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Is a 30 minute drive to primary school going to be horrible?

20 replies

Roseflower · 23/08/2010 17:18

Hi all. A long story but the school my dd will be starting reception in this September is going to be 30 minutes drive on a busy A road each way.

The school is the area we want to move too. Our house sale fell through so I am still lumbered with this house half hour away so have to keep travelling until we finally sell (which feels like never right now... :( )

I am not looking forward to the drive at all. Please has anyone done such a long drive and please can you tell me its not as bad as think it may be?!

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Lougle · 23/08/2010 17:22

Sorry, I can't. It sounds hideous Sad

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BelleDameSansMerci · 23/08/2010 17:24

I do a similar drive every day. It's ok. You get used to it. I quite like the half hour without DD as I can listen to my music instead of the sodding Chipmunks... Grin

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ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 23/08/2010 17:25

My mum used to take me 30 mins - 45 mins away, dep. on traffic. I'm sure it'll be ok with the radio on :)

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mmmperuna · 23/08/2010 17:29

I do a 20 minute drive - its bearable - just have to be up early.

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emptyshell · 23/08/2010 17:36

My mnum used to use the thirty minute trip to the childminders for spelling/timestable quickfire testing when we were kids.

Two birds, one stone and all that.

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Roseflower · 23/08/2010 17:36

Ha ha chipmunks! Luckily dd has been forbidden any sort of CD collection so far

Its not even the music that bothers me so much. Its the getting up very extra early that especially bothers me ( I am so not a morning person and dd takes after me. I dont know who will be worse in the morning- me or her). Its the dealing with rush hour traffic and the idiots that come with it.Its the "sorry you can't play at your new friends house as I will be stuck in even worse rush hour if we dont leave now".Its the sheer expense of it.

Sigh.

Im so happy dd gets to go to such a lovely school and it was my choice to do this. I just hope we sell quickly.

I keep crying incase we never sell and we get stuck with this journey for years...as well as in an area I HATE!

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Tarenath · 23/08/2010 18:12

The journey isn't that bad. I did a similar journey all through my primary years with my mum (who then had a 40 minute drive in the opposite direction to get to work!)
I have to say it was something of a novelty when we moved during the summer holiday between primary and secondary and I found myself 5 minutes walk from my new school Smile

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iloverainbows · 23/08/2010 18:46

It will be fine. I have found it very useful having time in the car with my DD, it's amazing what you can fit in on a journey!

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BelleDameSansMerci · 23/08/2010 18:48

Roseflower it will be fine. I'm not a morning person at all and have just accepted a slightly different role at work that means I have to get DD to nursery a lot earlier two or three days a week. I know it'll be ok once we get into the routine but the thought of it is just awful - especially when it will be cold and dark

The likelihood is that you will sell your house and move to the area you want to be in. You do get used to the drive really quickly - it just becomes normal.

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Roseflower · 23/08/2010 22:45

BellDameSansMerci yes I know what you mean those cold & dark mornings don't bear thinking about.I hope you are right about the house I really do. Right now am jealous of just about anybody who has sold their house!

I told my dp about the chipmunks comment when he got home and he said "see... it could be worse..!"

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BelleDameSansMerci · 24/08/2010 08:16

Yes, you really haven't experienced a bad car journey until you have had to listen to repeatedly...

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Roseflower · 24/08/2010 14:31

Good grief...0.08 seconds in and the big red "X" button was but to use... you have my deepest sympathy

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seeker · 24/08/2010 16:23

I'm really sorry, but I have a 15 minute drive and it's horrible. It's such a pain having friends for tea, it's a nightmare if they forget something vital, it's a pain if they are poorly and you have to go and collect them, it's awful if you don't feel well and you have to drive them anyway - you can't just ring up a neighbour and ask them to take yours with hers, there's no spontaneous playing, it all has to be scheduled and organized - I love where I live but I would never, ever do it again. Sorry!

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sarah293 · 24/08/2010 16:26

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LostArt · 24/08/2010 16:31

I live near a primary school and some parent park up at 2:30 ready for the 3:20 kick out. So at least it will be more interesting to be driving for 30 mins than just sat in a car. fingers crossed for a quick move!

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seeker · 24/08/2010 16:34

But Lost, you just have to start driving at 2.00 to get there for 2.30 to get a parking space!

I refuse to do that, and I always screech ito a space about a mile and a half from the school, with a minute to get to the gate before the kids come out, I'm not there and I get another bad mummy point!

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sowhatis · 24/08/2010 16:39

im about to do the same. 30min journey for primary as we moved kids schools before we sold the house!

luckily now sold and will move a month after they start back and be a 5min walk from the school!

i have done it before and it isnt fun, but hopefully not a long term plan for you all.

x

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Roseflower · 24/08/2010 20:22

I must admit Im surprised how many people managed to get their kids into schools 30 minutes away. Where we currently are if you don't live with 1 mile of the school you apply for ,in some cases- forget it!

I wa amazed I managed to get my little dd into the school she will be starting but it was just a exceptional year.

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BelleDameSansMerci · 24/08/2010 20:43

Well, it's not over yet and you may yet get an exceptional offer on your house and find a great one where you want it! And, if you vary your route to the new school you might even find a house...

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Roseflower · 24/08/2010 21:02

Thank you BelleDameSansMerc I hope we do get an offer! It would be amazing, amzing, amazing!

Though just had had a local estate agent this very evening telling me our house is too expensive... we already dropped our price twice.... :(

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