Relocation

Good tip about Fakenham, thank you. We're spending time there looking around to get the feel of different places at the moment, it's going to be a scary move.

annsixty yes kingdom was filmed in swaffham,and I believe the beach scenes where filmed in Brancaster.we actually watched some filming going on. Stephen Fry lives in pentney which is 15 minutes down the road his house is on the A47 going towards lynnxx

21 days to move. At least,we have to be out then but not sure about the other end! Hopefully everything will get sorted though solicitors seem to be drawing things out.We need a simpler system for buying and selling houses I think! We are moving to a small market town in Kent from the North East. We have found a fine house but it will need lots of work and as prices are so much higher we will need to do it ourselves as much as possible. DS and DiL and DGD will be only an hour away as opposed to five to seven by car at the moment so much easier for all. We have checked out all we can think of and it seems great/ideal - up to us now to make the effort and follow suggestions for making new local friends and becoming involved in the community. Fingers crossed.

Good luck with your move Granny1. There are some lovely places in Kent and I hope you soon settle in.

My suggestions would include many of the things that others have said. There is U3A, the WEA, WI, adult education classes, choirs, art clubs, book groups, etc., in most areas. If you have a dog, it is easy to strike up conversation with other dog owners when you take it out for a walk. Also, if you will have any time to do voluntary work Beanstalk is always looking for reading volunteers in infant/junior schools.

Good luck Granny1. It sounds as if you're going to be really busy! Dogs and babies are always a good way to make new acquaintances but house/garden alterations is up there too. People are nosy and around here they just have to stop and chat to find out what you're up to!

The new house sounds great Granny1, fingers crossed everything goes through in time for a seamless move. Yes, the process should be simpler - or at least quicker!

I know just what you mean about the difference in house prices, the South East is scary, but going for a doer-upper is a good move and means that you make the house your own. Are you going to be able to live in it while you do the work a room at a time, or is it more fundamental than that?

Hope your move goes well. We are looking forward to moving to a new house 20 miles away and just 10 minutes walk from our daughter and family. Very excited as we've been in same house for over 30 years and have never moved into new one. On the edge of the village but also minutes from shops and church. Not downsizing as seeing this move as an investment.

There's always saving the world. Campaigning - local issues pop up everywhere and working with people for a common cause is very bonding. There's also political parties, many flavours to choose from. I moved five miles across London so can still see my old friends, but once I got stuck into the local campaign to save a threatened market from demolition ('regeneration') my address book filled up quickly.

granof11 thank you for the warning! I agree with you and it does need a lot of thought. I think if the move does happen it will always be 'their' house and I will live in my 'annex/granny flat', so hopefully there will be a dividing line. Trouble is where I live now in a smallish village I have a lovely doctors surgery and dentist, an array of useful shops (including an undertaker!) and wonderful sea views so it makes it difficult to move. The bus service is dire but as I can still drive it doesn't matter at the moment. Wish I had a crystal ball!!

downtoearth I do hope you find a solution soon.

Granof11 Thank you ,and thank you to all of you who listened to my whingeing and moaning yesterday,I hope it hasn't put any of you off of your plans..moving even for the right reasons is such a huge leap of faith so I will watch this thread to see how you are all coping....dare I suggest a virtual housewarming partymight be able to persuade Lil to run the bar for us for those of you who remember her,I hear she is at a loose end

Swaffham - I drove through there the other week, it's really pretty. There's a plant nursery north of it that we love. There are decent supermarkets, too. I live on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, I can see it from my house!

I agree with what another eastangular gransnetter said - you have to be very picky when it comes to location. A typical example is the village where Gillian Shepherd lives, Northwold. Anything further from Southwold's prosperity you cannot imagine, it is really run-down and they lost their post office too, a couple of years ago. They used to have restaurants and shops, only a few years back, and it was lovely. Now it's like a ghost town and looks a little the worse for wear. I suppose it's full of people who commute, along with the poor people who retired there thinking they had a PO, restaurant and village shop.

downtoearth I've only just caught up with this thread and I'm sorry that I have nothing helpful to add. But, as we spent many happy times in Lil's bar, I wanted to say that it's lovely to have you back, even if you have gone respectable now!
I hope you find something to fill your time. Maybe you could write smutty poems a la Pam Ayers and sell them online!

I remember Northwold when it was a lovely village. It had a post office and general stores, butcher and pub. The butcher delivered to where we lived in neighbouring Foulden.

They were very happy days.

Lona..I can feel a faint stirring,and have a glint in me eye type of thing.....actually love pam Ayres....wonder if shes free one day...

and not so much of the respectable if you don't mind

Thanks SloeGinny et al. We will need to camp in the house while it is rewired etc. Trying to sort out the order for approaching it all is subject of much debate with DH.