Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not be entirely excited about this?

177 replies

VaginaPagina · 28/08/2013 16:44

I had been looking for a job for ages with no success. About a week ago, I was finally offered a job. It's a great company and pays reasonably well.

So I should be happy right? Well, I am happy and I have no intention of turning it down. I feel like I can really do well with this job and I loved the culture of the company.

Except that I am also secretly a little disappointed and sad :(

I'm a London girl- I studied here and lived here for 5 years and I love it. I don't want to leave London :( Especially not to go to Glasgow which is where this job is.

No offence intended towards anyone who lives in Scotland, but I am so apprehensive about moving there! It's too cold Grin

I also found it a bit boring when I went there. Granted, it was only for a day but it felt like a month. Blush

To make matters worse, I don't know anybody at all in Glasgow (or Scotland for that matter) and this means that I will be very lonely.
My parents live in a different country entirely and that was already hard enough to deal with, but now I have to move away from my mates too.

I know I'm being a big baby about this but I really wanted to vent!

Anyone with similar experiences? How did you deal with it?

I'd also appreciate any advice from people who currently live in Scotland. I've been told that it might be better to live in Edinburgh and travel to Glasgow for work. Does that sound feasible?? I haven't been to Edinburgh yet, but a lot of my mates said it was better than Glasgow Confused

OP posts:
pootlebug · 28/08/2013 16:46

I like Glasgow - would happily live there rather than Edinburgh. Property is (by London standards) cheap. There's plenty going on....think you've maybe just not had a proper chance to explore.

I do think you'll need to make an effort when you get there to do something that involves meeting people....a sport / activity / church / whatever floats your boat, so that you know people away from work too. But it should be doable, if initially daunting.

BTW I think you are allowed to feel how you feel too. I love London. My friends are here, my kids friends are here etc. If we had to move away for a job I'd be pretty gutted too.

NadiaWadia · 28/08/2013 16:48

Just think - if you do settle in Glasgow you might stand a chance of buying your own home one day. Which is increasingly becoming impossible for most people in London unless they have family money/win the lottery/earn gazillions.

Glasgow has been the European city of culture you know! And has lots of lovely Victorian buildings.

Original poster
VaginaPagina · 28/08/2013 16:50

Fortunately I don't have a family to worry about. I am single at the moment so there isn't anything like that holding me back.

Oh and I have also heard horror stories about NHS Scotland. Is any of it true??

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 28/08/2013 16:50

I'm not surprised you aren't entirely excited. What a daunting prospect. Are you by yourself?

Although I'm sure once you've made the move it'll all be fine, and you won't look back. It's just a bit nerve wracking for the first few weeks/months until it all becomes more familiar and you start to feel settled.

Original poster
VaginaPagina · 28/08/2013 16:52

Nadia- I'm thinking more along the lines of coming back to London at some point eventually. Maybe transferring to London office...
(Please let me enjoy my bubble)

But you do make an interesting point about buying property. There isn't any way that I could do that in London for the foreseeable future.

OP posts:
ArgyMargy · 28/08/2013 16:52

YABU. Most things in Scotland are free (so my MiL tells me). And the weather is lovely (MiL again). "Everything's better in Scotland"

ArgyMargy · 28/08/2013 16:54

And you'll probably be repatriated when they get independence, if Mr Salmond gets his way, so you'll be back before you know it!

PoppyAmex · 28/08/2013 16:55

Well I've lived in a few capital cities and I can say I love Glasgow and I don't know what you've heard about the NHS Scotland, but I've always had excellent treatment here (I'm currently in my second pregnancy).

PoppyAmex · 28/08/2013 16:56

Mind you, I wouldn't commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow every day, but it's doable by train.

Original poster
VaginaPagina · 28/08/2013 16:57

ArgyMargy- Hahahahaha!

Honestly, how does anyone ever leave London? To think there was a time when I would fuss about the prospect of moving to zone 3...

OP posts:
Pumpydumpy · 28/08/2013 16:58

Glasgow is a great place to live - west end is great & lots going on. And you're close enough to be able to take advantage of Edinburgh, festivals etc. NHS Scotland is, in my opinion, better than in England, not quite faced the se extent if cuts as England had. And you're close to amazing places for weekends away - Scotland has the most beautiful scenery I think.

However, it is a very patriotic country. I say that as an English person who moved here over ten years ago - I found the transition quite hard & was homesick for a long while. The saltire (Scotland flag) is on EVERYTHING, rven your pint of mike it's the Scottish bbc, etc. I found that made me more homesick, but I've settled here now & I love Scotland, not planning to go back now!

Good luck!

Celticlassie · 28/08/2013 16:59

I would definitely advise against moving to Edinburgh. A number of my friends lived in both cities and much preferred Glasgow. Also, although it's not a massive commute, it'll eat into your leisure time, making it harder to make friends.

Plus, being on the East coast, Edinburgh is MUCH colder.

MrsWildermac · 28/08/2013 16:59

I'm an home counties girl living in Glasgow and it's great...the city has a great vibe, is rated one of the top 10 cities in the world for shopping, has a great transport infrastructure, amazing places to eat out, plenty to see and do, near enough to Edinburgh to pop through for the day, but is so much friendlier, is close to Loch Lomond and many other beauty spots...yes, part of me would love to move back down south to be near family, but here we can afford a house and two cars, where down south we couldn't afford a car and a house...

CailinDana · 28/08/2013 16:59

Of course you're sad to be leaving but remember you can go back! I think moving around a bit before settling permanently is good for you- it throws you out of your comfort zone and forces you to make new friends. Make the most of it - no one knows you so you don't have to conform to their expectations. It's your chance to branch out a bit and expand your life experience. Plus the job sounds great.

FWIW a couple of my friends were devastated leaving London but they both say now having lived elsewhere they'll never go back. One who insisted she would never settle anywhere but london now lives in the depths of rural Ireland and absolutely loves it!

MikeLitoris · 28/08/2013 17:00

Yabu.

You will get to eat square sausage.

Seriously, Scotland is a great place. You will probably grow to love it and never want to come back!

Original poster
VaginaPagina · 28/08/2013 17:01

Poppy- that is such a relief. Congratulations on your pregnancy :) A mate who had her baby somewhere in Scotland said that they only did one scan early on and missed the fact that the baby was well over 10 pounds. She ended up with a temporary colostomy due to severe tearing. They did forceps even though she refused and apparently that is what caused the damage:( Some other stories I've heard as well, but I imagine that everyone will have varying experiences.

Anyway, like I said, I am single and I don't have to worry about the quality of maternity services. As long as the rest of it is good, I imagine I will be OK. I'll cross the baby bridge when I come to it!

OP posts:
primallass · 28/08/2013 17:01

I've lived in both (uni at Glasgow, job in Edinburgh). Glasgow has a more 'clubby' nightlife and Edinburgh is more about bars. Glasgow is warmer but much wetter.

I lived in London but feel ill at the thought of ever living there again.

What on earth would be wrong with the NHS? I would imagine that it is much better here.

If you no no-one then live in Glasgow. It is friendlier and you'll be able to do things with people from work.

Life on a smaller scale is so much easier - you'll see.

MissDD1971 · 28/08/2013 17:02

Glasgow is apparently great (never been).

I think it's a good idea to network with work colleagues when you're up there and in your local area you move to.

also Scottish men and Ewan McGregor lookalikes?! hello?! Wink

Anyexcuse · 28/08/2013 17:02

It'll be great - treat it as an adventure and try and get the best from your time there. I'd much rather live in Glasgow than Edinburgh and coming from London you'll probably be able to rent a Merchant City flat at the same price as you were paying there. You'll be able to walk to work in ten mins (assuming new job's in city centre) so don't know why on earth you'd choose an hour long commute. Glasgow is a very vibrant city with great banter, friendly folk and loads to do. I'm jealous!

TallyGrenshall · 28/08/2013 17:02

I moved to Scotland when I was 20, even though I had never been out of Norfolk before. It was hard at first but once I settled and made friends, I loved it and stayed for 10 years.

I wouldn't commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow (I did for a year and it was hellish) but there are nice places to live in between the 2 so you can get to know both. I prefer Edinburgh, DP prefers Glasgow so we've done lots of nights out in both

squoosh · 28/08/2013 17:02

If you've been looking for a while and this has been the only opportunity I'd be inclined to accept the job and tell myself 'It's only going to be for 18 months and then I'll look for something back in London'.

I live in Glasgow, it's a great city in many ways, it's scary reputation is unfounded in my experience, the cost of living is much cheaper and there's a lot to be said for that. You'll be able to live in a nice home in a nice area. But if you love London that much well then Glasgow may well feel a bit pokey and provincial.

Many, many people commute Glasgow-Edinburgh each day, it's about a 50 min train journey, personally I couldn't be bothered doing that twice a day, but know lots that do. As for Glasgow v Edinburgh, Edinburgh is a stunning city, really gorgeous architecture, lots of history etc. but personally I'd pick Glasgow every time. Glasgow is more vibrant, better music/theatre, there's more going on it feels like a proper city whereas to me Edinburgh feels more like a big town.

primallass · 28/08/2013 17:03

*know no one

Sleepyhead33 · 28/08/2013 17:03

oooh I'm jealous. I love Glasgow. It is such a fab city, small enough to really get to know properly. I have always found the city and the people very similar to Dublin and Dubliners ( another city I love).

However I'm not surprised you are feeling concerned about leaving friends/support in London. Quite normal. As you say, you are going to take the opportunity so try hard to make the most of it.

Oh and I have never heard that the NHS Scotland is worse, have only heard it compared favourably. No prescription charges either!

Enjoy

Original poster
VaginaPagina · 28/08/2013 17:05

Oh thank you so much everyone! I'm feeling a bit better now. :)

I had barely a day to explore Glasgow so perhaps I haven't given it a fair chance. And if Edinburgh is colder then I definitely shan't be moving there! I hate winters and I don't deal well with the cold at all.

I'm comforting myself with the fact that London is only a cheap 1 hour flight away and I can always come here for a weekend or so every month.

OP posts:
Sleepyhead33 · 28/08/2013 17:05

Agreed, yes I have always felt that Edinburgh is the far prettier city but Glasgow has the heart. Would pick it over Edinburgh to live in but visit loads.

Swipe left for the next trending thread