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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's grim up North?

278 replies

threefeethighandrising · 15/06/2011 23:05

We are going to relocate in the next few years, and Manchester is a serious contender for DP for jobs.

If DP was to get work there then we would live somewhere semi-rural and commutable.

But ... the only experiences I have of Manchester and the surrounding areas are though my ex. He was an arsehole of the highest order, and the many people he introduced me to (his family and friends, in Manchester & Glossop) were the most painfully dysfunctional, damaged people I have ever had the misfortune to meet.

My opinion of the area is that it's the last place on earth I'd want to live, and my skin crawls when I think of the time I spent there.

But it can't all be like this can it? Surely IABU and my experiences with my ex are clouding my judgement? Surely there's a good (great?) side that I've just not seen?

Can you sell it to me?

OP posts:
HalfPastWine · 15/06/2011 23:07

What is the max time your DP would be prepared to commute ?

ZZMum · 15/06/2011 23:09

I moved to manchester from london 12 years ago - with all your prejudices - and was proved wrong - love it here now!! of course crap areas and people but you get that everywhere... manchester has that plus great stuff - ask away!

StealthPolarBear · 15/06/2011 23:11

Well I live in the north east and it's beautiful

SugarPasteFrog · 15/06/2011 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Darnsarfupnorf · 15/06/2011 23:11

not sure about manchester but i moved to liverpool from a VERY rural village 2 years ago and although im not 100% keen on dd growing up here (IMH and very biasO the area i grew up in is a much lovlier place to grow up) there are some really lovely parts of liverpool, most people are really nice, theres always something going on and your never far from the shops and buses :)

not sure about her having the accent though!!

SugarPasteFrog · 15/06/2011 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bejeezus · 15/06/2011 23:13

YABU

The North is not grim at all.

If you are going to be rural--it is stunningly beautiful

proudfoot · 15/06/2011 23:13

YABVU. There are lots of different places in the north - it not just one vast grim expanse of "North" Hmm

HalfPastWine · 15/06/2011 23:15

There are beautiful parts of Derbyshire and Cheshire where you could live. Both within an hour or so from Manchester.

TakeMeDrunkImHome · 15/06/2011 23:15

Ah so northern bashing is OK but we have to be "right on" about everything else.

ThatVikRinA22 · 15/06/2011 23:15

its not all grim and what it has in grimness it more than makes up for in friendliness!

where i work is really grim, yet some of the surrounding villages are just gorgeous - never would have thought it!

im from York originally which is a bit posh....that ruled me out of staying there then!
i do miss it, but not the snobbyness
round here its far more friendly. a bit more grim i grant you....but one day i will move again!

emsyj · 15/06/2011 23:16

Leeds is very nice, and it is quick to get to lovely countryside or little pretty towns from there if you prefer rural. Plus Harrogate and York are both commutable.

We don't live there, but if we had to move to get work then it would be our second choice (after London, as we have friends there).

There are some nice areas around south Manchester but we felt they were very expensive - comparable prices to pleasant areas of London in zones 3 & 4.

DogsBestFriend · 15/06/2011 23:16

Manchester isn't north! I could cope with Manchester. Try one of the interbred NE mining villages as a southerner, that's something else!

It depends where you are coming from and what you want as much as what you expect I'd guess. If you're a city girl then Manchester might suit you down to the ground, if you're used to village life then any city, northern or otherwise, will be a culture shock. Should the latter be the case I certainly wouldn't be looking at the city of Manchester but the suburbs or surrounding villages. (Speaking as a city girl born and bred now happily old and content in a picture postcard village with no desire whatsoever to live in the smoke again, even my own city).

Like any other city Manchester will offer you and your family everything you could wish for on your doorstep - that can't be all bad, can it?

SharonGless · 15/06/2011 23:16

Maybe his social circle had something to do with it.

If you are seriously looking to commute there are loads of threads recently about people relocating because of the beeb relocation.

Its fab up north.

What are you looking for? What are the benefits to where you live now?

SharonGless · 15/06/2011 23:16

Maybe his social circle had something to do with it.

If you are seriously looking to commute there are loads of threads recently about people relocating because of the beeb relocation.

Its fab up north.

What are you looking for? What are the benefits to where you live now?

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 15/06/2011 23:17

I'm from the north east (though currently live Dahn Sarf) and it's lovely. Really lovely. Don't know Manchester that well, but there's loads of lovely countryside within commutable distance. It's got its dodgy areas, but really, where hasn't? Plus, DH is from Manc, so it really can't be that bad :)
Personally, I'd rather be up north, where it's less crowded. I hate, hate hate living in the same part of the country as a third of the UK population. But circumstances don't allow it for us at the min :(

GrimmaTheNome · 15/06/2011 23:18

I live in the North West.

Oh sure its grim... affordable houses... lovely friendly Lancashire people ...the Lake District... not too horribly overpopulated..

StealthPolarBear · 15/06/2011 23:18

whydobirds, anywhere near Co Durham??
Apologies if I have had this conversation wit you, I pounce on anyone local!

TakeMeDrunkImHome · 15/06/2011 23:19

high fives Grimma

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 15/06/2011 23:19

Actually, no you're right. The north is horrible. Really grim. Full of (ugh) Northerners. Move to London, pronto

StealthPolarBear · 15/06/2011 23:20

what do you do why? I am currently job hunting up here and there are a few about

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 15/06/2011 23:20

Stealth, I'm from Newcastle :) Love Durham though. V pretty.

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 15/06/2011 23:21

DH sells wine. I play the oboe. We couldn't be easy...

HalfPastWine · 15/06/2011 23:21

Manchester is central to so many fabulous places.....Lake District, Yorkshire (Leeds, York & Harrogate have some great shops and scenery!), Peak District, Cheshire....the list goes on and on. All these places are 1.5 hrs out of the city.

DooinMeCleanin · 15/06/2011 23:21

'Try one of the interbred NE mining villages as a southerner, that's something else!' - like where I am from you mean DogsBestFriend? Angry

And to think I used to like you, pffft!

I heart Manchester and there are some lovely parts of Chesire.