After doing lots of travelling and moving about I’m now back in sunny England with a bit of dilemma on my hands, but without the information to solve it. This is where you come in!
After spending the last couple of weeks looking for somewhere to live in our great capital which:
a) Is affordable without having to share with friends/family b) does not consist of a bought to let granny flat in a high rise which smells of wee
i’ve come to the conclusion that there’s not much out there for me, and even if there is, the whole expense/crime/pollution thing is outweighing the living in London thing.
I have the distinct advantage that in my line of work, I can live practically anywhere, but for lady Yanda’s sake it needs to be not that hard to find work in office/finance jobs, so I guess places like the Shetlands are out.
My question to you is, can you recommend any places to live in the UK which has a pretty good quality of life along with semi-affordable house prices? I’m hoping to get a shortlist of places and start to visit them at weekends to get a better idea and feel for the place.
Poster Flat:
Although I’ve only been there once many moons ago, I remember Nottingham being a nice place to be. The town centre seems as nice as many, with reasonable house prices for renting/buying. After speaking to some other people they seem to agree (this was from a uni aspect however).
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
I would recommend Milton Keynes
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
I quite like...
Brighton Bristol Bath Nottingham Exeter York
Brighton would be my choice, although apparently the outskirts are ming.
Posted by yanda (Member # 302) on :
Brighton would be on my list as well, but aren't the house prices a bit silly there?
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
Manchester. Obviously. You bunch of loons. Thriving city centre, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, humungous library, loads of excellent posh shops, loads of excellent not too posh shops, artists quarter, farmers market, mancunians, electric tram system to everywhere, major rail links to south and north, stunning architecture, two football teams if you like that sort of thing, spitting distance from the Peak district and the Lake district, the north's finance capital with more general finance stuff located in the city centre than any other place except London, blah etc blah. You can buy a house in semi-rural half hour commute very reasonably if you choose the area well and you can make a killing if you choose one that's on the borders of an urban splash development. Buy a house in Salford for £70k then watch it quadruple as the Council builds loftliving next door and Terence Conran moves in.
Only thing is it rains. Quite a lot.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
yes. manchester.
Posted by saltrock (Member # 622) on :
Bristol's good.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
I would suggest Paris. Despite being not in this country it has many advantages. Primarily that it's not in this country. Don't go to Manchester. Only people that were born and raised there have anything good to say about the place, unless they're being polite. Even more importantly, don't go anywhere near the suburbs of Manchester as they will make you cry with boredom. And most importantly of all, don't go to the 'posh' bits just south of Manchester as they will just make you vomit 24/7. That's where we live. Me and Mrs Dang have a long term plan to move to Paris in two years time when the school transition timing synchronises in a not-to-be-missed opportunity. Until then, we just vomit.
Posted by discodamage (Member # 66) on :
but dang, why would you want to live in paris? youre not a 24 carat cun.t. Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Only people that were born and raised there have anything good to say about the place, unless they're being polite.
i wasn't. and i do. and i'm never.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
I agree with Bristol, but I'd also recommend looking along the Thames Valley for anywhere that's not too unpretty. Obviously Slough & Maidenhead are out, but if you work further away, you can find some decent places, which are a short journey away from big cities with jobs.
I live in Newbury (pleasant) and commute to work in Reading (horrid). It costs me c. £1,000 p.a. in train fares, but I don't have to face the traffic. I don't know your definition of "semi-affordable", but decent 1 bed flats round here go for about £100,000. London is 45 minutes away if you get on the right train.
Oh - and I have to pass on about a thousand thanks for helping me out with the image hosting scripts. They've been much abused over the last couple of years, and I've currently got over 5,000 images lurking on my servers.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Only people that were born and raised there have anything good to say about the place, unless they're being polite.
I wasn't. I do. I'm rarely.
Dang, perhaps if you'd chosen to live somewhere other than the wanker ridden streets of leafy knob-end filled Cheshire you might have the slightest comprehension of what you are talking about. As it is, the sheer unadulterated ignorance in your post is not only embarrassing to you but should be remembered by all when reading anything you ever bother to write. Note to TMO: don't ever listen to Dang again! Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
It's worth remembering that the weather is always shitter up north.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Oh, and they're very, very easy to wind up in Manchester. No challenge see.
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
No idea about house prices in Brighton. I suspect they are less silly than London, so I dont look, as it makes me sad.
Posted by Bandy (Member # 12) on :
As a rule of thumb, though, anywhere in the south east that isn't London or Brighton should be *avoided like the plague. This is super-true of commuter towns like Amazingstoke, Sloff and Milton Keynes.
*Unless you're into chain bars, out-of-town nightclubs, smart shoes and washing your car on a sunday.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
And Manchester isn't as good as Leeds.
Posted by ally (Member # 600) on :
The main problem with Manchester (and Leeds, and Newcastle) is that its North. Which means it is the proud creator of the north/south divide, and it is a matter of civic pride that redevelopment means the best bits of the south are emulated (badly) to prove that they've got culture too, right? Chavscum a-go-go in the city centre on a Saturday night, along with insularity and defensiveness as the default setting for the mindset of the populus at large when faced with anyone who chooses not to live in godsowncountrythenorth, make the north of England a deeply unappealing prospect. And that's before you consider the issue of football.
Posted by jnhoj (Member # 286) on :
if your looking for surburbia with a medium sized down and not very beautiful people give derby a try. Its close to nottingham! Why am I thinking of spending the rest of my life here? I dont know.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
quote:Originally posted by ally: Chavscum a-go-go in the city centre on a Saturday night,
but that's ok. your husband knows kung fu doesn't he? he'd be able to ninja them before any vaguely threatening forces approached.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
quote:Originally posted by jnhoj: if your looking for surburbia with a medium sized down and not very beautiful people give derby a try. Its close to nottingham! Why am I thinking of spending the rest of my life here? I dont know.
i have no idea. i left long eaton pretty fucking sharpish.
Posted by ally (Member # 600) on :
quote:Originally posted by damo: ]but that's ok. your husband knows kung fu doesn't he? he'd be able to ninja them before any vaguely threatening forces approached.
The city centre of your average provincial town on a Saturday night is unpleasant regardless of whether you know martial arts, gaelic wrestling, or anything else for that matter.
Kung fu is Chinese. Ninja is a Japanese tradition. Get it right.
Sometimes, I go out without my husband. What then for the "threatening forces?"
And for what it's worth, my husband has just been referred for a brain scan after having six migraines in ten days, so he's not going to be fighting anyone for a while. Now will all you wanker posh boys stop taking the fucking piss out of him.
Sometimes, Damo, in fact, an awful lot of the time, you say some really stupid things. Now post again, swearing lots, so that all the alpha males on the board that you've been trying so (too) hard to impress will see how you don't take any shit from a girl, and let you join their gang.
Wanker.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
wahey! get in there. my "first" proper slagging. not being blessed with telepathic skillz i wouldn't be aware of your husband's headaches. "the ally's husband knows kung fu" meme is/was funny. i'll not use it again. promise.
i'm not a posh wanker boy, although i don't know now. i did answer kovacs's's's's "what class are you thread" and decided i was middle class. so i must be.
and yes, sometime, no in fact nearly all the time i say a lot of stupid stuff. and swear. that's, like, what i do.
and i'm not looking for mad props from the people on here.
there's something about this that i don't like and being thick and stupid i can't put my finger on it.
[ 13.09.2004, 14:53: Message edited by: damo ]
Posted by Sidney (Member # 399) on :
Ally, FWIW I think that Damo was just joking.
I remember once having a go at Damo but I later had a moment of clarity, during which I realised that actually, this is just his sense of humour and it's not to be taken seriously. And no, he's not a wanker.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
i was hoping someone would come riding out of the forest on a white charger and save me.
i'm even happier it was you.
Posted by Sidney (Member # 399) on :
Eh, I came back to edit as I was worried that I was sticking me oar in and possibly making things worse. I hope not!
Posted by ally (Member # 600) on :
Sorry guys. I'm tired and stressed. He's really not well at all, and I'm very worried. The joke about him doing kung fu may well be a joke to you lot, but its not making me laugh. It never did.
I think I'll go and have a cup of tea.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
best wishes to mr ally
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
yes. get better.
[ 13.09.2004, 18:24: Message edited by: damo ]
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
Very best wishes to Mr Ally and to yourself, I really hope everything is ok, and FWIW try not to make yourself ill with stress.
And if you want a drink, chat, moan, I'm sure there are plenty of us here who'd be happy to oblige.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by ally: The main problem with Manchester (and Leeds, and Newcastle) is that its North. Which means it is the proud creator of the north/south divide, and it is a matter of civic pride that redevelopment means the best bits of the south are emulated (badly) to prove that they've got culture too, right? Chavscum a-go-go in the city centre on a Saturday night, along with insularity and defensiveness as the default setting for the mindset of the populus at large when faced with anyone who chooses not to live in godsowncountrythenorth, make the north of England a deeply unappealing prospect. And that's before you consider the issue of football.
I think you're being a bit uncharitable. Newcastle is a fantastic night out - the atmosphere is electric and the people boistrous but very good-natured, I've always found. Certainly more friendly than Leeds or the West End.
You've got it wrong about the extent to which regional cities 'emulate' London - I think role models are sought more in other cities around the UK and Europe. To paraphrase Morrissey: London Is Not The World. Taking a more historical perspective, a stroll around the city centre of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds reveals an organic culture that's developed over the course of several centuries (especially relating to that city's main trades, be they cloth, coin, sugar or slaves) and which is much in evidence in the libraries, galleries, civic buildings, squares, parks and markets - if you just take the time to explore a little of it.
Given that London's main economic activities by far are financial services and tourism, it's no wonder its inhabitants have internalised the language of the prospectus and the guide-book to such an extent.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
I'd fucking love to be a fly on the wall when ben's kid tells him s/he is moving to London. (As s/he inevitably will...)
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
We're I to consider a return to British shores I'd probably go for either the Isle of Wight, Newquay or somewhere along the so called 'English Riviera'.
Isle of Wight is shitty for jobs though, so unless you want to commute over the Solent everyday then I'd pass on that.
Maybe Brighton - I miss the beach.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Do the 'people' on the Isle of Wight have thumbs yet?
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bandy: Milton Keynes.
I wouldn't listen to Bandy, he's full of shit. It's what happens when you are forced to live in Gaysinstoke for any length of time.
Milton Keynes has loads of things going for it, none of which appeal to Bandy, since he's never worked up the courage to leave his car while drivign through.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: I'd fucking love to be a fly on the wall when ben's kid tells him s/he is moving to London. (As s/he inevitably will...)
I'd be fully supportive - it's just a late adolescent phase people go through then grow out of, surely?
[ 14.09.2004, 04:35: Message edited by: ben ]
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
Ally, I think you're unutterably wrong about Northern cities on a number of levels (apart from the football thing) but I also hope you have a mucho relaxing cup of tea and that bloke is alright.
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
I love London.
Deep down love it to my core. There is so much diversity and beauty and culture and history and excitment about London. I'm a Londoner before I'm English/British.
However:
Brighton is great. Good night life, good shopping, big open skies, bracing in winter. It's nice.
Edinburgh is exceptionally nice, but too fucking cold and dark in winter, and you have to tourist/media-twunt dodge in summer.
Ultimately though I think if I was going to move out of London it would probably be to move abroad, most likely to Spain as previously mentioned on these boards, but that won't be for a while yet.
[ 14.09.2004, 04:49: Message edited by: Boy Racer ]
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by ben: I'd be fully supportive - it's just a late adolescent phase people go through then grow out of, surely?
A man who is tired of London is tired of tattoos... Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: A man who is tired of London is tired of tattoos...
I thought that that was Edinburgh...
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: Ultimately though I think if I was going to move out of London it would probably be to move abroad, and that won't be for a while.
When I was in Stockholm the other week, I finally got that feeling of "I should definitely move here." I kind of got that feeling from my stay in Helsinki, but even moreso in Stockholm. I've even started casting around for possible jobs, and was quizzing the locals about it. It was like my whole mood shifted, and I suddenly felt 'This is where I should be'. I've never felt that before, never been that fussed about moving to foreign cities. But Stockholm was different, it just felt right.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by StevieX:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: A man who is tired of London is tired of tattoos...
I thought that that was Edinburgh...
A man who is tired of Edinburgh should go to Dundee... Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
I know what you mean about Stockholm Thorn, actually there is a job going there with the company I work for and I've considered it.
I worked there for a while in 2001, it was the middle of winter and very cold and dark but still a great place to be.
If anything I thought it was a little too expensive at times, but I suppose that's something you adjust to or that would have to be reflected in the salary should the job be taken.
No Masky, still no thumbs on the IOW, what would they need them for ?
Posted by kovacs (Member # 28) on :
I have been seriously thinking about moving out of London by 2010. I expect it might collapse when I leave, as the psychic foundations with which I've been supporting its architecture give way.
Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
Yanda, much as it pains me to say it as a Mancunian, but I would definitely give Leeds a closer look. One thing that Leeds has going for it is it's commutability from some genuinely nice places to live (York, Harrogate and the smaller towns in this region). Another is the city centre - the last few times I've shopped there, I've enjoyed great success and actually enjoyed the experience. Quite a revelation and something that I've not been able to say about Manchester for a good number of years. Just a personal preference really.
A bunch of surveys in recent months have consistently ranked Leeds as the best place to live in the country.
Another one to consider is Liverpool; quite a few friends have moved there in recent years and really rate the place.
Of course, you realise that I can never now return to Manchester...
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Says the man from Del Monte Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
On a more practical note, Yanda, if you do decide to check Leeds out and want to have a look at possible areas to actually live in, I would recommend Roundhay, Oakwood, Chapel Allerton, Headingley... (basically north to north-east Leeds). Avoid all of south Leeds, and most of Leeds 17 (unless you're a nouveau riche).
Posted by Modge (Member # 64) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: When I was in Stockholm the other week, I finally got that feeling of "I should definitely move here."
When I was in Stockholm 2/3 years ago I felt like this too. It is a lovely place just to be in because (boringly) it is so clean and (cliche) so nicely designed. Also, there seemed to be an awful lot of attractive people there. Now there's a reason to emigrate; sexy locals.
In the UK I would mostly like to be living in Edinburgh.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
Other Sweden drawbacks: Ace of Base.
Posted by Waynster (Member # 56) on :
What is it with Stockholm? I would love to live there as well - it just seems so cool. I have only been there the once but you do get that feeling that you could just fit in quite nicely there. Darryn - whats the job their offering?
However how come there are so many suicides in Sweden - I believe it has one of the highest rates in the world? Does Stockholm behind that pleasant exterior hide an evil underground of pain and suffering - perhaps its all just a big trap?
Posted by Astromariner (Member # 446) on :
I think it's something to do with the lack of daylight for half the year. Or so I read somewhere, anyway.
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
The job in Stockholm is for a Field Sales Engineer (basically installing local installation of our 'product') and doing demonstrations of how to modify our user interface.
It might be OK - Fem said I'd have to go on my own for 6 months to see if I like it, but I can probably swing it so it would be a week there and three here if I'm clever about it and can afford the flights..
Sweden has few drawbacks, good food, nice people and the whole suicide thing is not true..
[ 14.09.2004, 06:32: Message edited by: Darryn.R ]
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
So it's Stockholm or Leeds for Yanda, then.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by Darryn.R: France: 20.0 (1998) Britain: 9.8 (1999)
Twice as likely to kill yourself if you're a French?
eta: I'm presuming Darryn's stats are per 10,000 head of population.
[ 14.09.2004, 06:41: Message edited by: ben ]
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
I used to do something called Burden of Disease, which calculated the major killers of the population per country. In Western Europe this was, as expected, heart disease and stroke and cancer and all those nasty diseases which are the result of actually having medical care and a good lifestyle; a doctor once memorably remarked to me that no-one in England dies of old age anymore.
But the stats for Moldova revealed that the three most common causes of death there were murder, suicide or car accident. Which is all rather appropos of nothing, except that perhaps moving to Moldova is probably about as recommendable as moving to the moon without a gravity suit.
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
[ 14.09.2004, 07:02: Message edited by: Darryn.R ]
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche: a doctor once memorably remarked to me that no-one in England dies of old age anymore.
Tell that to my Grandma.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
My cousin's a Moldovan grandmother.
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
To add some balance to the debate a friend of mine was sent to work in Stockholm for 4 months and fucking hated it. She claims it is the most boring city in the world, and that it is near to impossible to buy vegetables, and even if you find some they are old and wrinkly. Oh, and strange booze regulations.
I have friends in Malmo in Sweeden which sounds lovely! There is a beach where you can go and look for lumps of amber like fossil hunting in Lyme Regis!
So there you go. All the information is in - time to make a decision!
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer:
quote:Originally posted by Louche: a doctor once memorably remarked to me that no-one in England dies of old age anymore.
Tell that to my Grandma.
Eh? What would be the point of me relaying to your grandma* a remark once made to me, with which I don't actually agree?
*assuming the good lady is still around to have that remark relayed to her, which from the gist of your post, I feel might not be the case.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
Also: what exactly are the Finns so fucking upset about? Bad vibes from all the trees? Psyched out by elks? Pathetic. Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
The point Louche would be that my Grandmother died at 92, not of a single chronic illness, but of a systematic failure of most of the organs of her body. Or in other words, old age.
Ben, watch some Aki Kaurismaki, or the Finnish section from Night on Earth, and you'll get the rough idea about Finland.
[ 14.09.2004, 07:25: Message edited by: Boy Racer ]
Posted by Vogon Poetess (Member # 164) on :
One of my old school friends, who is all married and sprogged and dull, rang me at the weekend to ask my opinion on Australia as they are thinking of emigrating. She stated her main reason as "quality of life" which is a phrase I vaguely recall from GCSE Geography (which me and this friend mostly spent designing our Guns N' Roses themed wedding and writing hatemail to the Take That fan club) in association with shanty towns and inner city tower blocks in Glasgow. At present she lives in a quiet town in Herts with a well-paid husband.
I'm not sure how she has become convinced that Australians automatically have a better lifestyle. They don't even want to go somewhere vaguely good, ie the cosmopolitan cities like Sydney or Melbourne, but have set their hearts on some hicktown in Queensland because it has a really good local school. She claimed to have done lots of research on emigrating, and reckons that the Australian school system is shitloads better than ours and that the universities are really well-respected.
I find it interesting how many people assume Australians have this enviable lifestyle. Is it mainly the weather?
I told her to go to New Zealand.
Posted by kovacs (Member # 28) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vogon Poetess: One of my old school friends, who is all married and sprogged and dull
gosh I wonder if anyone here has friends who are all single and losers and lonely. I think you take my point! Your pal may of course be dull in any case, but you suggest the third term comes as inevitable consequence to the first and/or second.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: The point Louche would be that my Grandmother died at 92, not of a single chronic illness, but of a systematic failure of most of the organs of her body. Or in other words, old age.
B-but I'm not disputing this, nor am I disputing that people die of old age. In fact, you could have gleaned this from the bit where I said 'a remark made to me with which I don't actually agree'. I was anecdotally relaying something what someone once said to me and don't quite understand why you've taken this to be representative of what I think.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Australia does look incredibly depressing on all those Get A New Life/No Going Back/A New Life Down Under sort of endless programmes. Having moved around the UK a bit over the last few years we know how you feel a bit isolated even if you're only four hours drive away from London, and still in the middle of your own culture and TV programmes and stuff. To troll over to the other side of the World to live in a sort of watered down, slightly more outdoorsy sort of version of the same life seems like a non-starter to me. I'd either want something completely different, or something exactly the same. Not similar but a bit warmer and a long way away.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
quote:Originally posted by Abby: I have friends in Malmo in Sweeden which sounds lovely!
TMO's own ChocolateBuns once told me that Mälmo is Sweden's version of Luton.
I am making a confused face.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Mälmo? Malmö.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vogon Poetess: "quality of life" ... people assume Australians have this enviable lifestyle. Is it mainly the weather?
I lived in Australia for 18 months in my early 20s, and if by 'quality of life' she means nice weather, easily obtained slabs of beer, good food, and a blind eye being turned to sickies on a Friday afternoon, then yes, off you pop.
I found these plus points to be heavily outweighed by the fact that Australian men live up to their stereotype, many people are hideously and openly racist, no-one wants to talk about anything other than the above mentioned weather, and sport, that nothing's more than 200 years old, the telly's shit, I couldn't get a bar job in Perth as I wasn't willing to do it topless, and people make jokes about poms and soap the whole time. The question 'is this it?' raised itself in my mind many times. Maybe it was because I was young and idealistic, but I didn't want to settle down there.
This 'quality of life' question vexes me. Surely moving somewhere quiet and dull gives you a different sort of life, not necessarily a better one.
Posted by Sidney (Member # 399) on :
quote:Originally posted by ben: Also: what exactly are the Finns so fucking upset about? Bad vibes from all the trees? Psyched out by elks? Pathetic.
Is Finland the country where really terrible yet unintentionally comedic metal bands are incredibly popular? Don't they have a band whose frontman dresses and lives as a troll? Hasn't said troll been implicated in the burning of churches and the killing of rival band members?
Oh hang on...troll...perhaps I mean Norway...
I was at a wedding once where one of the guests was Finnish and was accompanied by his rather big boned boyfriend. The father of the groom pointed at them and whispered to me "He's Finnish.....and he's fattish."
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: The point Louche would be that my Grandmother died at 92, not of a single chronic illness, but of a systematic failure of most of the organs of her body. Or in other words, old age.
B-but I'm not disputing this, nor am I disputing that people die of old age. In fact, you could have gleaned this from the bit where I said 'a remark made to me with which I don't actually agree'. I was anecdotally relaying something what someone once said to me and don't quite understand why you've taken this to be representative of what I think.
Because it followed, and seemed, at least to me, to be there to back up, the quite reasonable statement that what ends up killing (the vast majority) of people in the UK are individual chronic illnesses. I would have thought that individual chronic illnesses, whilst diseases of old age, are distinct from old age itself.
I'm sorry if I read that, and consequentiallly you, wrong, it seems we agree again.
What's going on!
[ 14.09.2004, 07:58: Message edited by: Boy Racer ]
Posted by omikin (Member # 37) on :
quote:Originally posted by mart: Avoid ... Leeds 17
Evreh-bodeh! Evreh-bodeh in t'house of loov! Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sidney: "He's Finnish.....and he's fattish."
That's miles better than Jimmy Carr's Fattest/Fattist 'joke' that he's making such a fuss about at the moment.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: Because it followed, and seemed, at least to me, to be there to back up, the quite reasonable statement that what ends up killing (the vast majority) of people in the UK are individual chronic illnesses. I would have thought that individual chronic illnesses, whilst diseases of old age, are distinct from old age itself.
Yes, yes and yes. Obviously, my 'this doctor once said something to me' comment should have probably read 'this doctor once said something to me, flippantly'. This misunderstanding only goes to show the potential damage which can be wreaked by people failing to put 'flippantly' into their posts where a 'flippantly' is desperately required.
Posted by Vogon Poetess (Member # 164) on :
quote:Originally posted by kovacs: Your pal may of course be dull in any case, but you suggest the third term comes as inevitable consequence to the first and/or second.
Tee hee, I did wonder who'd be most sensitive about that. She is definitely duller in that her circle of friends is notably smaller and I rarely hear from her and haven't seen her since the wedding. So she is definitely a less good friend.
It was the kind of conversation where the person has pretty much made up their mind and just wants you to confirm their thoughts. Every negative I came up with, based on my admittedly limited experience as a backpacker, was countered with "well it's different when you have kids to think of". This is of course true, which was why I was pointing out things like their growing up with access to theatres and galleries and decent newspapers and the BBC and stuff that should be just as important as nice weather. Which isn't that nice in Queensland anyway, where the sun is sometimes so fierce it's actively unpleasant to sit out in your garden.
The main gist of her poor current quality of life seemed to be that her young daughter isn't guaranteed to get into the good school that her older son is at. I wonder why moving into the school's catchment area, instead of the other side of the world, isn't a possibility.
It's interesting that I wouldn't be nearly so negative if she'd suggested New Zealand though.
Posted by 2@ (Member # 715) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vogon Poetess: Tee hee, I did wonder who'd be most sensitive about that. She is definitely duller in that her circle of friends is notably smaller and I rarely hear from her and haven't seen her since the wedding. So she is definitely a less good friend.
Perhaps she has less time, being a mother, and perhaps even loves her child and husband more than she loves you.
Hard to imagine, I know, but try to think of it as a possibility.
[ 14.09.2004, 08:58: Message edited by: 2@ ]
Posted by Vogon Poetess (Member # 164) on :
Did your mummy love her friends more than you, Too-watt?
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche: Obviously, my 'this doctor once said something to me' comment should have probably read 'this doctor once said something to me, flippantly'. This misunderstanding only goes to show the potential damage which can be wreaked by people failing to put 'flippantly' into their posts where a 'flippantly' is desperately required.
Lol
Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: Ben, watch some Aki Kaurismaki, or the Finnish section from Night on Earth, and you'll get the rough idea about Finland.
Naah! Lenigrad Cowboys Go America tells you everything you need to know about Finland... though I see that Sidney has already pointed this out (I added this after reading more of the thread; Damn you, Sidney! )
When I was teacher-training, we did an exchange with the University of Jyväskylä, in Suomi, about 62 degrees latitude and I have to say I really liked the place - although I wasn't there in winter. Autumn in Jyväskylä was beautiful; I'd go again.
Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
quote:Originally posted by omikin:
quote:Originally posted by mart: Avoid ... Leeds 17
Evreh-bodeh! Evreh-bodeh in t'house of loov!
And can I just have a momnetary gripe? This double o for hard northern u thing really pisses me off. It seemed to start when the London music press picked up on The Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays. Now maybe they thought that their average southern reader needed help working out that Brown, Ryder, Squire, Bez et al didn't punctuate their sentences with the word fackin'. But fookin'? What's with that? Now it's gone full-circle and you can actually hear southerners up north using fooking, rhyming it with the Scouse looking, cooking etc.
Not having a pop at you, Omikin; you're a love. Or loove. As you were.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
do not move to new zealand. it is shite on toast.
there may or may not be emotional baggage attached with this feeling, but it is dull. and dubious.
move to Nashville. Yes Nashville. It's not all country and western you know.
eta: they're all at it now stevie. everyone is. its nme's easy guide to being a northerner.
i remember there being all sorts of hassles when they first printed fooking instead of facking. i think they even defended it. southern facking mahnkeys.
[ 14.09.2004, 09:40: Message edited by: damo ]
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
ppthhrrp
[ 15.09.2004, 05:13: Message edited by: Abby ]
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
quote: Mälmo? Malmö.
No idea. Dunno about the Luton thing either...I cant remember anyone getting excited about Luton, but everyone I have met that has been to Malmo or lives there seems very keen. They have a festival!
Mmmm....crayfish!
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
quote:Originally posted by StevieX:
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: Ben, watch some Aki Kaurismaki, or the Finnish section from Night on Earth, and you'll get the rough idea about Finland.
Naah! Lenigrad Cowboys Go America tells you everything you need to know about Finland... though I see that Sidney has already pointed this out (I added this after reading more of the thread; Damn you, Sidney! )
Erm, are you agreeing or disagreeing with me here Stevie? Leningrad Cowboys... is by Kaurismaki.
Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
Fair cop, guv'! I don't really know directors and stuff like that (apart from Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch), so I suppose that I'm agreeing with you on Akiwotsisface, but not entirely agreeing on Night On Earth.
Posted by vikram (Member # 98) on :
New Zealand's 'knowledge' economy is going to shit. All the reaons us lovely tourists like the country, are reaons why professional kiwis flee for sydney and london.
still, a great place to be ages birth-18 and 50-death.
I'd quite like to live in Scandinavia for a bit. Do you need to know languages? In Finnland, yes, I am sure, but what about Norway? What about ICELAND?
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
This is my second Job dealing with the Nordics and I don't really speak a damn word of it.
They all speak English rather well.
Posted by omikin (Member # 37) on :
quote:Originally posted by StevieX: And can I just have a momnetary gripe? This double o for hard northern u thing really pisses me off.
i know what you mean, stevie. in my defence, i did initially type it as "luv", but it just didn't look right.
and as someone who was born in leeds and has lived 70% of his life in north yorkshire, i definitely do not want to be confused with a "southerner".
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
Leningrad Cowboys... is excellent though, I have it on VHS.
Posted by Physic (Member # 195) on :
Did you know that the Leningrad Cowboys have their own beer, at least they used to, I assume it still exists. I went out with a Finnish girl at uni and her father brought some over for me once as it was his favourite beer. Useless trivia for you there...
Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
Leningrad Cowboys... is excellent though, I have it on VHS.
Crivens. Is it really thirteen years since Night On Earth.
I have it all arse about tit, see BR, having seen NoE probably 3, maybe 4, years before Lenigrad Cowboys.... If I had spent my early 20's in a soberer and more together state and watched these films the other way round, Matti Pellonpää would probably have jogged the old memory circuits a bit harder.
Posted by StevieX (Member # 91) on :
And Physic, there's no such thing as useless trivia Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
Phew, glad we got that sorted out. It does help to spend your teens and early twenties working in video shops Stevie.
Also ditto the no usless trivia thing Physic, especially true when it's about beer!
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
quote:Originally posted by omikin: and as someone who was born in leeds and has lived 70% of his life in north yorkshire, i definitely do not want to be confused with a "southerner".
can some one help me determine (without the aid of a comedy web quiz) whether i am northern or southern.
i wasn't born in england, i've lived all over. the longest spots are east midlands and manchester. help. i have the feeling i'm an anonymous east midlander wanting to be from the north.
Posted by ally (Member # 600) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche: Ally, I think you're unutterably wrong about Northern cities on a number of levels (apart from the football thing) but I also hope you have a mucho relaxing cup of tea and that bloke is alright.
I'm not wrong. It's more that you don't agree with me. Relativity - doncha love it? FWIW I lived in Newcastle for twenty years, so I've got some experience of the area I'm talking about.
The tea was a good idea. I'm pretty certain Al will be fine, but confirmation from someone medically qualified and with greater emotional distance from the situation than me would help a lot.
Posted by froopyscot (Member # 178) on :
quote:Originally posted by damo: i wasn't born in england, i've lived all over. the longest spots are east midlands and manchester. help. i have the feeling i'm an anonymous east midlander wanting to be from the north.
It's so hard to tell. To the untrained observer, it can seem that "the north" is defined as anything North of Letchworth.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by ally: I'm not wrong. It's more that you don't agree with me.
The clue was in the I think indicating opinion rather than stated fact, mate.
Also, Damo if you weren't born up here you don't belong, tright? After all, isn't that what insular Northern cities are all about?
Posted by vikram (Member # 98) on :
Where in East Midlands? North of the Wash and you're a Northerner, mate.
Posted by damo (Member # 722) on :
Long Eaton. Half way between Derby and Nottingham.
louche, but i've spent 10 years there. 3 of them in salford ffs. then i did the burnage thing, i only lived in west didsbury for a year. i've been in proper manchester (christ even trafford). if i'm not an honorary manc after that i think i'll move to stockport. they'll take anyone.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Writing on the wall... The last 400 employed people in The North are to be laid off. The North now, officially, has no economy whatsoever.
Posted by Samuelnorton (Member # 48) on :
I once thought that Stockholm might be a pleasant place to live, but given that half of TMO would consider moving over there I've changed my mind somewhat.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by damo: louche, but i've spent 10 years there. 3 of them in salford ffs. then i did the burnage thing, i only lived in west didsbury for a year. i've been in proper manchester (christ even trafford). if i'm not an honorary manc after that i think i'll move to stockport. they'll take anyone.
Sorry, Damo, I was only being a bit silly. But Salford is not part of Manchester. Grrr. Is it's own city in it's own right. However, if the question is whether you're northern or southern, treat it like it has as much fluidity as class. You may as well be whichever one you want to be. And living in Burnage even for only a month qualifies anyone to state that they're Mancunian.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by vikram: Where in East Midlands? North of the Wash and you're a Northerner, mate.
O:Christ - does that make me northern? Posted by Astromariner (Member # 446) on :
When people ask me where I'm from, and I say "Glasgow", after how long can I reasonably expect them to stop saying "that's a nice Glasgow accent you've got there, ha ha. ha. haaaaa."
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles:
quote:Originally posted by vikram: Where in East Midlands? North of the Wash and you're a Northerner, mate.
O:Christ - does that make me northern?
As anyone sensible knows, the South starts just after runway five of Manchester airport finishes.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by Samuelnorton: I once thought that Stockholm might be a pleasant place to live, but given that half of TMO would consider moving over there I've changed my mind somewhat.
Weren't you just saying it was pathetic when people leap in with a snide comment for no real reason?
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
Thanks for the drunkenly scrawled note you left at the pub Thorn... You should have said you were here I'd have taken an hour or four off and come for beer..
Posted by Waynster (Member # 56) on :
Yeah said note I have. Naughty thorn!
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
As i said to Wayne - I really didn't have much free time. I was under the watchful eye of Royal Philips Consumer Electronics for most of my stay and staggering into the Black and White at 11.30 was about the only moment I had to myself.
Posted by Samuelnorton (Member # 48) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: Weren't you just saying it was pathetic when people leap in with a snide comment for no real reason?
Yeah. Sorry. Posted by Modge (Member # 64) on :
quote:Originally posted by Astromariner: When people ask me where I'm from, and I say "Glasgow", after how long can I reasonably expect them to stop saying "that's a nice Glasgow accent you've got there, ha ha. ha. haaaaa."
Three generations.
Posted by Travelling Canadian (Member # 491) on :
quote:Originally posted by mooch: If you have been concidering Gaborone, Botswana I would think twice as it is shit. Mind you it's good to see the sun again.
.......
So, what brings you to Botswana, and how long have you been here? Do you hang out at the Bull and Bush?
[ 04.10.2004, 20:07: Message edited by: Travelling Canadian ]
Posted by squeegy (Member # 136) on :
quote:Originally posted by Travelling Canadian: So, what brings you to Botswana, and how long have you been here? Do you hang out at the Bull and Bush?
HERE?? What do you mean here?? Fuck me its a small world.
Edit to clarify - Squeegy & mooch same person.
[ 05.10.2004, 04:16: Message edited by: squeegy ]
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
Botswana meat!
Im not goin' though...there are snakes and shit.
Posted by Astromariner (Member # 446) on :
My Auntie Betty lives in Botswana as well.
Posted by turbo (Member # 593) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: I was under the watchful eye of Royal Philips Consumer Electronics for most of my stay
Do you work for Philips, Thorn?
[ 05.10.2004, 08:55: Message edited by: turbo ]
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
No - i was just a journalist on one of their press trips.
[ 05.10.2004, 08:57: Message edited by: Thorn Davis ]
Posted by Uber Trick (Member # 456) on :
quote:Originally posted by squeegy: Squeegy & mooch same person.
Thanks - that explains one part of the puzzle! That is also why I asked if you were Brenda the other day. But you are not. I see that you and Brenda (Travelling Canadian) are both in Botswana and not the same person at all. Small world indeed. <confusion ends> Posted by funkypurplepants (Member # 746) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Do the 'people' on the Isle of Wight have thumbs yet?
yes 4 on each hand
Posted by funkypurplepants (Member # 746) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles:
quote:Originally posted by vikram: Where in East Midlands? North of the Wash and you're a Northerner, mate.
O:Christ - does that make me northern?
As anyone sensible knows, the South starts just after runway five of Manchester airport finishes.
as anyone sensible knows the north starts anywhere further up the globe that watford and walthamstow
Posted by squeegy (Member # 136) on :
quote:Originally posted by Uber Trick: I see that you and Brenda (Travelling Canadian) are both in Botswana and not the same person at all.
Penny drops
Posted by Travelling Canadian (Member # 491) on :
So, answer the question, Squeegy/Mooch. I need to be convinced you really are in the same place as me, and not someone who's just having fun with me! Or someone who's read the Ladie's Detective Agency books.
Posted by squeegy (Member # 136) on :
OK, what brings me to Botswana. Well its the place I call home. Ive lived here for about 15 years and no I dont go to B&B but I used to go often before I moved to the UK two years ago. I believe it is still the rocking home of drunken brawls and good pizza.
Your turn.
Posted by MonkeySusan (Member # 569) on :
Has anyone thought about moving to Croydon? We have a 'Yo Sushi'.
Posted by Bandy (Member # 12) on :
It's inside a department store though and therefore doesn't count leaving the number of good restaurants in Croydon at a heart-renderingly poor zero.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
The noodle bar right opposite where you work is extremely decent, or maybe you're scared to go in there because of the imaginary people getting mugged outside your office.
Also - the Royal Asia Tandoori on Lower Addiscome Road is a very good curry house.
[ 06.10.2004, 09:41: Message edited by: Thorn Davis ]
Posted by MonkeySusan (Member # 569) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bandy: It's inside a department store though and therefore doesn't count leaving the number of good restaurants in Croydon at a heart-renderingly poor zero.
I know. That bit really upsets me. Croydon tries to clutch onto a bit trendy modern culture but does it 5 years too late and locates it in a House of Fraser.
You should ask Thorn about the department stores in Croydon. That's where he takes all his mates out for a slap-up birthday breakfast.
Posted by Bandy (Member # 12) on :
I waited almost half an hour for my food there once and haven't been back since.
I'm actually talking out of my arse when saying there are no decent places to eat in Croydon. I believe there are quite a few fine places near South Croydon station but, wouldn't you know it, they're too far away from my office to make me want to visit them. There is also a very nice Chinese place called the Wing Yip (or something) but to get there you need a car.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bandy: ...leaving the number of good restaurants in Croydon at a heart-renderingly poor zero.
Did you mean "heart-rendingly", or were you making a sly jibe at the state of Croydon's offal?
Posted by Bandy (Member # 12) on :
Yes.
Posted by MonkeySusan (Member # 569) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: The noodle bar right opposite where you work is extremely decent, or maybe you're scared to go in there because of the imaginary people getting mugged outside your office.
Also - the Royal Asia Tandoori on Lower Addiscome Road is a very good curry house.
Curry houses aren't restaurants. They're either the staple food trough of the schlepp class or a 'Guardian - The Guide' food experience for rich kids trying to seem noveau.
There's a great Pizza Express on Brighton Road.
Posted by London (Member # 29) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles:
quote:Originally posted by Bandy: ...leaving the number of good restaurants in Croydon at a heart-renderingly poor zero.
Did you mean "heart-rendingly", or were you making a sly jibe at the state of Croydon's offal?
Perhaps he was bemoaning the heart shaped hole that lies, doughnut-like, in the middle of his perfectly accessorised yuppie existence?
BTW, my sister told me the other day that Bandy 'isn't goodlooking'. Is this true?
Posted by Uber Trick (Member # 456) on :
That must have been our other sister Posted by Travelling Canadian (Member # 491) on :
quote:Originally posted by squeegy: OK, what brings me to Botswana. Well its the place I call home. Ive lived here for about 15 years and no I dont go to B&B but I used to go often before I moved to the UK two years ago. I believe it is still the rocking home of drunken brawls and good pizza.
Your turn.
Dunno, we only ever go during the week, and never liked the pizza. Dros pizza is better. I lived here as a kid with my parents, went to M a P school. Came back 4 years ago; my guy works in the Aerospace industry, for the BDF. How weird to find someone from my city on a discussion board - people here thinks it's really bizarre.
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
)![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Is this true?