hatwoman is moving - any tips for settling into a new village and new school?

[hatwoman]

I can't quite believe it's happening...on Monday we are moving from SW London to a small village in the north of England. I grew up in the area and my family is still there but I don;t know anyone in the actual village. The school is tiny - less than 60 kids. I'm feeling quite nervous - I'd really like to make some friends but I'm conscious that it's a difficult to navigate the complexities of being sociable but not over-bearing, of being open and hospitable but not flashy or ott or coming across as ingratiating or needy etc etc. I work from home and sometimes in London - dh does the same. any tips on how to get off to a good start with neighbours and with parents at the school?

Am back. [Saw Madagascar 2 - laughed more than I should have]

OMG.

You are moving to Derbyshire. I used to live there, for about eighteen (long) months.

Well, well, well.

[looks positive]

Everyone really likes Derbyshire. Everyone thinks it's very beautiful. The air is very clean.

Right.

Okay.

Right.

Oh but not anywhere as nice as you are going to be, of this I am sure.

I think it's exciting, honestly.

And like Foxy says, it'll be spring soon and that will be wonderful.

you'll take one step into that lovely house and forget all about SW London

Hatwoman - you'll love it - Derbyshire is fab (although my Yorkshireman would take issue with your description of it being in the North of England).

What about a book group? Also cricket club teas - my SIL moved to a village in Yorkshire and baked her way to the village's heart through mucking in with the cricket club teas.

Peak running?

ooo. how exciting Hatwoman
tbh it has taken a long time to settle into our village, we been here 6 years now but it took a least a couple of years.
my advice is...
search out the village hall and it's committee / parish council committee. They always need new people and you'll find out the local busybodies...
then tell local busybodies everything or they speculate for weeks...months...years even
then get yourself down to the pub,....prop up the bar on a friday night and you'll soon settle in.
Find out quite quickly all the local suppliers. i.e the bloke who supplies logs, cuts the hedges, etc, you do not want to get someone from outside the village if you can.
Don't worry about the dc's they'll settle in immediately
and lastly
get a cocker spaniel

Ingles has a cocker spaniel - but that might be why it took her a while to settle in. You can test this theory. If you and your Lab settle more quickly - then cocker spaniels ARE too silly for first impressions.

See. You are going to be moving house and providing an essential service.

Rofl 100x
people salivate when they see my cocker don't ya know

oh and join the pta Hatwoman but keep quiet for ages it won't be anything like London.

and dh says don't forget to get a cat to catch the mice....

Oh you'd have loved me Rev. I went to a baby group IN A CHUCH in Derbyshire - two birds, one stone. They said we were to lift our babies up to Jesus, it was a song they sang at the end. I was most surprised.

[Ingles - I was approached TWICE yesterday. Oh yes. Both times by Americans, and both said 'may I pet your dog, he is so handsome'. He wagged his bottom. Was a huge success>

Sorry. Right. More tips for Hatwoman

< they are v.v.v. handsome dogs. we literally cannot go out for a walk without people petting the dog every 5 mins. Occasionally I think it would be quite nice if they acknowledged the dc's or I ... but no >

I am sorry Ingles I cant believe your cocker gets more attention that my springer.

take a little looksie at my profile and think again Twinset

aw lifting babies up to jesus sounds like a nice bonding exercise

I will put one up

It was very odd, I thought. I didn't go back. It was in a crypt too, and everyone looked exhausted, and they lifted their babies up and their eyelids hung low. I was worried there might have been drugs. No Rev sharing dirty jokes with me either, so just swaying and tightly buttoned anoraks. [shivers]

Oh Hat, you are making me soooooo jealous. Your corner shop is also my mum's corner shop; the view in your first photo is the view from my parents' bathroom window... You are so, so lucky. Are you moving back to the exact same village where you used to live? If it's not that actual one but is nearer to one beginning with B (which has a v good primary school), I gather (from my mum) that there are lots of families with primary-aged children around.

So far as advice on meeting new people goes, I have none to offer as I've not moved since having children. However, I have no doubt whatsoever that you will have no problems: clever, thughtful and friendly people will never really struggle to make friends wherever they end up.

Good luck! Maybe we'll bump into one another in the corner shop one day...

lmao at hundren i can just picture them

picture on profile

no profile Twinset

No profile there TSP.

You will need walking boots and a fleece.

It should be there have just added loads of pictures