Moved from England to Scotland

[JulieSherris]

I agree with Maggie - what you waiting for????

It took us 7 weeks between talking about moving and actually being on the boat with removals van in tow. Originally, it was going to be Lybster in Scotland, but the work wasn't there for hubby, so we changed tack to Ireland, altho neither of us had actually BEEN to Ireland!

So 3 years later on & the discovery of a certain book written by a pair of twins from Bristol, & I have the lifestyle that I never knew I wanted, but am the happiest I have ever been in my life. At 49, that's saying something.
Originally born in London & moving to Kent, then Blackpool, I've always been a townie, but I'm here now & I am NEVER going back - ok, only for weddings & funerals - and even THAT'S debatable!

Do it Andy - if anyone will be happy with open spaces & room to breathe, it's going to be you - Good Luck. xx

[Thomzo]

Andy, I can't believe you are leaving us

I've moved a few times (never quite as far as you) and my advice is to get to know as many people as possible as quickly as possible. If that means getting a rubbish temporary job for a short while then do it. Or take evening classes or volunteer, just do something to get to know people in your area. It's much easier to settle in to an area when you know people locally.

Also, keep busy. Homesickness will pass much more quickly if you don't have time to think about it.

Zoe

[Annpan]

Andy knows he is welcome here anytime As is everyone else of course, but y'all need to bring a sheet of plasterboard and a packet of nails with you.... lot's of fixing to be done chez pan.

a bit of a quick translation guide
Haud yer wheesht - be quiet please
Hoy you, shut it - be quiet please
Shut yer geggie - be quiet please

But your OH is Scottish right?, she'll have to interpret for you until you get the hang of it.

[Millymollymandy]

The language is the same when it's written down. Well, sort of. Easier than moving to a really foreign country where neither of you speak the language fluently! Good luck with your move Andy. (though I thought you had already moved without telling us from the title!!! )

[Keaniebean]

I'm jealous of you all you know,definately do it, get out of the rush and hustle. If I had the chance I would be up and out of here tomorrow, no, make that today!
It would just be nice to be able to go and pick nettles or elderberries without having to worry about how many dogs/men have weed on them

[MKG]

The language is the same when it's written down. Well, sort of.

Don't believe a word of it Andy. When I lived in Glasgow, I had everyone laughing at me for hours because I had no idea what a lum was. And their use of the word "pie" is somewhat questionable.

Mike

[Green Aura]

I had no idea what a lum was

Me neither. But apparently it's good if it smells - for a long time! (Oh, that sound's me being driven out of town )

[Sinmara]

I moved from Austria to England 7 years ago - it helped a lot that I made already friends on the internet and had a few people I knew and who helped me settling in. (Though it's a bit more daunting when you're moving from the countryside to a biiig city like London! To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement...)

[kit-e-kate]

Also on the subject of language;

If you are in the highlands and someone asks you "A bheil Gaidhlig agad?" The correct answer is "No, not a word...."

[Green Aura]

Oooooh, I'm going to a 2 hour taster session learning Gaelic this very afternoon - when I come back I'll be able to tell you what that means (although I suspect it means "Do you speak Gaelic?"??????)

[kit-e-kate]

Got it in one! Enjoy your lessons! It's a tough language to learn, but worth doing!

Other useful phrases that may prove useful in your first lesson!!!

"Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn" (i don't understand)
"Tha mi duilich" (i'm sorry)
"Chaneil fios agam" ( I don't know)
"a rithist" (again)

Cheery an drasda!
Kate
: )

[Millymollymandy]

Ok so what's a lum?

And I thought Barry was in Wales!

[Millymollymandy]

I've googled what a lum is and Andy this website will be handy for you:

http://www.britannia.org/scotland/scots ... ry/l.shtml

[TheGoodEarth]

I am Scottish but my wife is English and we moved from Brighton to Scotland 5 years ago, for me it was coming home after 14 years away but for her it was all new. It did take her a couple of years to settle but as she made friends and got work etc she soon settled. For the first few years we regularly discussed moving back to Brighton - now we never do. She now wouldn't move.

If you want better weather then head for the east coast, more sun less rain. The weather really isn't that different unless you are in the extreme west or north. In fact I prefer summers here as they as less muggy and oppresive than the south. There is also a fabulous crisp light that you get in the winter that you don't get down south.

The central belt is a bit souless so have a good look around first.

You think you miss the hustle and bustle when you move to a quieter place but when you revist you realise how mad it all is. I used to commute on a 12 carriage train from Brighton to London and half the time I would stand the whole way. When I commute now there are sometimes only 2 carriages and I get a seat!

If it doesn't work out you can always go back to Bristol.

[citizentwiglet]

The thing about the Central Belt is, OK, it might not be the Highlands, and it might look a bit grim; but there are some wonderful places that nobody seems to know about. There are some cracking country parks, and interesting historical things, you're quite close to the Ochils and the Campsies....if you can use your imagination and look past the housing estates, then you have a the luxury of some really interesting finds on your doorstep, without the usual hordes of tourists that you get marauding around the Highlands.

As for the weather (and the bloody midgies), there are definite plus points to living in the middle!

As for amount of daylight - in my experience, it doesn't seem to be noticeably darker in the Winter than anywhere else, but you'll REALLY notice the amount of light in the summer. There was still light in the sky past midnight last night, and sunrise was around 4.30am.