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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you live in Belfast, do you like it?

184 replies

BeagBoo · 06/05/2016 20:24

I'm from there but haven't lived there since a teenager. I've lived in London for my entire adult life but we will never be able to buy here, and we're just surviving really. Me and DH have been thinking of moving home with our DS (1). But I can't imagine living there. I hated growing up there and worry about raising a kid there.

But all my family live there and that would be nice, to be near them. I just struggle to visualise myself there. If you live there and like it, why? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeagBoo · 08/05/2016 13:03

St Ds? Grin

OP posts:
MrsRyanGosling15 · 08/05/2016 14:51

Haha you know it!

Littlegreyauditor · 08/05/2016 20:48

Beagboo, I think we went to the same school!!

Yeah, me too Shock

DioneTheDiabolist · 08/05/2016 21:17

I went there too.Shock

I bumped into Mr Doris a couple of months ago and we had coffee and discussed politics. He hasn't changed.

Original poster
BeagBoo · 08/05/2016 21:23

God, Mr Doris. Was Mr Forte of your time? He was my form tutor, I loved him.

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DioneTheDiabolist · 08/05/2016 21:27

He was my old Itallian teacher. He was brilliant!

Littlegreyauditor · 08/05/2016 21:29

Ha, school reunion Smile
I have studiously avoided anything to do with school, although I've a nasty suspicion that there's an anniversary approaching (?150 years).

I suppose my question is this: kilt or post kilt? (I had the dubious pleasure of the kilt).

DioneTheDiabolist · 08/05/2016 21:32

Kilt!

DioneTheDiabolist · 08/05/2016 21:35

There was a pre-kilt era. The kilt was only brought in once I started. I must be very old.Blush

Littlegreyauditor · 08/05/2016 21:47

It was a flattering thing, the kilt. 360 degree pleats on an a line, long tartan skirt. I looked like Wizbit in it. Still, at least you could wear leggings under it in the winter.

MrsRyanGosling15 · 08/05/2016 22:15

A St Dominics reunion on Mumsnet, I love it! Oh I remember Mr Forte, and his little comb over! I'm the big 30 soon so give u an idea when I was there!

Original poster
BeagBoo · 08/05/2016 22:41

You were the year after me, or maybe even my year! I was 30 in September!

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MrsRyanGosling15 · 08/05/2016 23:49

Same year, I was the baby of the group. Imagine that, oh I'm soooo intrigued now!

NuggetofPurestGreen · 09/05/2016 03:01

I've been living here for six months and love it. I live in the area you mentioned you were looking in OP (south) so let me know if you want to know anything specific.

Would be on for a Belfast meet up!

ButtonsAndBows · 09/05/2016 09:09

I'm going to hijack this thread a little bit (sorry op) because j just returned from a NI visit (I last went 10 years ago) and I am seriously thinking about moving - all my family is there (I mean aunts uncles etc), only my mum came to UK from the family and it's just us here. The house prices, lifestyle etc really appeals to me, it's always been "home" but my husband is indian (a Sikh so full beard and turban) .... I am worried how we will be accepted there. Most the family is around Tyrone , out of Belfast, but I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing ...
We went to the temple in Belfast to see it all behind bars and locked up (very rare, in UK they are open 24/7 nearly) which worried me.
What's it like for foreigners over there ?

escapetothecountry16 · 09/05/2016 09:34

Arrgghhh! Just typed out a long response which I just lost ButtonsandBows so I'll summarize:

We are a (visibly) minority family too so need to be selective about areas we live in. South Belfast definitely the best, but unfortunately the most expensive. We have had quite serious issues in the past so now feel it is worth the extra sacrifice. The schools around South are fairly diverse and MC, and especially at secondary level so I wouldn't anticipate any issues there.

The gurdwara is in Duncairn Gardens which is/was a bit of a trouble hotspot so many of the houses/commercial premises have locked window grilles etc. I would assume it isn't open 24/7 as the community are very small, it isn't a large purpose built place and probably for security reasons.

The sikh community live mostly around North Belfast (near the temple) but it is rare to see a man in full beard/turban. Muslims are much more prominent for example, but I have seen an increasing amount of children wearing the black cloth/bun thing (really sorry, don't know what that is called) but compared to England it will really "stick out" so I suppose it depends on your husband and how he feels about being very obviously different.

Maybe contact the gurdwara and ask their opinion on areas/any potential problem issues etc?

escapetothecountry16 · 09/05/2016 09:39

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8050396.stm

This might be useful Buttons.

ButtonsAndBows · 09/05/2016 10:05

Thanks for the reply Smile

We wouldn't live in Belfast - maybe nearly an hour east. It was Duncairne Gardens we went to, I will definatly contact them and see how they feel about NI etc.
my DH is pretty easy going , this time was his first time and my uncles were commenting on his beard a lot (jokey) which was fine but we met one man in church who came from India and my mum told me no one hardly spoke to him and his wife (his wife was born and bred in that village) and they had been retired there for 10 years.

escapetothecountry16 · 09/05/2016 10:20

I was doing a bit of a search and it seems that Derry has the biggest sikh population in NI. Would you consider there?

Your aunt's example is exactly why I wouldn't live outside Belfast.

treaclesoda · 09/05/2016 10:28

I think you will get some people who will be arseholes about an outsider unfortunately. But then, the same people will be arseholes about anyone who is in any way different from those within their own very narrow community.

I think that he may be seen as quite a novelty though, as there really aren't that many Sikhs in N Ireland, and he might be treated as such by people who want to make him feel welcome, but don't realise that the best way of doing that is by seeing past the fact that he is 'different' and treating him just like anyone else.

evelynj · 19/05/2016 21:20

Ooh Id love a Belfast meet up! Like pp says, in general it's a bit backward here & offence is likely to be caused to anyone from a minority background through ignorance rather than malice. This is due in part to many of us letting the rest 'away with' saying the wrong thing, which needs to change but I still think it's a great place to live if you can find a decent job. I gave up my decent job to move back but don't regret it.

JasperDamerel · 19/05/2016 21:41

Every now and then I think about moving back (in a non-serious way, because I love where I live now), but the politics (and excess of religion) really, really, puts me off.

BerylStreep · 19/05/2016 21:47

I'm staunchly atheist and I manage OK. It does mean I have to be fine with Sunday opening 1pm - 6pm, frankly bizarre Good Friday pub opening hours (5pm - 10pm IIRC), and knowing that abortion requires expense & travel to England (which I have availed of).

But other than that, religion doesn't really impinge on my life in any meaningful way.

NuggetofPurestGreen · 19/05/2016 21:57

Beryl down south the pubs don't open at all on Good Friday so I find the Belfast hours very liberal Wink

Original poster
BeagBoo · 25/06/2016 13:34

No longer think this a good idea after Brexit . Where now? :( Thinking of Glasgow.

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