Moving house AKA how not to be a social wallflower ALL my sodding life!

[Tigana]

We are probably moving to a new area in the next month or two. To a village.
I am crap at starting conversations, making friends, building relationships etc etc etc
So..is a move a potential friend-making opportunity (I think it may be) and how can I make the most of it (and not simple sidle in and out of front door and realise 10 year slater that I don't even know neighbours names).

Are your kids school age? - good starting place ususally, depending on whether parents linger at the gates or drop them off and go quickly....

From what I've heard of villages, you will be regarded as a newcomer for about 20 years!

DS is 2.
I wohm FT.
No village shop BUT 2 (count 'em, 2!) pubs (one of which we have been going to for a while now for sunday lunch etc so we 'know' the staff...)
Don't think it is a very insular village tbh...it is on edge of a city rather than mid-fields.

does it have a resients association
or a committee

we were thinking of moving to a villagey type thingy - hard to explain - has a residents association - ithought i might go along and see if you hae to have a purple rinse and if the conversation consisted of dog poo bins and "young people these days"

Will scour lamposts and noticeboards for evidence of a dog-poo committee !

Tbh, when I worked full time I found it very hard to get to know people locally - unless you are working in the village? if you can get/afford a babysitter how about going to the pub in the evening once a week or so?

Or do you or your dh play a sport? Friend who lives in a village found they got to know people through her dh playing with the local cricket team.

A dog is a great way to meet people - icebreaker, get to meet other dog walkers, get to go walking in the village during the day/at weekends so see people in gardens and can more easily get talking etc.

But its also a big responsibility/cost/tie etc.

We have 2... and a lovely area to walk them in near new house.

village hall?>

oh yeah, dog walkers always chat away and have their own outdoor social life. If you are experienced in talking about your dogs as if they were children, all the better.

No village hall or church ( not that I could tbh) (sounds like an odd village now!)
Will smile and wave and hello. Will TRY.
I think the people we will be opposite have children..I know they have chickens in their garden...a conversation starter perhaps?!

I'm sure that you could knock on door and say that ds would like a closer look at hens - mine certainly would - good opener?

If you've already got 2 dogs v good start - talk to all dog owners you see - and other people that you see when you're walking them, even if only to say hello.

If we are...will you be my friend?!

Nr Plymouth

our village has a very active village society. There's also a monthly newsletter to say what's on in terms of quizzes, race nights, general pissups, Sunday morning socials where newcomers are actively invited.

Have a look at the notice board for what's on if there isn't a newsletter.

Help out at stuff like village fetes, children's fun days etc.

Once you've washed 100 plates you'll know everything about everybody.

We certainly didn't find we needed to live here a long time to fit in - after six weeks, felt like we'd been here forever.

This move had better not fall through now!