Tuesday, November 13, 2012

people's reactions when you tell them you're moving to London.



There are three ways that the conversation goes:

1.
them: 'I hear you're moving to London.'
us: 'yes'. 
them: 'I take it you're moving for work?' (implied: why would you move to London if you didn't have to?)
us: 'no, we can work from anywhere, we just want to live in London.'
them: puzzled silence.  
2.
them: 'You're moving to London? Why? It's a horrible place. I HATE London.'
us: puzzled silence. 

3.
them: 'You're moving to London?! I LOVE London, I'm so jealous!' 
us: 'thank you, we're really excited!' 


Alternative endings to Conversation 1 include 'rather you than me', 'good luck', 'don't people usually move out of London when they have children?' but we haven't had one single conversation about moving to London that hasn't followed one of these three basic templates. My favourites are the people who tell me how dangerous London is. I can't help but laugh and point out that we're moving there from Glasgowand that in doing so our household insurance premium halved. Just something to think about.


*I actually kind of love Glasgow and never felt unsafe once in the 6 years that I lived there. It does make South London look like a day out in the Cotswolds though.



45 comments:

  1. glasgow remains one of the finest, friendliest places i've ever visited. san francisco, now - that's a city of thugs.

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    1. Interesting. I found San Francisco weird. I can't put my finger on why. Glasgow is friendly to some, not to others. It's a strange place.

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  2. I'm in the glad you could join us quota :D London rocks (most of the time) x

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  3. I am so excited about you guys moving to London :)

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  4. London is awesome. I grew up there (North East not Sarf of the river though) and I'd happily live there again if my husband wasn't so anti big cities.

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  5. Thug speaking. I just think people can be quite oddly rude. And I don't mean lauren, I mean those people who tell you to your face that they hate your new city of choice:).

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    1. you commute, dear L. i could never lump you in with the thugs.

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    2. Ha! I love the thought of Lisa as a thug! People ARE rude, aren't they?

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  6. I love living in London and am looking forward to bringing up my kid(s?) here. Must be epic to grow up in a city with so much on your doorstep. And having lived both North and South of the river, I can vouch for both!

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    1. Exactly. It's not perfect but nowhere is and the huge range of opportunities and experiences in London isn't to be sniffed at.

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  7. 0.5% impressed with your Microsoft Paint skills.

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  8. I'm definitely in the 10% - if our work situation had been different I think we would have stayed, as it is we may well go back one day...

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  9. ahem. I think you forgot the "boo I'm really going to miss you, but I'm sure it'll be great" reaction.

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  10. Have fun in London! I lived there for a year a few years back. It was great fun. I mean, it's not all sunshine & lollipops, but it is great to be in the middle of everything, with so many activities and events going on.
    What percentage of people would be in the category "have lived there & would recommend it to other people"?

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    1. Not too many, mostly as we don't meet an awful lot of people who have lived there and left!

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  11. You're gonna love it here. Best place to raise children. Expensive, crowded and exciting. Even in the 'burbs.

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  12. I definitely fall into category 3. I would move to London in a heartbeat if I could (and if I could get a work visa).

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  13. I moved from an Edinburgh suburb (I grew up in a Wimpy semi-d) to London in 1997; I'm homesick but not for Edinburgh...my job moved so I moved out to the home counties and I miss London SO much. London was the best thing I ever did!

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    1. I imagine that if you love London then it's really really hard to live anywhere else afterwards.

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  14. Really? People really are quite rude. I say hurray for brave and exciting choices, for London is a brave and exciting place, so it's an excellent match. Also dirty and expensive and somewhat rude, but that's why we are BRAVE and EXCITING.

    Oddly, my Mum grew up in the Glasgow burbs and has an irrational fear of London.

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    1. See, it just doesn't seem dirty or rude after Glasgow. In fact, the only rudeness I've ever experienced in London has been from tourists, Londoners are among the friendliest, most helpful people I've ever met. I'll give you expensive though.

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  15. So excited you're making this move too. Having made the move 3 weeks ago we are all so incredibly happy. And yes, we had all the same reactions too. And some big arguments along the way. All worth it though.
    See you soon for coffee and chaos (I mean with our lovely, calm children...) xx

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    1. I can't wait! It gives me such faith to hear about you making the move back there with your kiddies.

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  16. I am a Londoner, born and brought up, and forgive me if I am a bit biased...but LONDON IS A GREAT CITY. It's vibrant, fun, so much to do, historical, beautiful and remember, people travel from all over the world just to be in London for a few days. My father comes from Glasgow and I visit Glasgow often. Glasgow has a poor reputation outside of um...Glasgow, but I find Glasgow beautiful and it's my second home. So what I am trying to say here is, don't take heed of what other people say and perceive. GO FORTH AND ENJOY.
    Fleur x

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    1. " Glasgow has a poor reputation outside of um...Glasgow" Ha! That made me chuckle.

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  17. ooo, you are moving to South East London? Thats the best bit!

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  18. Count me 100% in category 3. I am so excited to read more about the journey.

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  19. I'm in the 10%! I've always wanted to visit!! <3 your blog design by the way, it's so simple, but SO awesome!

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  20. That is the best pie chart I've ever seen.

    (Having never been to London, I can't say I understand why people are so against living there - other than the cost of living - but I *do* want to visit so I can go to an Arsenal game. Because apparently I'm a masochist. Drinks with some of my favorite ladies might ease the pain Arsenal are sure to cause me, though. :)

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    1. Thanks! It has been pointed out to me that my percentages are somewhat iffy, but I'm pretty proud of it.

      Come! visit! You and Nye will go to the football and then we'll drink lots of beer afterwards!

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  21. Nice pie chart. I lived in Glasgow for a good while. I loved it. I've always felt ambiguous about London but it's definitely growing on me...life will certainly be full!

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  22. I hear the Cotswolds can be terrifying. All that twee...

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  23. Brilliant. I guess London really does divide opinion. As one of the people that left not long after their babies arrived after having lived there for about 6 years in total, I can say that there's certainly a lot I miss about it. And I've lived in two other cities (Auckland and Melbourne) since than and while each is great in their own way, neither of them has the 'thing' that London does. What exactly this thing is I don't know, just something indescribable- the vibe, the mix of history and edgy. What I miss the most I think is places like Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens. There's not so much in the way of historical treasures in Australia. Oh and the shopping. Of course I miss the shopping. You guys will have an absolute blast.

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  24. Welcome to London. I'm of the born, bred and never left category so it's only positive from me :) Congratulations on making a big move - it can't have been an easy decision.

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  25. I've worked in London but never actually lived there and that makes me a little bit sad. I LOVE where I live but I bet living in London is amazing!

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  26. I love the fact that you are taking the kids and living in London. I am so fed up of listening to people banging on about moving to the idyllic countryside. I grew up in a small Scottish village that had nothing happening. Ever. Me, I moved to Glasgow first chance I got, and now I live in Leeds. Love both of those cities, but my dream would be to take my son and live in London. Good for you, W + P are going to love it. x

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play nice.