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Is Scotland a nicer place to live?

118 replies

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 09:23

I think I’ve had it with England. The whining and moaning, the selfishness the entitlement.

I don’t want to live here anymore, is Scotland any better? Or is there a corner of England where things aren’t as horrible as where I live (middle class up it’s own arse town in the southwest)?

I’m so sad Sad

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EgremontRusset · 14/07/2020 09:53

We live in a London suburb. Our neighbours are cheerful and help each other out a bit, and half the street goes to the pub together after the Christmas Eve kids’ church service. People grumble about the drug dealing in a park across the way, but I don’t think that’s what you mean by moaning.

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 09:53

@CormoranStrike thank you, yes I think lockdown brings a lot of things to the surface. It’s certainly made me look at our lives differently.

@giggly I’ll try not to be a knob Grin I don’t mind being told when I’ve been a twat, I would prefer that over passive aggression!

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eatsleepread · 14/07/2020 09:56

I'm in Edinburgh. It's a lovely place to live. Lots of English here too.

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 09:58

@Wheresthebiffer2 We visited Galloway and Ayr and Glasgow and loved it, but we were on holiday which always improves things a bit! I didn’t even mind it being 12 degrees and damp for a week in August Grin and my son still talks about “Scottish cheese” ... your cheddar is more orange than in England, blew his tiny mind Grin

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Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 10:00

@EgremontRusset no, not that type of moaning. I think maybe I’ve ended up surrounded by a bunch of incompatible people who I don’t share values with? I don’t know, things just feel horrible here.

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Timeforanotherusername · 14/07/2020 10:00

You should see the chicken pakora................

Crankley · 14/07/2020 10:01

It's a tad ironic that you're having a bit of a moan about the moaners.

I'm English and the last time I went to Scotland was told by one friendly man to fuck off back where I came from. So I'm sure it will be lovely to live there. My friend is Scottish and never heard her moan, well not for the last ten minutes at least. Grin

I think you're being unrealistic to think that there's any country in the world that doesn't have its fair share of moaners. Of course there are less in Scotland, there are only 6 million people as opposed to 60 million in the rest of the UK.

Bairnsmum05 · 14/07/2020 10:04

You are very welcome here 🍷 I never come across anti English sentiment here but was shot down in flames when I mentioned that on here! There does seem to be a bit of anti scottish sentiment though but we don't care Smile. I love Scotland and would never leave but my god the moaning!! Grin

taraRoo · 14/07/2020 10:05

Depends what you want. I'm Scottish but live in London.

The cons: If you want a career it can be challenging in Scotland outside the central belt. There's not a lot of good jobs and you can't move are or around a lot job wise.

There can also be a bit if negativity. People are not that entrepreneurial and sometimes there's a sense that life is to be endured rather than lived. There's a lot of inverse snobbery and success can be sneared at.

The weather is awful. Not that much different from north of England but it is nothing like the south. It's perpetually October. Overcast, rarely over 16 degrees. I think it really perpetuates unhealthy lifestyles.

The pros

I would say that Scotland is a more equal society. It might just be because their is less 'real money' but I think there is less of a gap between rich and poor. I think it's a fairer place with probably less racism and a more socialist outlook. People like to claim that Scots are freeloaders but you pay more tax in Scotland. Stamp duty is double for some homes for instance. But you get a good level of free social care in later life, free education and prescriptions.

The landscape is beautiful and you are free of some of worst urban sprawl of middle England.

The people are generally open and friendly and there's less of a class divide.

Outdoors are beautiful if you like hiking, walking etc

I would say that it is quite different from England and you should prepare yourself for that. It is it's own country really.

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 10:07

@Crankley I know, I’ve already addressed my irony Grin

I know I’m being unrealistic, but over the past few years things have shifted where I live. It doesn’t feel the same and covid has amplified this 1000 times.

When I’ve been to Scotland everyone was lovely, No one made us feel anything less than welcome. I would probably feel differently if I had been told to fuck off.

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TheDogsMother · 14/07/2020 10:09

Just because your town in England is unpleasant doesn't mean every town is unpleasant. A bit of a sweeping generalisation of a whole nation and there's a lot of us who don't whine and moan Hmm

rookiemere · 14/07/2020 10:09

We live in Scotland and neither of us is Scottish. I've lived in Scotland for over 30 years, but after the last referendum and the anti English sentiment ( DH is English I'm not) we're planning to retire to England.

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 10:12

@taraRoo I can’t say that free university education for my children would be a massive plus, if we would qualify? It seems somewhat cheeky to come and benefit!

I have no idea if we would easily get work, my DH is an IT manager for a university and I am on the verge of a career shift, I want to retrain but not sure what I’m yet! What does Scotland need?! Grin

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taraRoo · 14/07/2020 10:35

I think you have to be resident for 3 years to get free uni. Worth investigating.

Things like healthcare, social work, hospitality are good bets but not sure you'd want to work on those sectors. There will be huge skills shortage post brexit.

Sturmundcalm · 14/07/2020 10:42

private island you say?

www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-94654553.html

once you get onto the mainland this actually isn't far from Glasgow.

think Scotland has same issues as everywhere else in terms of neighbours/snobbishness/"values". i'm sure you could find somewhere in Scotland more suited to you than your current area but then that's probably true much closer to where you currently are as well...

Shelby30 · 14/07/2020 10:43

Probably the same just colder and wetter 😂 I stay in the central belt so I don't think it would be different to any other town/city in England.

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 10:49

@Sturmundcalm

private island you say?

www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-94654553.html

once you get onto the mainland this actually isn't far from Glasgow.

think Scotland has same issues as everywhere else in terms of neighbours/snobbishness/"values". i'm sure you could find somewhere in Scotland more suited to you than your current area but then that's probably true much closer to where you currently are as well...

Sold!!! Just need to see if there’s 500k down the back of the sofa!!!

Stunning part of the world though

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annabel85 · 14/07/2020 10:50

@Graffitiqueen

Despite what those who subscribe to the Scottish exceptionalism myth will tell you there is very little difference between English and Scottish people. There are selfish whining arseholes everywhere.
People are people.

If you go around Britain some towns/cities/villages are more friendly than others (and areas within those places). I don't think it's dependent on which home nation you're in.

annabel85 · 14/07/2020 10:54

@Mrsemcgregor To live in a place where being genuine is normal? Not living around people who are massively up themselves and entitled. Open space and less people. My town is very classist, it would be nice to get away from that.

You mention Scotland but if that's what you're looking for the north of England would provide the same benefits. You can live somewhere more rural or the quieter part of a city.

Mrsemcgregor · 14/07/2020 10:58

@annabel85 I do love North Yorkshire, but only been to tiny little villages where I’ve not actually met many people. I definitely prefer the scenery the further north you go, maybe it’s a good starting point! If all else fails at least it’s pretty Grin

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JuliaDomna · 14/07/2020 11:04

I lived in Scotland for a long time and only moved south of the border to be closer to my adult children. It was lovely most of the time. I even preferred the weather in the summer. I found there was a good community spirit and people were friendly. I did experience some anti English sentiment but it was mainly at work. But it never happened in the small town I lived in. I would love to move back there again.

annabel85 · 14/07/2020 11:08

@mrsemcgregor I live in a northern city. A nice area, several nice parks close to home, close to a train station that's well connected, people are friendly, not too busy. It's more like working class suburbia really.

I've lived in the south and its where most of the wealth is and action is. People are friendlier up north in general.

feelingthefearbutnotdoingit · 14/07/2020 11:08

I'm Scottish.

I'd say the scenery is beautiful and the people are a bit friendlier.

However, in order to get the scenery on your doorstep you generally need to be rich or at least be able to work from home. Jobs are in the cities (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, Stirling) and unless you want to commute a fair distance, you won't have beautiful scenery on your doorstep. Houses in nice rural areas are expensive too.

I like being closer to the mountains etc, but our towns and cities seem much the same as England.

feelingthefearbutnotdoingit · 14/07/2020 11:11

Yorkshire seems nice. If I went to England, I'd go there!!

I've been to London, Birmingham, Carlisle, Blackpool, Cambridge.

Branleuse · 14/07/2020 11:15

Id move to glasgow in a heartbeat if it wasnt for the weather