nickie on 10/11/2008 at 12:42
My son lives in Reading - he's very happy there. Or Maidenhead perhaps. Trains from Reading run every 5 minutes and take 25 mins to Paddington which is obviously further than you want to go.
quinch on 10/11/2008 at 13:05
I've noticed there are lots of London commuters live in Portslade or nearby on the south coast. You can get to Putney Rail in 1hr 20 minutes via Clapham Junction if you like living near the sea. You're still probably talking 2 hours though including walking to work and your house and having to change trains during a commute makes it twice as bad no matter how long the total journey time. Clapham Junction is horrendous! Thankfully I only have to pass through when I need to get to London.
A friend used to live in Tooting which was OK. Neighbouring Balham seemed quite nice as well.
scumble on 10/11/2008 at 16:13
We're trying to keep the expense sensible. As it happens, we are considering Carshalton, partly because my great Aunt still lives there and has for most of her life I think. Also, my grandmother grew up in the area. It just seems anywhere closer in is really beyond what we can afford.
Kolya on 11/11/2008 at 11:38
Quote Posted by nickie
My son lives in Reading - he's very happy there. Or Maidenhead perhaps.
:D Hard to keep track of the tyke, eh?
nickie on 11/11/2008 at 18:31
:laff: Kids, huh, don't you just love 'em?
Glad to know you've pretty much made your mind up scumble. And if your great Aunt is anything like the one I used to have - she'll have the low-down on all the best places to hang out. :)
crunchy on 12/11/2008 at 01:46
Quote Posted by scumble
Are there any solutions apart from moving to Barbados?
That's gotta to be a bitch of a commute.
I heard of a bloke living in Sydney who only saw his kids on the weekends. Left for work before they got up and got home after they were in bed. And this was over 10 years ago. I can't imagine things getting any better.
Scots Taffer on 12/11/2008 at 03:16
Quote Posted by scumble
Are there any solutions apart from moving to Barbados?
Brisbane.
Quote Posted by LittleFlower
I had a nice career, made quite some money, did some things I can be proud of. But in the end, if I had known in advance, I would have not done it. I would have taken an average job in the city where I used to go to University. And not moved no matter what. Moving around is bad for your social relations.
And yet I hear the opposite an awful lot too, common comments from the elder generation back home in the UK were: "don't stay here", "spread your wings", "find better opportunities/lives", "I'd do it if I had the chance again".
Largely, I've found that to be the case - but I found Britain to be a bit of a shithole, if I'm to be completely honest - and the opportunities abroad (if you choose wisely) can vastly outweight the benefits of local life. There are things now that I enjoy on a daily basis that greatly improve my quality of life that I simply could not ever enjoy back home and the main thing I left behind, family and friends, some of that changes (friends come and go, scatter to the four winds, etc) and if you're canny, you can convince them to come over (working on my sister-in-law now, and the mother-in-law is already a given) to enjoy it with you.
Of course, if you sacrifice everything for money you'll always get fucked in the end, but if you're doing it for money amongst other benefits - like I did, for weather, working conditions, standard of living, housing affordability and attitudes - then you'll never fail to be on the upside of several parts of the grand equation of life.
Quote Posted by PigLick
Jesus christ I have a 20 minute commute and I still cant get to work on time!
Same, buddy, except 40 minutes and I'm currently scoping a new job at the moment that would probably threaten that even further - but the benefits might be solid. :(
Mr.Duck on 12/11/2008 at 04:51
Quote Posted by scumble
What kind of fool spends more than 4 hours a day travelling to work and back?
Most people in Mexico City (about 20 something million) who can't afford to fly from rooftop to rooftop. From their condos to the office.
Just running a few errands if none are close by can take up all day (been on vaycay there before, did just that...2 - 3 errands later, where did the day go?)
Still, sucks to hear that scumbs :(
scumble on 13/11/2008 at 12:04
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Largely, I've found that to be the case - but I found Britain to be a bit of a shithole, if I'm to be completely honest - and the opportunities abroad (if you choose wisely) can vastly outweight the benefits of local life. There are things now that I enjoy on a daily basis that greatly improve my quality of life that I simply could not ever enjoy back home and the main thing I left behind, family and friends, some of that changes (friends come and go, scatter to the four winds, etc) and if you're canny, you can convince them to come over (working on my sister-in-law now, and the mother-in-law is already a given) to enjoy it with you.
I have got that at the back of my mind, but I think leaving family behind is still a bit of a problem, given that my grandparents probably don't have long left. I think if I could take everyone along it would be easier. Part of the problem is seeing beyond the immediate pressures of having to earn a living and look after children etc. Most people get bogged down there an just make the most of what they have, as dull as that might seem. It's never too late though.
SubJeff on 14/11/2008 at 19:54
If your job is in central then Carshalton is still going to be a trek. Is your wife working too?
You could always move further north. Birmingham? Leeds?
