Where are we all

I'm in NW London and got here having been born in Cardiff, lived in Newport, then to Zambia in the 60's. From there back to Wales, then Essex, Cambridge and finally London, having dreamed of living here since I was in my teens. It's a great place to be retired, free travel and so much else e.g. galleries, historic houses, that are also free.

I live in the South Island of New Zealand. Supposed to be summer but very cold today and tonight. It's so good being part of Gransnet. I'm glad I found it.

It certainly is a small world - another member and I have found that out children live a few miles apart in New Zealand!

Hello, jams, and welcome to gransnet. I don't live in Cornwall, but some of my forebears were from South Yorkshire. It's a small world.

Hi THis is my first post. Originally a northern lass (South Yorkshire) - I have lived in Cornwall for over 6 years and intend to stay put lol.
ANyone else from Cornwall?

gracesmum Thank you, yes, we live quite close and try to see her as much as we can without being annoying! We even had her to stay overnight on Bonfire Night which was the best treat! I love Nottinghamshire even though it has an unfortunate reputation for crime in some areas.

5 weeks and 2 days - wow! Do you live near her and get to see her lots? My SIL's family come from outside Nottingham and when we visited I was struck by how much there was to see (sailing/rowing centre?) both outside the city and in it. Nice part of the world.
Congratulations on your lovely little GD - when I became a granny 18 months ago I was told I now belonged to "the best club in the world"!!

Hi all! This is my first post :0) I live in Nottingham, in a village called Giltbrook. Well it used to be a village. We now have a retail park, restaurants and even a brewery! I am a new Gran, my little Lilly-Grace is just 5 weeks and 2 days old. Looking forward to lots of back-up here!

I see we have one or two expats, like myself and I wonder what motivation they had for the move. For me, it was the lovely scenery, the historic towns and villages, the lower cost of property, the climate, and the opportunity to explore other European countries without having to rely on planes , ferries, or the tunnel. I have not been disappointed in France.
For my daughter and her family, it was the relaxed lifestyle and the employment opportunties of New Zealand that made them decide.

If any of you have been watching 'Little England', I must say that the happy ex-pats appearing (who offered themselves for the show) are probably not typical of the British in France. There is just as much crime, graffiti, drug use, unemployment and family break-up in France as there is in England, mainly in the big towns and their suburbs but the British tend to settle in the rural areas. There are very many posts on the ex-pat forums I use detailing why people are having to return to Britain as they failed to find work or could not cope with the horrific 'social charges' involved in running a business, or missed their families too much, etc. etc.

France is a great place for retired people, but I would not like to have to find work or start a business here.

Tyne and Wear, right on the North East coast.

Hello McNeff!

Good to meet you, Grannyfirstlight. I hope your Scottish trip comes off. I am Scots, but living in exile in England, for family reasons. You would find it a bit dark in Orkney at Christmas. You'll like Mull - one of my favourite places anywhere - and Iona is a world apart; but I've never been to either in the depths of winter. Keep us posted.

Hi McKneff nice to meet you, I am a Geordie but still living in Newcastle.

Born and Bred in Newcastle upon Tyne, so an estranged Geordi living in a small market town in North Yorkshire

Welcome, GrannyFirstLight, hope you enjoy it in here. If you`re visiting in the Glasgow area, you could do worse than pay a visit to the west coast of Kintyre, it really is beautiful there, ask Supernana, she lives there!

Hallo, GrannyFirstLight, and welcome!

Thank you all for the welcome!
No family in Scotland, but have fallen in love with it. I did several stints years ago in Skye and Fife as a private cook/driver/tour guide - that's how I got over there in the past. Now I write and produce public radio documentaries (and am a former photojournalist.) I can file from anywhere, so am always collecting stories, sounds and images.
Dream was to spend several months over there this fall, but plans changed and now will be traveling alone for just 2-3 weeks around Christmas. Well, alone with my wheelie suitcase and photo backpack – all of which I hope I can manage on public transport!
I think my hopes to visit Skye again, and see the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, will have to wait. I don’t want to have to rush those things.
Current idea is to get a pre-winter dose of urban culture and seaside!
I might visit Glasgow/Edinburgh first, pretend to be urbane and do some "grunge" street photography (prefer portraits, post-industrial settings and waterfront). Then I thought I'd travel to Iona/Mull/Erraid area. Maybe too touristy, but realistically, it's closer than those other destinations. Truly in need of some museums, theater, a Cal Mac ferry ride, and some down time by the grand Sea – complete with rocky shore and wild winds!
Plans flexible and ready to follow adventures as they arise!
Just put horses and chickens and ducks to bed and it is getting raw and icy out there...way too early!
Saturday night is British Comedy Night on television here...good to watch while knitting and downing hot cocoa. Such an exciting life!!!!!!!

Welcome GrannyFirstLight I hope you enjoy talking to us Grans.
Lucky you, Christmas in Scotland, wonderful

Well in that case you are forgiven Cheers! or rather Slanthe Mhath!

Ooops sorry granny23 I have had a glass or two.

Glass or Two just remind me whereabouts in ENGLAND Granny1stLight said she was travelling?

Granny1st Light whereabouts in the Hebrides are you going? Do you have family connections there?

Hi grannyfirst welcome to Gransnet, oh dear think that is the snow we are expecting over here, are you travelling alone to England?

GrannyFirst Flight welcome to a nice group of nana's and granddads we have a good selection of discussion's on here some serious some funny and some just daft but we enjoy ourselve's and there is alway's someone popping in and out to have a chat to.Sound's like a nice place you live in I am just over the water from Liverpool with view's onto the beach,moved here after nearly 10 yrs in Spain with DH where we ran our business,now retired and enjoying life and 7 DGCs.

Brand new member; first post!
I am writing to you from very upstate New York, on my farm near the Adirondack Mountains.
Have lived in Austria, Canada, New York City, but farming here (sheep/horses/children!)for past 30 years.
Planning to spend Christmas season in Edinburgh and Hebrides (split personality, anyone?)
First non-working vacation in 18 years. Just me, my camera, and my microphone!
Spent today stacking firewood, baking bread, doing barn chores. Waiting on 12 inches of snow this weekend (6 inches last Thursday.) Snowflakes like waffles!
Tonight will knit short rows on new sweater...hoping to have it ready for its inaugural journey to Scotland!
Have one grandchild so far...the Magnificent Miss Fiona, who lives in California. (Her parents won't let me bring her to Scotland yet...she's not yet 2!)
Glad to have found this site!

What a small world!