Having lived in London and then leafy Surrey for around 15 years I can safely say I would not go back.

Too much traffic
Too much noise
Too much pollution
People seem selfish - just a grab grab society

Northampton is certainly cheaper to live than London and I can be out in the countryside in like 10mins or so. Public transport to London is around 1hr on the train to Euston which is still quicker than driving on the rare occassions I go back.

++;

(I promise I'll be remotely awake)

You know you'll both hear about it. (8+)

Mark

Coolio. As long as there's a nice warm corner of a pub/restaurant/whatever for me to be propped up in I'll be happy...

No idea - it'd have to be fcuking tall to have views of moreland and the sea,mind you, lol! Sounds like you're happy where you are, and I'm sure we're all happy for you. I'm also happy in my relatively modest terraced house with a tiny front garden and small rear garden but with easy access to the whole host of entertaining diversions that my city of choice provides.

Sounds to me like we're all pretty settled one way or another - the folks who've tried London and didn't like it have moved elsewhere, and the ones who liked it stayed... <shrug>

Well I have a 3 bed semi in a very quiet cull-de-sac and it backs on to a school so I am not over looked. Because I have a corner plot I have a massive garden with a pond, 2 garages, decking stretching the length of the back of the house and a very sunny stone patio. I have a driveway at the front which could hold 3 cars at a push and 2 cars very comfortably. I am walking distance from the country side and I'm a few hundred yards from the M25. No I don't have great views (although the views of the road are pretty as there's a little green with trees outside my house) but I think it's a pretty cool house.

And all this for 96k bought in 1999 and I've spent about 50k doing it up.

I think the London vs. down here thing is a long debate with no clear winner. I have a friend in St. Mawes who's wife misses the "buzz" of London. So they chose to live down and enjoy the leisurely pace, mild weather, stunning views of the harbour from their house and the sailing etc. but every 4 weeks or so, she pops up to London to stay with friends and be reminded of what she loves about the place.

I think that's a lovely way to do it if you can. Personally, I'm a coast person. There's something about the enormity of the ocean and the fact that you know the thing you're touching/seeing is touching and seeing several thousands of others elsewhere in the world at the same moment. I love that. Last night I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life and it was framed by St. Ives, the B3306 and Sennon. Fact is, this part of the country is where it's at for things to look at. It's possibly however, the worst part for entertainment, shopping, transport and other urban trappings.

I love the idea of having both, but IMHO people that think being out of town and closer to the 25 makes them in the "country" are deluded. Just like people from down here who move to Truro, Plymouth or Exeter, think they are in the "city". It seems to me that either scenario is merely a compromise. Albeit one that works for a great many people.

This is exactly the reason why I love the NE coast so much. I need to get back up there again already!

I love the coast too. I did have a friend who lived around Brighton and really enjoyed going down there whenever I could but then we fell out. C'est la vie.

I'd love to move to the coast and have looked at a few places but while my Mum is still alive I can't really move away and leave her.

I don't need any of that, apart from the odd bit of shopping that can't be done over the interwebz. In fact the only thing I worry about being somewhere far away from urbanities is the weather. Being cut off for days on end, a long way from food supplies, worries me.

But that's the only thing. I'd be quite happy just being in a small community, or on my own but within reach of people if I need them.

where is PG2114? I miss his eccentric posts

Snowywestons posts too always a laugh to read and try to translate them

He's totally dropped out of contact. Maybe he's just ignoring me, but he doesn't respond to texts or e-mails any more.
I found him on Twitter but he hasn't replied to my messages there either.
Bit of a shame, really. (8+(

Mark

damn bloody introverts! at least you tried more than thrice?

Yep. Must've been about half a dozen text messages, a few emails and tweets.

Mark

lol wow thats eager maybe we should all find his address and bang on his door, woudnt be hard as we just gotta find a car with tesco shopping bags attached to the side mirrors