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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:
TheNaze73 · 08/02/2017 16:17

Welcome back Flowers

I've moved out to Essex now, so not far but, you can't beat London

CoughingForWeeks · 08/02/2017 16:21

YABU. And you aren't even in Manchester.

Northerners are awesome; I've lived in the South of England and had no complaints at all but having moved back to the North West, it's the people that keep me here.

CoughingForWeeks · 08/02/2017 16:22

Just seen your update - I think you'd have felt the same if you'd lived in a suburb outside London. You can't compare a small town to a big city, there's no similarity at all. Glad you're happy though :)

Jemimapuddleduk · 08/02/2017 16:24

I bloody love Manchester and the surrounding areas. I feel lucky and proud to live in Greater Manchester. I was the opposite I just couldn't live in London, I managed 6 months and moved back up North! The problem may be with Hale- it's quite cliquey. Maybe Didsbury or chorlton or even city centre living may suit you better? I love North manchester but I suspect that may be too gritty for you!

Jemimapuddleduk · 08/02/2017 16:25

Aaaargh zombie thread.

queenofthemountains · 08/02/2017 16:27

I moved far south after 23 years in Manchester, its so much nicer down south, I'm definitely a converted southerner.

BorisJohnsonsHair · 08/02/2017 16:28

Thing is, London can occupy you for years and years. Anywhere else, maybe days.

Original poster
ILikeMilk · 08/02/2017 16:30

We moved back to London in 2013. I think "Manchester experience" made me more humble and appreciative and now I count my blessings and never take things for granted anymore.

OP posts:
TuckersBadLuck · 08/02/2017 16:37

Hale, the 'Manchester experience'. Grin

Geographically it's in Cheshire, not Manchester, and atmospherically it's in Surrey. Certainly not any sort of a 'Manchester experience'.

stevie69 · 08/02/2017 16:38

Well you're not being unreasonable; all a matter of personal taste, isn't it?

I loathe London; the best thing about it is the M1 heading back north. But, hey, different strokes for different folks, isn't it? As I think I may have said before. Once. Or twice Grin

ShoutOutToMyEx · 08/02/2017 16:39

You should tell all those posh students that they don't need to go to Africa any more for their volunteer tourism - the Manchester experience will be humbling enough...

stevie69 · 08/02/2017 16:45

Having said that, there does happen to be an Adonis residing down Swiss Cottage way. So .... London does have at least one thing going for it Wink

knackeredinyorkshire · 08/02/2017 16:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PickledCauliflower · 08/02/2017 16:46

Manchester is like anywhere. Nice areas and not so nice areas.
London has some great places - and total shit holes too.
If you don't like the neighbourhood, move. It's not the city, but the area that may not suit you.
At least there is more flexibility to do that outside of the capital. I find it ridiculous there. Million pound plus properties to live in shitty neighbourhoods - with no space to move, grafitti and nobody even says hello..
A bit of community spirit can never be underestimated.

GeekLove · 08/02/2017 16:46

Remember Karl Marx wrote 'Das Kapital' after living in Manchester.

PickledCauliflower · 08/02/2017 16:48

Just realised that this is a zombie thread 😬

Original poster
ILikeMilk · 08/02/2017 16:49

I think they should relocate "I am a celebrity, get me out of here" to Manchester. I'd watch it ;)

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 08/02/2017 16:50

Spent the first 18years of my life bored out of my mind in Manchester. Knew Hale well.

ilovesooty · 08/02/2017 16:51

more humble and appreciative? Really?

ChrisYoungFuckingRocks · 08/02/2017 16:51

I've never been to Manchester, but living in London is my personal idea of hell!

LunaLoveg00d · 08/02/2017 16:51

I think Manchester was probably quite glad to see the back of you. Nothing worse than someone moving to a new town, slagging it off to anyone who will listen and going on about how everything is so amazing in London.

EurusHolmesViolin · 08/02/2017 16:52

Lol I remember the original of this thread still! FWIW I recall thinking at the time that you'd be better off moving back OP. Although I think if you were going to be humble about anything, first port of call would need to be your cruddy geography skills...

PickAChew · 08/02/2017 16:52

Nice of you to leave more of "the north" for the rest of us Wink

I can only take a big city in small doses. I much prefer the gentle pace, tranquility and cleanness of where I live, with the opportunity to pop into Durham (teeny tiny city with plenty enough going on for me) or Newcastle (quite compact and easy to escape to open space or nip around and avoid crowds) and then leave again the minute I've had enough.

FrozeninSummer · 08/02/2017 16:53

Doesn't sound like you found much humility OP if you can say living in a very privileged area such as Hale has made you humble with a straight face.

Glad you are happier now though.

champagneplanet · 08/02/2017 16:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.