Anyone at Northwood?!?!

[Songbird26]

Hello,

I am new to this, and also new to RAF life! my husband joined up in may, just finishing his trade training, we are getting posted to northwood in about 6 weeks time. I am very nervous but so excited and pleased that we will be living as a family again. The kids have missed their daddy and I am just looking forward to not been on my own every evening and weekend!

I am a bit concerned about the Married Q there. I have goggled and read some horror stories! so if anyone can help I would be grateful! I am also worried about schools, my children are aged 6 and 8. they are sad to be leaving their school but kids are so resilient and I know they will settle down fast. I think I am more worried about myself making friends, getting to know people. I have just finished my job up here in Newcastle - where I am currently living, so am looking forward to having a bit of time to pack, then get kids settle once we get there.

My husband is happy to be posted there, I do have some good friends in London which will be great as its hard to see them often living up north. But I am worried about how life will be, do we live on camp? or in a patch? Im from an army family so am not completely clueless..... but feel now as its getting closer completely out my comfort zone! Any guidance will be gratefully accepted!

Also if anyone else is getting posted there around the same time, or are already there I would love to chat! Perhaps I wont feel so isolated, its such a big step this move. We tried civvy life but just didn't get anywhere, so we are hoping this move will be the fresh start we need and want.

Thank you in advance!

I am looking forward to shopping in London though!!!

Hi Songbird26,

Im 10 years in and hubby has served 15 so I should be an old hand at this now but it still sends me into a spin. We have a choice to make this week, Northwood or High Wycombe, and I dont know anything about either area.
I too have heard horror stories about Northwood MQ, however it sounds like they are spread out quite a bit, so could be at Northwood, Bushey, Stanmore etc.
If I find out anything, I will share it! I know any info helps.

hello!

Thank you for responding! I found out the other day that all the married quarters at Northwood were all done up about 4 years ago, so should be in a good condition - hope so anyway! Also found a few nice schools, but as we don't have a MQ yet I'm not going to contact schools yet.

I think there are quarters in west by fleet, which is a nice area. Northwood look quite green, I hope so as will miss the country side up here!

Where are you moving from? we have moved a lot in the last 8 years we have lived in 6 houses, as my husbands old job kept moving him! so I am looking forward to just been settled for a few years!

I hope we get in before Christmas, just to feel settled.

I have the hive number for Northwood, if you move there I will pass it on.

Take care have a good day! its half term here, so kids driving me mad!

Hurry up Monday!

Hi,

So we are definitely going to Northwood, hubby put forms in. No houses at Northwood apparently, we had a look at Bushey, which seems nice but a lot of houses have been condemned. So we have been offered at Ikenham! To move on 17th Dec!! ??
Not sure if we will accept or see if something comes up nearer if we wait til Jan. I don't know that a at all so it's a bit scary.

We are moving from Lincolnshire and i love how rural it is, not sure i will like West London. But at least there will be more to do!

hello!

You move on the 17th!? that's not long! I hope you manage ok! Ikenham is by Northolt! looks quite far from northwood. I just Googled it-( what did we do before Google?) - it looks pretty though. There is a tube stop at northholt I think.

My husband has just applied for a MQ, so we haven't heard anything back yet. But I am a bit worried if there are no houses in northwood. We have to give notice on our current house - he starts his post on the 28th but I really don't think we will get a house until the new year. I started packing today, just packed away all the blinking x mas decs..... I bet I have to unpack them again!

Lincolnshire is a lovely place, I feel the same about west London! there will be lots more to do, but we live close to Newcastle city centre and I hardly ever go in but I think it will be hard to not go into London, I love liberty's!

Im sure you will settle - As you said you are a old hand at this moving around business! but I am sure it is still just as daunting, having to meet new people, make an effort with everyone, get jobs/kids/ social life back on track. no matter how many times you move you must feel anxious about all that.

I used to think my mum was crazy following my dad around everywhere, we moved a lot when I was growing up, I thought to myself I wont marry a service man - haha! my husband joined up 10years after we got together! we went to uni together, had children, then he buggers off to the raf! I have left my own business behind, all my friends, but off course I am happy, but it will be hard. I think for me the most stressful thing has been the whole quarter thing. seems such a palaver! to be honest I have got used to been on my own with the kids - when my poor husband comes home he sort off gets in the way! - I would never tell him that though!

Good luck with the house and the move, the idea of living next to condemned houses is not very nice. But things always seem worse then they are.

XX

Oh here is the hive number for northwood, 01923 957855, in case you don't already have it, I have tried to phone but it went straight to answering phone.

Spotted this in the active posts. I'm not forces but I do work in Northwood so can tell you about the place! Ickenham is a bit of a trek, but once you get the know the route (Duck's Hill Road A4180 from Ruislip) it's not too bad.

Northwood is quite small and villagey but it is on the very edge of London so you can get into countryside (Chiltern Hills) very quickly. There's all the lakes of the gravel pits and Rickmansworth Aquadrome and the Grand Union Canal and plenty of places for leisure. Watford or Uxbridge for shops.

It is definitely hillier than Lincolnshire!!