London or France? Wanna get out of Sweden

[Almondmilk]

Here is my recurring dilemma: I'm French, lived 8 years in London, left 6 years ago. I still miss London. It's been 6 years that I live in Stockholm and I really dislike the cold and dark climate and above all the confirmism and introvert behaviours. Husband is Swedish. We have a young child. I would never have another child in Sweden so I can stay light on my feet. I also should mention that I am in the arts, freelancing and it's not easy to find regular jobs.

What is the best thing to do in your opinion:
1-move back to London or a city close to London
2-move back to France and drag the husband there
3-find another 3rd place

If you have ever read a similar post from me, please be kind, I just need to chat.
Can't wait to read your opinions.

If you work in the arts I would aim to be in London or Paris.

@PaquitaVariation truly best to in a big city...Not a fan of Paris though. It doesn't seem easy to move back to London after the 30 th of December.

Brexit will be an issue for you now, as the transition period ends at the end of the year, unless your DH can get a permanent job/work visa. Paris would be easier from that viewpoint. Dublin if your DH prefers an English speaking environment?

Good luck!

Assuming you can’t possibly move before 1st January then Brexit will be a major factor. I think you can’t make a decision until you know how that pans out wrt residency.

How’s your DH’s French?

If you can afford it and it suits your family go back to London - hopefully once a vaccine starts rolling out the Arts sector will take off again. ‘Dragging’ your husband to Paris sounds like he won’t like it there, so London could be the compromise. Good luck, Almond.

Well it's going to have to be Paris, unless you can get work visas for London. Tbf Paris seems like the better option for a whole host of reasons right now.

Why not Scotland? Edinburgh is a major centre, and Glasgow is quite a arts centre when things are normal.
Depending on where you are in Sweden less likely to have refugee problems in Scotland than Malmö, Paris or london

I'd try to come up with an option that DH is equally enthusiastic about. Moving will only work if everybody is happy about it.

If she hates Stockholm due to the climate and dark then it’s hardly worth the effort of moving to Glasgow.

I think I commented on another thread that in your shoes it would be France.

Tricky choice. Personally being a creative I much prefer London, I find more open, more dynamic and as an international family it's probably a better environment. I didn't like living in Paris, would only go for short holidays now. That said, there is a lot more support for parents ( cheaper childcare), and you might benefit from the intermittent du spectacle status? Brexit will have a major impact on your plans too. If it was me I would be on the 1st plane back to London, but definitely not the easiest option!

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously agreed. But husband isn't as open minded as he used to be.
His level in French is beginner.
Glasgow isn't a bad option but it feels isolated to me. After Stockholm, South of England seems like a treat to me.

Damn Brexit though.

I sometimes try to accept that we could live in France and travel more to London. But husband has become a sedentary person, he stays wherever he is. (Before covid)

It sounds like he’d be ok in London, as would you, but I’d leave it a year to let the worst bits of Brexit sort themselves out (I have no idea what I mean by that except that nobody knows how 2021 is going to go once we fully leave).

Could you do that year (or two) in Paris, then if he’s liking it, his French is improving, there’s the option to stay there? I know Paris has the reputation of being difficult for non-French to find a footing in so if it goes badly you have an option.

Out of curiosity could you tell us in a bit more detail what it's like living in Stockholm in comparison to London/UK? (Might be tricky since London is a world into itself). Just the general culture and differences. I've always had rose tinted specs when it comes to Scandinavian living so would be nice to hear a non Swedish interpretation. Sorry if I'm derailing your thread!

Where could your DH best find work?
Would you have the ability to enter the Uk due to Brexit?

@malaguena I'm a plastician artist so I'd get no help such as 'intermittent du specatble'. I can not jump on a plane because of Covid, my kid, my husbands temporary job and all the uncertainty of brexit. I have looked at the points system to be able to move next tru canly tricky. I have a masters degree but I

Generally i'd go for France
Although if you are loaded I'd go for London and you can hang out in your swanky Kensington pad with all your rich frenchie expat pals and send your child to the charming lycee Francais cdg

I work with two French women who have this life and am mega jealous of their perfect lives (& perfect kids)

*but I can probably only be a teacher and would need to get the required amount of points to get a visa...

Your first hurdle is getting your child's father to agree to the relocation of his child. He has veto on removal from the jurisdiction. That's your most immediate focus.

@SimplyRadishing if I was loaded I'd not have started this thread ;)
Freelancers far from rich!

@PicsInRed yes, and he won't get anywhere unless in his words "you sort out job and flat"

France appeals to me most. However, I can see you would also be happy in England. What about Bristol? There is a blend of a few things going on there that may suit you.

@AnythingLegalConsidered

If she hates Stockholm due to the climate and dark then it’s hardly worth the effort of moving to Glasgow.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

2 years in Berlin because their arts scene will recover first and it won't be such a culture shock for your DH.

2 years in Rome because weather and pasta and architecture and it will train your DH to interact with humans.

Move back to Paris, have another kid and become fat from bread, wine and tarte au citron.