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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate living in Manchester (and North in general)

928 replies

ILikeMilk · 11/01/2011 13:16

Moved here four years ago to be with DH, and I still cannot get used to it. We are in a nicest area of Manchester, and it is still feels very provincial and boring. I dream about living in London, but DH does not want to look for a new job. I feel like there is no point and don?t want to decorate the house, make friends, etc, I just fantasise about being in London every single day. There is not much to do here, no nice streets or galleries, not much to do on the weekends as a family. I went to London this weekend, it was so painful to come back. Does anybody else feel this way?

OP posts:
flapperghasted · 19/02/2012 11:03

I adore living up north. I'm in Sheffield and, when I moved here after my first 25 years in the West Midlands, I fell in love with the place. I can't imagine living anywhere else now, so I can see your point of view OP. Having said that, if I was stuck living in a place that wasn't ideal, I'd join social groups, book excursions, get on the train, bus, etc and find as many interesting, absorbing places and things in the area as I could do. Life's short. You can moan about the lemons you've been given or you can make them into lemonade and add it to a nice glass of malt :)

Dustinthewind · 19/02/2012 11:12

I used to live in London, loved it and used the plentiful public transport options. Lived in Greater Manchester and hated it, moved again and love where I live now.
I've lived in a dozen different places in England, North and South and West and in the middle. If you are definitely stuck somewhere, then you have to look for the positives or go mad.
Good thing for me about GM? I bought a house for less than the price of a garage down here and could afford to have a family. When they hit school age, I moved.
Yes it's an old thread, but I hope the OP found a compromise that worked for her and her family.

Dustinthewind · 19/02/2012 11:13

Headfairy, I think Surrey is very beautiful.

Kormachameleon · 19/02/2012 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gorionine · 19/02/2012 11:37

Everyone has different needs and aspirations but for me, moving in Greater Manchester probably saved my life. I was getting very depressed and totally insane around in Northants (after only 7 months of moving there from London) If I had been forced to stay in THAT place were people totally ignore their neighbours and are displaying long faces all day long there is no guaranty I would not have hung myself to my curtain pole. The North West is welcoming and a much happier place IMHO. And I have made great friends here without even having to try hard.

Ambi · 19/02/2012 12:21

Snap Gori hated Northampton, love the NW but OP should move if she's unhappy or perhaps get a job.

runningwilde · 19/02/2012 12:27

Oh blimey I live in northants now, is it really that bad?!

Ambi · 19/02/2012 12:42

Running - the surrounding villages are gorgeous, I grew up in one of them. I didn't realise how backwards Blush it was until I moved out. It's so isolated in it's own pretty county, a big day out is a trip to Milton Keynes. You may love it though, most of my school friends are still there and will never leave.

Rogerbacon · 19/02/2012 16:03

I wish my bus to town was as regular as these threads about living in the north and Manchester in particular

inmysparetime · 19/02/2012 16:16

It's an old thread that's been revived, that might explain its familiarity.
Anyhow, meet-up, 1st March, Knott Bar, Deansgate. All welcome.
You may resume infighting nowSmile

gorionine · 19/02/2012 19:26

runningwilde, it was for me but you might have a much nicer personality than me and people won't avoid you like the plague!Grin

CremeEggThief · 19/02/2012 19:31

I am wondering if you are depressed, as you sound so negative about everything and you don't seem to want to do anything to help yourself feel better. Could you contact your GP and ask to be referred to a counsellor? IMO, it sounds as if you could do with talking things through with someone objective. When you start feeling better in yourself, try out some of the things and places others have advised you about and perhaps you will see there's plenty to like about where you live now. If not, maybe it is time for you to move back to London. Look after yourself.

runningwilde · 19/02/2012 23:01

Loo gorionine! I've been here for a fair few years now in northants and it's ok. Town centre used to be much better but hey ho. Most of our friends here are people who also moved here! I don't find it any more or less friendly than anywhere else although the town centre is realllly 'chavvy'!

tralalala · 20/02/2012 10:23

Ilikemilk - I think creme has a point, and you are lonely, that is always shit wherever you are. Try and try to make friends, get yourself somewhere new to go everyday for a week.

gorionine · 23/02/2012 20:43

Loo Confused

northwest12 · 29/04/2013 10:23

Hi Manchester has lots to offer this summer, check out your local mumsnet website under Manchester and Trafford, you will find lots of things to do. Also go on our facebook page, its always being updated with the latest shows, food markets, clothes sales and more,....

GoblinGranny · 29/04/2013 10:25

Why not start your own thread, instead of resurrecting a zombie one?

lydiajones · 29/04/2013 10:32

From reading your post it sounds like you might be depressed and are blaming where you live on your problems. At the end of the day being a SAHM can be hard wherever you are so moving is probably not the answer.

GoblinGranny · 29/04/2013 10:33

The OP is over two years old.

KittensoftPuppydog · 29/04/2013 10:33

Yes I am in the same position. Moved to Glasgow which is a wonderful town but it's just not home. I'm trying to make the best of it but think about home every day.
I try to see it as an extended holiday. Just hope that dh keeps to his word and we will move back one day.
Would it help if you moved nearer to the centre?

GoblinGranny · 29/04/2013 10:34

This is the problem with reviving zombie threads, there is now going to be a long list of posts from people trying to help someone who asked the question years ago.

Mimishimi · 29/04/2013 10:45

YABU. If you want to live in London, why don't you find a job that would finance that instead of expecting your DH to. Generally, only boring people get bored, regardless of where they are living. I somehow doubt you'd be a barrel of fun in London either, probably just an insecure wannabe.

Mimishimi · 29/04/2013 10:46

Oh. This is a very old thread Blush

KittensoftPuppydog · 29/04/2013 16:06

I didn't realise it was an old thread. I was just trying to be helpful. Mimi what is your reason for responding? Maybe you should have a think about that.

quoteunquote · 29/04/2013 16:37

I thought when I opened the thread it was going to be about hating living in cities or suburbs,

I would really hate to live in any city again,

Have you built up a good social support and friendships since you moved?

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