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Original poster

Relocating to another part of UK- anyone done it?

41 replies

cheekymonk · 18/02/2014 19:25

Hi All,
DH and I have ummed and ahhed about relocating for ages and we have made the decision to move from our current area (Portsmouth) to maybe Worcester or surrounding area. We have 9 year old ds and 3 year old dd. Portsmouth is all the kids have ever known and I am very worried about uprooting them but dh and I are very unhappy here. We both have good jobs. I am with DWP and can transfer as far as i am aware but he needs to get new job. There are plenty of engineering jobs it would seem so I think that will be ok. We plan to sell our house and rent in new area, saving the equity from this house ready for new one. We've had debt probs so it also gives chance for our credit file to repair and solves our problem of too small house that we live in now as it is only 2 bed and we are well aware that kids can't share from Jan next year as ds will be 10. We want to move nearer our families so that on a Saturday ds can go to my Mums for the afternoon or evening rather than the 3 hour journey it is now. I think family is so important and I think the kids would really benefit from being closer. Its all so scary though, literally packing up and starting a new life somewhere else and the order in which to do things is mindblowing!!!! Any thoughts/advice??

OP posts:
AliceinWinterWonderland · 18/02/2014 19:38

I moved from the states to the UK. Huge move, but definitely exciting as well. Best of luck!

Thegoatprophecy · 18/02/2014 19:39

Just go for it! It will all work itself out. I recently moved from Bucks to Devon, though I did look at Worcestershire too, which is really nice. I moved alone, knowing no one in Devon, but I love it here now! A change is as good as a holiday :)
Good luck!

Original poster
cheekymonk · 18/02/2014 19:55

:) I must admit since we have talked about it I have been so excited secretly!!! I hate our road currently the miserable Mums on the school run and general unfriendliness we find here. It will be suh a relief to be following that removal lorry when the time comes!!! I come from Herefordshire so know a little bit about the area. Thanks for your enthusiasm both

OP posts:
Original poster
cheekymonk · 18/02/2014 20:15

Alos, I am in the middle of trying to get some help for DD for her speech. She has been assessed as having seere speech delay and hasbeen referred to EYFS panel. They requested more info from nursery, HV which is in now so she is going back to panel in March but SALT has recommended ENT referral for her. I'd hate to go to the back of another queue but hopefully there will be some progress soon!

OP posts:
insancerre · 18/02/2014 20:18

dh was in the RAF so we have moved house about 9 times
the last 2 times we moved 200 miles and the DC had to move schools too
the last time we bought and sold a house at the same time as well
it was stressful but was worth it
we have now lived here for over a decade now and don't regret it at all
the first thing I did was to sort schools out

ShoeWhore · 18/02/2014 20:24

Yes we did it but pre-dcs.

It was exciting and overall a great move for us. The only thing we underestimated was how much we would miss our friends.

We're about to do it again, it's much harder with dcs and schools to consider!

Vickiyumyum · 18/02/2014 20:25

I moved from berkshire to North Yorkshire and back again. It was pre dc though. I moved back to berkshire at 41 weeks pregnant naively think dc1 would have been at least a week old by then.

If you're working and have children I'd say making friends should be easier as you will have more opportunity to meet different people.

CMOTDibbler · 18/02/2014 20:27

Yes, twice - Cardiff to W Sussex and then to Worcestershire. We're very happy here, and though its hard to make a new social life, its much easier for children!

AliceinWinterWonderland · 18/02/2014 20:49

Just make sure when you move you bring all her paperwork with her, medical records, and so on. I couldn't move now, as DS1 goes to a specialised school with a statement, and it would be extremely stressful on him. But prior to all this I (we at the time) moved from Devon to Gloucestershire, and it was definitely a good move for us.

Original poster
cheekymonk · 18/02/2014 21:08

Thanks Alice, would ideally like to get ENT stuff done here then move as SALT/HV have hinted DD may need extra support when she starts school so do need to watch timing. Really grateful for all the advice thank you everyone

OP posts:
IcanIwill · 18/02/2014 21:27

North Worcs i.e Stourbridge which now comes under Dudley has much better SALT provision than Worcestershire proper IME

Original poster
cheekymonk · 18/02/2014 21:30

Thanks icaniwill- its is pretty shocking here in Portsmouth but then it is all I know!!

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Wolfiefan · 18/02/2014 21:30

Hi Alice!
Glos here too. Moved from just outside M25. Decided to move to seek good schools, cheaper housing and easier travel links (one accident that close to London would shut down the whole area!)
I would never move back. Feel part of the community here. Much better quality of life. Love it!

specialsubject · 18/02/2014 21:40

go for it. But check flood situation!!

allotmentgirl82 · 18/02/2014 23:09

Hiya
We are moving 380 miles away from Preston, Lancashire to Liskeard, Cornwall in April.
Like you I am so stressed out about it, but know we are making the right decision.
We have 3 children aged 1, 9 and 11.
We have a mortgaged house up here that we will be renting out, and will be renting a house in Cornwall.
My husband already has a job in Plymouth and lives in his 2 berth caravan by himself, and has done since last September.
He only comes back home once a month, so I am having to do all the packing by myself and trying to sort all the paperwork too.
We were supposed to move before Xmas, but my work offered a voluntary redundancy package (with a 3 month notice period) with a decent payout so I would've been stupid not to hang on for the money (i've worked for the DWP for 10yrs)
Our boys are excited as they are getting their own bedrooms, and will be able to play out more by themselves.
We currently live in on a busy main rd that is a main ambulance/police route, so we get the sirens right through the night :(
The area has got a lot rougher in the last 3-4 years and I don't let the boys play out past 7.30pm- even in summer.
The new house has a garden, is near to a beautiful park and youth club, has a leisure centre a 10 minute walk away and bodmin moor is a 10 min drive away.

Preciousbane · 18/02/2014 23:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lessonsintightropes · 19/02/2014 00:37

My parents moved last weekend from Cheshire to Hampshire after 40 years plus in the same house, to be nearer to me and my siblings. It has been a bit of a wrench but they love their new home and the fact they will be able to be more involved in our lives. Hope you have a successful move!

OnePlanOnHouzz · 19/02/2014 09:43

I moved from family home in Kent to Dorset nearly 20 years ago ! Was daunting - but having my daughter helped as I soon made friends at the school and out and about ! Carried a map book with me for the first year ! But with mobile phones with maps etc you will be absolutely fine !! Think of it as an adventure !!!!

magimedi · 19/02/2014 10:48

14 moves in 25 years! 7 of them to different areas, ranging from South West to Scotland. All work related. It was fine. I liked some places better than others but all were OK & I made friends everywhere. You just have to get out & go to every thing you can in order to meet people. And it's so much easier when you have young children as you automatically meet other parents.

Good Luck!

holmessweetholmes · 20/02/2014 10:21

We are about to move from Oxfordshire to Cumbria (South Lakes). Very excited about it! The dc (5&8) are really excited too. We've been wanting to relocate for quite a while, so they have gradually got used to the idea.

fussychica · 20/02/2014 19:15

Went from southeast to north midlands, then to Spain when DS was 10 then back 2 years ago to the south west. No particular ties or family in any other these areas. If you plan the move well it's an exciting thing to do, particularly if it means you can live in a better house/better area/offer your children new opportunities by making the move. Doing it before secondary school starts will make it far easier.
Go for it!

Original poster
cheekymonk · 23/02/2014 07:42

Wow thanks for all the replies!! Dd has had ent referral done now and apparently if they are going to operate they have to do it within 18 weeks of referral so that gives us a good timeframe. Am aiming to move in summer. Talking to my boss about transfer tomorrow as it's not as easy as I thought and dh is looking at jobsSmile

OP posts:
Davidhasselhoffstoecheese · 23/02/2014 15:50

Worcester is not my favourite town. Have you considered Monmouth or Ross on wye?

Davidhasselhoffstoecheese · 23/02/2014 15:51

Where do your parents live?

invicta · 23/02/2014 15:56

We moved 80 miles when dcs 8 and 6. It is a little scary, but also exciting. Five years down the line, we're happy and settled. Children adapt and soon make new friends.