to think I will never be able to live in Cornwall again unless we live in a tent and clean toilets for a living?

[livethedream]

(Have name changed for this one as am currently bleating on a lot about this in real life.)

I used to live in Cornwall when I was in my twenties but I accidentally moved away, met DH, had children and am now stranded in the town I grew up in anD I hate it.

I dream of going back to Cornwall and bringing up the DSs there, and decided to focus on making it happen and we have been looking for a job there for DH who does IT support. There is nothing advertised, ever and we've been looking for nearly two years.

He could take a lesser job and pay he was on 15 years ago, which would then put us in a rubbish position to get a mortgage, or we could resign ourselves to never buying and rent something very cheap whilst we both do random minimum wage work to make ends meet.

I dunno, on the one hand I feel like if we want it enough we could make it happen, but then in reality I just don't see how. Shoudl I just accept this and go and live somewhere I like much less but where employment isn't nigh on impossible?

Dp said they have got a couple of things in that area.

If you put up your e-mail address we'll e-mail you and you can e-mail your dp's CV back and my dp will pass it onto work. Sorry but I'm forbidden from posting my e-mail address as it's got our names on it.

It's an Exeter based company so might be one of the jobs your dp has seen already.

I would go for job security when applying down here,up country salaries are rare and if you loose a job it's harder to get another although where we are is commutable (just about) to Bristol in a dire emeregency. Actually DP would do consultancy in London and stay with his parents if we were desperate.

You do want to think of a back up plan and just stick with a property you can afford. If by some miracle you get a well paid job chances are you won't next time so get a property you could afford on a small salary then you're more likely to be able to stay.

I can remember the travelling miles at the weekend,in order to actually see a tree in Nottingshite there was one NT park we went to every single weekend as there really was nowhere else to go.

Waves to Pirate-yes we're South too

waves back

Hi Mila - my address is rodrocks76 at hotmail dot com. Much appreciated!

I think we'll probably rent for a few years anyway no matter what (unless something amazing comes up) just so that we can settle in and make sure we know where/what we want.

I found thia amazingly beautiful and cheap cottage yesterday, it's so lovely and I really wanted it. I guess it sold yesterday, I'd love to know how much for.

A lot go for auction round here but they often get snapped up by property developers. We saw a few but you need the funds up front,it's really annoying as that sort of thing would suit a family but only developers will have the cash to buy at auction.

Will e-mail you.

Give Kivells a call....worth knowing as a guide.

With regard to rental I seriously think you are looking a more like £750 for your requirements of 4 beds and space.

It's the same here, a lot of places don't want kids and the ones by the best schools or in thriving towns are expensive.Things are cheaper on the moor but then you'll have to drive further.

Prepare yourself, we were desperate by the time we got our rental prior to buying so ended up in a tiny 3 bed terraced cottage with no garden.

There is more around in the winter months and I know people who have rented chalets in holiday parks long term for a good price.

D0G..I am not mumsnet stalking you (promise!) but can you have a look at your deposit thread...left a coded question about the agency for you.

kivell..now that an old estate agents and cattle auctioners

I think not having a motorway is part of the problem along with not enough country roads.

I love all three counties and have spent many happy holidays there - but would never live in the south west.

I have family in Mullion and northam and Clovelly and they are all beautiful and delightful but there is a lack of things, allsorts of things clubs theatre cinema and that is one of the reasons I have friends moving down there as he in drug rehabilition and there is plenty in the sw

I think quality of life is great in Cornwall. Truro & Falmouth especially are REALLY great towns - lots of nice restaurants, shops, cinema, Theatre etc.... Good schools around Truro and really fantastic lifestyle for children.

Main negatives are the job market and that eventually kids will probably want to leave to seek out big city.... BUT at least it's somewhere they'll want to visit again!

Whenever I visit SE England is just feels so busy and overpopulated!

Errr Rucky we have all those things even in Exeter.

The Eden Sessions is Fab and what an amazing setting?

Hall for Cornwall also gets good theatre. Falmouth has an 'arty' cinema (as huge College of Art there). Great shops in Truro.

eden sessions. amazing. i saw Pulp there, truely amazing night. Primal Scream, wish I'd thought sooner for this year as Doves and Mumford ans son's are sharing the bill.

Yes exactly my point - you need to get to exeter to get those things, Bideford hasn't got a cinema you have to drive to barnstable and that is a good 10 miles for a one screen show - exeter is another 30 miles....

Yes you have those things but serving a wide area and it is a differnet way of life and take time and more planning

Live - Calstock would fit your wants, or perhaps the outskirts of Launceston, 25-30 minutes from Plymouth. Calstock has a festival every year; you can easily get into open country; it's near Cotehele for walks and fab blackberry ice cream; it's right on the Tamar; you're not far from Tavistock for a great deli, fab butchers (there are 3), a fortnightly farmers market; good bookshop; quirky shops; the best cheese shop for miles; posh shoe shops; and several markets in the pannier market during the week. The cafe Dukes does wonderful bacon sarnies and mega hot chocolate as well.

Just looked at Levines the local agent there and rentals seem to go quickly. There are 3 bed houses for sale for less than £175k though. Is that too expensive?

Piratecat...path way view tickets on sale tomorrow for doves and mumford and sons. Im very tempted!

Just adding my bit to this discussion.

Moved from London 11 years ago and DP found a job paying 60% of his London wages, but with much less stress, less hours and a much nicer commute!

Were able to buy a house with minimal mortgage to ofset the salary drop , although now prices are not that different to prices in other parts of the UK.

DS went to Grammar school in Plymouth - fantastic village primary school.

Don't care about not having a supermarket closer than 5 miles.

Do care about living in a close village community where people care about each other

Mila - thank you! WIll get DH's CV off him and send it over.

We only really need a 3 bed place to be honest - but I see what you're saying about rent. I don't mind being out of it a bit and needing to drive into civilisation, in fact I think I'd quite like it. (Especially if it's cheaper!)

onadietcokebreak,

i am thick, who, what where pathway and view??!!!

Livethedream, don't give up. We did this 12 years ago, moved from London to the West of Ireland (I'm from an Irish city - dh is a Londoner). Took a massive hit career-wise, but it was totally worth it, and in fact I slowly re-built my career, not to what it was in London, but to a reasonable degree.

We have your entire wish list ticked off now, with pigs and bees added on.

Dh has a decent job too, and the kids are in excellent schools.

Mind you, it is bleak in the winter, no question, but to me, that brings it's own charm. Nothing like a peat fire on a dark gloomy day.

Stick to you guns, you won't regret it!

Calstock is nice, although I don't know it well.

Other places to consider across the border in Devon are Tavistock (convenient for Plymouth and Dartmoor) and Ashburton (close to the A38 so commutable to Exeter or Plymouth, Darmoor on the doorstep, not that far from the coast). Ashburton seems to be on the up at the moment according to a lady I was talking to the other day that lives there. It has an amazing fish deli that I go out of my way to travel to!

It's all academic discussing places to live if your DH is going to apply for jobs and try to get work first. Long commutes can get horribly stressful in the summer season, so be careful about living anywhere that has only one or two main routes out. I am thinking here of Torbay in Devon and Weymouth in Dorset in particular - not good choices if your DH has to commute by road.

It is definitely possible to have a good life here. You still need to find the money for housing and day to day living but schools are generally good and we spend a lot of time outdoors walking, cycling or messing around on the beach, even in winter (a wetsuit is a good investment all year round!). None of that costs anywhere near as much as the trips to theme parks that we would probably be doing more of if we lived up country. Some of the visitor attractions are pretty good though.

Anniebee has made the very good point. It can take time to build a life here and if you take a long term view it is easier to put up with less than ideal housing etc when you first move. There will be others in your situation as well if you seek them out - having children is a great way to meet people.

Pirate. Eden are releasing more tickets for doves session. Pathway tickets only...not main arena. £25 plus £5 booking fee On sale tomorrow midday. Not yet on website. Am tempted to go....

Any more info re the jobs for DH OP?