St Neots now for 10 years and still barely know a soul. Thats the trouble with commuting and hence never being at home to meet local people.
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