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People who have moved to the country from London

490 replies

CountessDracula · 13/01/2006 14:37

What exactly is so much cheaper about living in the country to justify the massive salary cut you have to take when you move?

Food, clothes, schools etc the same price surely. Plus masses of petrol so that is more. If you are moving to an area where the house prices are not dissimilar to London, I can't see where you make the saving.

OP posts:
drosophila · 13/01/2006 16:19

Not read the holw thread but I grew up on a farm and most people think how idylic to spend your childhood in the countryside. I want to tell you how awful I found it.

Reasons not to move to the country.

Boring and lonely for a child unless you are really lucky.

Not enough for children to do.

Always have to rely on parents to ferry you into the nearest town for anything remotely social.

Have to bus it to school.

Drug and drink problems cos evryone is soooo bored. I saw more drugs and excessive drinking as a teenager than I have ever seen in London.

You can't walk anywhere cos the traffic travels at such speeds on the country lanes. My mum still lives in the country and never walks anywhere cos she is afraid of the traffic. She walks loads when she visits me.

When my Dad had a heart attack he waited ages for help.

Very isolating when weather is bad.

Best hospitals are probably in cities. My Dad had to travel 4 hrs after having a bypass.

I could go on but I am rambling. On the plus side the air is cleaner. I hope I have not offended anyone who lives in the country but I really believe it's not for everyone. My experience is probably more remote than most but thought my experiences may help.

Anteater · 13/01/2006 16:21

upcoming threads from CD

Help, ive run out of milk
Help, my septic tanks full
Help, a cows in my parking space
Help, my Sundays roast wants to be my friend
Help etc etc

Anchovy · 13/01/2006 16:21

CD - I will bring you down copies of the Evening Standard when I come to visit my parents and allow you to look at my fashionable clothes. I will tell you about what is on at the National theatre and you can tell me about the latest Alan Ayckbourn revival at the Theatre Royal. You can complain to me about the one way system and I will smile sympathetically while thinking lofty urban thoughts

Kittypickle · 13/01/2006 16:23

Drosophila's post explains then why there are sharps bins in the public toilets in Winchester as I found out to my suprise recently. I think there are lots of lovely places to live down here though where you can still have a Waitrose delivery and don't have to drive everywhere. I have met loads and loads of people who have moved here from London (Dorset/Hampshire border) in the last few years and haven't met one yet who regrets it, though I'm sure there must be some.

drosophila · 13/01/2006 16:26

I used to know someone who worked for the local paper covering the whole of our rural area. He started every morning with a spliff and a coffee.

CountessDracula · 13/01/2006 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anteater · 13/01/2006 16:37

So thats 540 posts so far !?

JoolsToo · 13/01/2006 16:39

PMSL!!! Anteater - I'm sure CD would love your gaff!

Anteater · 13/01/2006 16:41

Hi Jools, Happy New Year!
Down your way in the morning

CountessDracula · 13/01/2006 16:46

tell me more Anteater...

OP posts:
Mercy · 13/01/2006 16:49

Sorry I've just pmsl at your first post on that thread - so funny!

Beetrootfultoyourself · 13/01/2006 17:30

so has dh been offered another job in wnchester then? or is it the same one? you wil be near coddy??? and you can meet coddy nd I for coffee

CountessDracula · 13/01/2006 17:31

No he has 2 firms in Soton after him

OP posts:
twirlaround · 13/01/2006 17:42

Country v tedious unless you are a gardening or riding nut IMO

Lonelymum · 13/01/2006 17:45

As someone who has lived in both London and the country (and even the bit of country under discussion here!), I really don't understand this obseesion with assuming all life is in London and country living is synonymous with horse riding and gardening. I have never done either, yet I still visit the theatre, eat out and mainly keep my feet out of wellies.

Anyway, if you want a bigger garden, you have to expect to at least mow the lawn in the summer.

twirlaround · 13/01/2006 17:55

but what reasons could there possibly be to live in the country if you are not a fan of gardening or riding

or a fan of driving a lot

Lonelymum · 13/01/2006 18:10

You might be a fan of quieter living, gorgeous scenery, wide open spaces, less dirt and crime in every day life, cheaper housing, fresh air and more broad-minded neighbours!

Or maybe not.

spacedonkey · 13/01/2006 18:12

more broad-minded in the country?

Klauz33 · 13/01/2006 18:12

Well I have just returned to the town where I was brought up after 18 years away. And, its been great - there are a few ghosts from the past but they do me no harm. So maybe Winchester wouldn;t be so bad

Pollyanna · 13/01/2006 18:14

CD is it your inlaws that live in Ditchling? We chickened out of moving there - but still go through this dilemma on a monthly basis.

Lonelymum · 13/01/2006 18:15

Spacedonkey, I meant that people in the country (which for the purposes of this thread seems to be defined as anywhere not in the Greater London region) are more broadminded on the issue of where is a worthwhile place to live. I myself am a southern girl, but I would not say that anywhere north of Watford was unspeakably awful which is what a lot of Londoners here seem to be saying about the rest of the country they live in.

spacedonkey · 13/01/2006 18:17

oh I see what you mean LM. My move was the other way (to London) and one of the greatest joys of being here is that I no longer have to tolerate petty minded people all the time - perhaps that was a phenomenon restricted to the place I came from though ...

puff · 13/01/2006 18:21

My dh has the same view as you spacedonkey, adores London and "tolerates" other places in the UK.

I'd be happy to move out, but where we are is slowly growing on me as it's quite villagey, despite the London postcode.

uwila · 13/01/2006 18:33

OH NO!!!! Not again. I think they very fact that you started this thread (again I might add!) says it all.

Have we discussed the long long long train ride to London yet?

And, uh, Winchester is most certainly NOT Richmond. Who are you kidding?

Nice Cathedral, though, if you're an active COE churchgoer.

Mercy · 13/01/2006 18:42

Winchester does not = living in the country, imo. I was born in London but was brought up elsewhere and have lived in 2 other locations, so I am able to compare London to other places.

At the end of the day I think you are either a city person, a town/suburban person or a country person. Personally I would like to combine all 3 plus access to a beach!

Countess, would your dh's contract be permanent?