Gosh. It appears I'm moving to Manchester

Blooming 'eck. What a surprise! How do you feel?

I am about an hour and a half away, so I could befriend you in the early days ?

At least you won't be missing any more flights ?

Wow, is it a shock? How does that work for your H's job? Or am I missing an update here?

L
xx

Ooooh, wow! That sounds pretty exciting!

I'm only 45 minutes from Manchester! Yay! ??

Heavens! Manchester is fun and, of course, nearer to London- hurrah! Is also good career thing I think (doing a move like that makes you look super-committed and is also something they're unlikely to ask of someone who isn't on p'ship track).

That's fab news! Congrats Lou. Can't help on where is nice to live, as I'm a Southern fairy ?

How incredibly exciting ! How does it fit in with the rest of your life at the moment ?

Beleive it or not but Manchester isn't the end of the world you know!

I'm not great on places to live as everyone I know lives in Salford or further away and commutes in, or else are students! Great city though and for now it's not permenant and a year down the line you'll be in a better position to judge if you either do want to stay or want to go back home and will have great grounds (Both professionaly and personally) for either decision.

In my opionion the opportunity to experience life somewhere else without being tied to it and whilst boosting your career is never a bad one.

Oh hurrah Clairy, I'd like that.

Yes knownowt, it would go down as a huge tick in the 'commitment' box and the P word was used in the meeting.

Lois, I haven't really updated on hitched because of trolling, but suffice to say that I'm just looking out for myself just now. Sorry, I now realise how confusing this post would appear to those who don't know.

We have friends that are professional types like yourself and they live in Smithfield Buildings which is in the Northern Quarter. Short walk to pretty much everything including the station, gorgeous building, worth looking at the area I reckon.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-10798833.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy&mam_disp=true

(this is their building, the flats are just lovely).

On another note, how exciting! I'm sure Manchester will be just your kind of town.

Sounds a fab opportunity for you!

Huzzah, you are such a super hotshot x

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that (I think, if I've got it right) ?

Not the meeting up bit, obviously ?

Sounds like it's "welcome to manchester" mate.

myself and himself moved down here from scotland about 18 months ago. hadn't a clue where to live. the only recommendations we were given were:

1) didsbury is nice, west didsbury is nice, and altrincham/sale is also nice.

2) steer clear of: levenshulme, longsight, gorton, anywhere students live, moss side and anywhere you'll have heard of from crimewatch. as recommended by a friend of mine who has lived in most of those places.

castlefield in the city centre is nice, and easy enough to walk to king street. there's a huge amount of apartments for rent there and in nearby areas (but stay out of hulme) which are now going down in price to rent.

south manchester is ok - suburbia in bits but has it's nice "young professionals" area (accroding to the estate agents) - heaton moor is great and is only about 10-15 minutes by train to the city centre.

altrincham and sale are both on the tram line and have a lot of bars/shops/things to do and places to live and are about 25 minutes from city centre by tram.

chorlton is ok - friend lives there and says it has a great night life and nice shops. no train/tram at the moment but is apparantly walkable to city centre, 25 minutes or so on the bus.

um.... that's all i know. ? it really depends on whether you want city centre apartment or if you want to live somewhere that isn't as busy/vibrant but has more space. if you want to live somewhere out of centre, i'd look at where the train/tram lines are at the moment. if you want to live a little further out and fancy living in rural splendour, then there are plenty places accessible by train in the 20-40 minute travel time.

now i have given you all my knowledge on where to live in manchester. invaluable, no? ?

Is it sad to admit I have a massive grin on my face because one of my most favourite internet weirdie friends is moving so close by? ?

Do you have a rough start date? Yay you! ?

ETA, I would go for a cental city pad, make the most of it and all that. [jazz hands]

What exciting news, Lou! TBH it sounds like it will be really good for you on many levels and it's a fantastic opportunity. NickJ will look after you ?

But what about the pugs?

I am soooooooooo jealous. I would love to move back. Chorlton is nice. King St is great for shopping. x

Congrats Lou ?

Don't know Manchester at all, except that all our friends who went to Uni there ended up staying, so it must have something going for it!

Sounds a good opportunity for you and after reading your update, maybe a good thing there too.

I have just moved cross country from Aberdeen to Kent (though it was for my H's job) and it has all gone fine and I am loving it down here. At least as well if you didn't like it, it's only for a shortish period and you can always go back

are there wheelies? ?

(sorry. I'll get me coat)

no, but on my A-Z, it's really called Chorlton-***-hardy.

fnar fnar.

? it's chorlton-cum-hardy

ah, the name was censored!

What teenybash said really, west didsbury and didsbury are lovely but you will have to pay for it

Chorlton is meant to be up and coming have a few friends who like it there

It really depend what you want, there are plenty of city centre flats about, some quite good prices so I've heard. The metro goes out to Altrincham (my end) and its not far into the centre

Yay, I am all excited now! P&P- I think it would fit in perfectly with current plans. I don't see my relationship issues resolving, and it would actually be great to have a change of scene for a bit before coming to any final decisions.

I like the sound of castlefield- I've spent the last 8 years living out in the sticks, so I really fancy being slap in the middle of town and being able to get to work without a major commute. Great thinking Mrs Magic (and I am v excited about proximity too! woohoo!) Teenybash, that's really helpful, cheers! ? Knownowt, I always take the dangled carrots with a pinch of salt, but it's great to know that they're thinking I could be a candidate in the next few years. <does an excited little wee>

Thanks all. (and sorry for being a bit cryptic about the relationship side of things- I am absolutely fine though, and much better than I've been for aaaaages. ?)

It sounds like it could be the perfect thing for you, Lou

L

xx

The pugs have been living virtually full time with my parents since March, so I wouldn't move them now. They're very very attached to my father (although this weekend I discovered the secret of his success, when I caught him feeding them the foie gras I brought back from Paris. On melba toast and everything!! ?) I will have to come back every fortnight to visit them though. ?

There are loads of apartments in the City Centre which I think would be perfect - everything on your doorstep, short walk for a commute and a great way to get to know the city. I used to live in the Northern Quarter which I loved - much preferred to Castlefield which I find a bit new-build-soul-less. It would be about a 10 minute walk to King Street. It's always busy so I never felt fussed about walking home on my own late at night etc.

Because so many places have been built, and in current property market downturn, both rents and purchase prices are pretty reasonable. I'd rent for a bit and see what you think.

Lou, I've found a rather fab aprt in Castlefield, I'll FB you just incase you decide to move in and all the weirdies will know your address. ?

Sounds like great news Lou! My 21 year old niece lives in Salford with her boyfriend, and she loves it there. Then again it's miles away from her hometown, so that's probably the reason!

How exciting on all fronts ?

Wow, it sounds like a great opportunity to earn some brownie points for The Man, spread your wings and get some head clearance on your personal life (sorry, I wasn't aware that things were like that - but I hope you're ok).

I'd love to live in central Manchester. No idea on best areas to live, but I'd have a fabulous factory conversion stylee apartment and host wondrous parties. (Well, I'd think about it, and then probably get grumpy and go for a nap instead ?). When you're living your chic urban lifestyle, think of meee holed up in genteel, parochial Cheltenham ?

How exciting!

Where would Lou be best placed to meet sweaty, dirty musicians...?

Cheers, will have a look around that area too. 🥳 (incidentally, gorgeous looking building, but omg, how small is the bedroom! 😲 ) I've been for lunch a few times in the northern quarter (in fact, to a restaurant called 'the northern quarter') and I really like it. 😃