Moving with Beeb relocation to Salford quays... Anyone else?

[topsmart]

Okay, here goes, I am initiating my first proper thread.

DP's job is moving from london to salford quays next year. We finally have a move date of march 2011 (after signing up in sept 2010...) So it's all suddenly real and I have to shift our lives and get a nursery then school for DD who turns 5 next academic yr.

MN has proved invaluable for my manc research on areas to look at, so I wanted to thank anyone who's given anyone else advice on here as I have poached it all!

Now I'm wondering who else might be moving up as I'm sure some of you must be - or already have done. And I need heartwarming tales of how easy it has been to settle in. Or how much you need a new friend to go for a large glass of wine with!

Hi again! I found you. Looks like it's just us then?! I still can't accept it WILL happen and think I'm putting it all off until after Christmas. Hopefully not going until after school breaks up in July. We have 2 DDs currently in years 1 and 4, so want them to finish their final term and say goodbye to their classmates properly.
Not decided on a location yet, so looking for all the help & support we can get. When can we have the wine?

Hi secondcoming, we know its good up North, that's why we're coming! But the reality of leaving friends, schools and family is all a bit traumatic. Good luck to yor DP, I'm hoping for a bbc job as well. Hopefully see you in the Quays!

I'm not relocating with the BBC, but relocated from SE London 2 years ago. I love it here, although I did have a handful of friends living locally from when I was at university here 10 years ago.

the native Mancunians will probably batter be for saying so, but Manchester's a lot like London, but with less scary schools. Lots of people move here to work and study, and so there's good diversity, and plenty of "incomers" to share experiences with. This is especially true if you live in the southern suburbs like Chorlton and Didsbury, but also the case in my unfashionable but lovely part of North Manchester.

Bloody hell - I can't remember how to link my own thread. We've made the move - Topsmart, would you link it please as I seem unable to rummage around in my memory to fathom it out?

I know of one other MNer who has started the process.

My email is on that thread if anyone wants to contact me off MN, and I'll be happy to help.

There's a couple of us here, with useful phone numbers and wine. Come! Join us!

what department Thesecondcoming?

Hi Fox, I lurked about on your original thread and did contact you, as we had not made the final choice at that point. My biggest worry is how to tell the children, how did yours cope with the news?

Did you? Have you named changed? Feel free to PM me on here. I forgot we now have an Inbox.

I'm a bit as I don't recognise you. Sorry.

no worries, Fox, it was a very brief message over a year ago, I was so undecided at that point I didn't take it any further! Will try and work out Pm and all that.

So sorry Smallerclanger - I can't find you. I do hope I replied - I've been through my inbox for that address but can't find you .

My children are in nursery, up to Year 4, and all have settled in really, really well. Once they are settled YOU feel settled.

We talked a lot about Manchester, and brought them up for the visits, house viewings, days out. That really helped - I definately recommend involving them in that. We didn't say 'right kids, we're moving', I think it was more of a process - children pick up on things. We came up for a visit and it was more of 'what do you think about this?' approach. But they knew it was coming.

I won't lie, the actual move and the day we left was awful. But we're talking just that day. We left mid-term because we wanted to be here before the Summer break, had a big party, a farewell picnic. They cried, we cried, but once on that motorway it was fine.

If I'm comparing Manchester to London, where I lived for the best part of 20 years, I prefer Manchester. I miss my friends, the ease of a quick brew before school pick up, walking down the street and seeing a neighbour I know well, but all that will come with time, and it has started already.

Hi, thanks for that reassurance, we plan to tell them in the New Year, and then we can start involving them in the search. I'm already planning the end of term party, also a picnic! So at least one thing is sorted. But considering the scene I caused just asking DD1 to switch the TV off and come and eat lunch yesterday, I hardly dare imagine how she'll cope with the idea of moving!! I drop hints, talk about their school friends who have moved into/out of the area, the possibility of their own room one day...but all they say is they like sharing but "I might want to move when I am 16" (8 years away!)

We've had a few visit us, and its been quite exciting for them, but it is hard as they do miss them (as I do).

We've found football teams and dance classes. They've made some good friends. There's a lot of people who are born and bred where we are, and a lot who have left and come back. I've not met many who have moved here who don't have some sort of connection with the place, and I find that very reassuring.

Sale seems to be very family orientated. The schools are great, parks are lovely (and a lot of them). Very good for access (and exits!!).

Hello everyone! Am completely thrilled that you've all bothered to respond.

(Hope this link reaches OhForFoxSake's original and wondrous thread of manchester info?)

So nice to hear brilliant stuff about moving - CharlotteBronteSaurus you're saying all the things I want to hear. V glad to hear you and the dcs are settling, OFFS.
And excellent to get an ian brown ref into the thread. The dp and I have found it a necessity to dig out early 90's madchester indie cds from the box under our bed to get us in the mood on our many journeys oop north.
Am so excited about finally getting there - am looking forward to getting to know the place and have folders of cool stuff i want to do when we shift. Am loving the idea that where we want to move to is a £6 cab journey from the centre. £6!!! In london that'd get you 5 yards from soho.
But am also scared of leaving friends and familiarity behind. And of being much further away from my parents (an hr away at the moment; 4.5 when we move).

offs, we've tackled the move in a similar fashion with our 3 (soon to be 4) year old dd. We've talked about all the lovely things about moving ("when we have a big house..." compared to our titchy east london flat; "you can help us decorate..." as she is obsessed with having a pink room, which hers is currently not, etc etc etc). And she's been amazingly patient with house-viewings, including 8 in one day
Glad the tactic paid off with your dc. Luckily some of her nursery pals were in the academic year above her, so have moved on to Big School - and others have moved house - so she's had experience of people moving on and staying happy, as we bump into them sometimes.

We know no-one in manchester other than colleagues of the dp (cbeebies). And i don't even know them really; since the dd came along we don't get to socialise with each other's colleagues any more! One of my brothers was living and teaching there until spring, when he decided to move to Asia to get out of babysitting duties be with his lovely girlfriend.
But we used to live in York, so we have northern friends - and northern family, inclding my lovely MIL. Am v much looking forward to being within day-trippable distance of them. That sounds sarcastic but it's not meant to be!

Cor, ramble ramble, I'll stop now.

well, I feel calmer about it all already! Wonder if there are any more BBC types lurking about? We'll be further away from my family, bit closer to DPs. We do have freinds in Manchester, so have been using their inside information and advice unmercifully.

I think I chould set up a FB group for this - I've been meaning to do it for a while (just not sure how!) and have spoken to HR about it. I've been on about WAPS (wives and partners) having a point of contact for a while. Probably should do something about it ...

There's the MN anonymity issue as well.

what do you think?

Hi everyone - I've never been brave enough to actually post on Mumsnet before but this thread is bringing me out of hiding! We are potentially moving to Manchester in connection with the BBC move - we still don't know for certain, although it's been on the cards for years now.

Very long, boring story but essentially DH works for post production which is being sold off - very slowly and frustratingly - so we have to wait until the end of Feb at least to find out whether the new company wants to take him up there. And then it could happen quite quickly afterwards...so once all the madness of Christmas and New Year is over with, I will have to start going through your very informative Manchester threads so that I have some information up my sleeve just in case.

It is difficult not being able to prepare the children properly - DD1 is 6 and we have mentioned the possibility to her, but haven't pushed it too much in case it doesn't happen (and she gets upset at the thought of leaving her friends). DD2 is 3 and should find the transition easier.

They are taking us up there in January to have a look around for a couple of days, but at that stage we still won't be sure whether we're making the move. Once I know exactly what is happening, I would love to join your group - Facebook or otherwise - and would definitely be up for wine if we do get there! In the meantime, thanks for all the useful information.

Hello Wizzle, and welcome.
how incredibly frustrating for you, it must be really worrying. This move was on the cards for years for us too, and took 6 months start to finish. The familiarisation visit isn't bad, but you don't see much of Manchester - it's a sales pitch (and a night away in a hotel without the kids, paid for!)
my DD is the same age as yours and it isn't easy, but they have settled in so, so quickly. Ds2 would also get upset at the thought of leaving his friends. It's really hard.
But, I do love Manchester now. It's a great city, so, so easy to get around.

We are moving as well.

I cannot wait. April seems sooooo long way!

Kids are nine and six and the youngest can't wait to move as he wants to go to a school with a red uniform (oh to be six again!) The eldest is OK about it, but just wants to do it rather than something wishy washy in the future.

It's REALLY good to hear you are so positive about the move, Snappy. So many people I speak to are unhappy about it, and it is tough, but there are worse places to move to. I think it's the fact that there is no choice in it.
So, Snappy, where are you moving to?!

Ooh more peeps, hurrah!
Welcome snappy and wizzle, nice to have you here. Fox, happy for you to set up a group though actually I have no idea what that means. Not concerned about anonymity.

I second what fox said about the relocation visit/tour. We had no childcare so DH did the official bit and DD and I whizzed around on the trams on our unofficial tour looking at different areas (though mostly played at the Lowry). Kept meeting up with DH to compare notes, was good fun!

I can recommend an aparthotel we've used for anyone visiting with kids - Saco Manchester. If u say you're with BBC move they look kindly on you - got single room apartment ( with living room/kitchen) for £80 a night at late notice, Inc weekend nights. Is over the rd from Manchester Piccadilly. Promise I don't work there!

Our flat is on Market now, had 4 viewings. And we've had an offer accepted on a house in old Trafford. Eeek! Need to sell.

Hello again! Thanks Fox and Topsmart for the advice re the familiarisation visit....we have been warned to take it with a pinch of salt. Apparently we will be taken on a coach tour of the areas where the BBC would like us to live, wherever they might be!

We are very much hoping that we do get to move to Manchester - DH went up to Salford Quays for work a month or so ago, and said it felt very buzzy and new, unlike London where it's a bit doom and gloom with all the redundancies and uncertainty. Plus we might actually be able to buy our own home, after years and years of renting - I think promises of pink bedrooms are going to be made to our girls as well.

Thanks also for the aparthotel recommendation Topsmart - will definitely try there if we do get to take it further. Good luck with selling your flat.

Hello again, great to see new faces, I've not checked in for a while, hello Wizzle & Snappy. Looks like we all have DC in early-mid priamry level. Heartened by your DCs positive repsponses to the move, but am still sure our DDs will not be so happy. Must bite the bullet in new year and see how much they hate us....

I've managed to get to a couple of events at BBC, but not always time to talk properly to other partners, and not many there with chidren. FB would be useful, would like to maintain/create(!) a partners' network.

I am taking vountary redundancy, so by March, I will be able to concentrate more fully on the move and be able to go up and look around schools.

We are planning to go back over 1/2 term with DDs and really narrow down a location, so will also be checking out your recommended hotel TopSmart, thanks!

Right, time for bed, school concert in morning....

Hello all >, I'm another Salford/BBC spouse eager to make your acquaintance.

If you haven't already, do check out ForFoxSakes earlier thread, here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/695442-Moving-to-Manchester-and-I-have-no-idea-where-to. It's great, contains so much useful information, and has been a life-saver to me.

We did the familiarisation tour a while ago,and it was fun, but busy and we didn't see any of the areas I really wanted to see. Lots of emphasis on Disbury & Chorlton with a couple of gated communities thrown in. Eeek.

Anyway, we've decided on Trafford, for the schools, reasonable house prices and the parks etc. Now we've just got to narrow it down. .

We're due to move up next summer, but the LEA have advised we need to be in our new place by 7 July at least to get any chance of the schools we'd like. So we're planning on a half-term/Whitsun move, if possible.

A group (or meet up) is a great idea. Might save me from chewing all my nails to the quick/going even greyer/going insane or all three.

For what it's worth, my kids can't wait to move. Mainly becasue DH promised them we'd get a dog when we move