[Bionic]

Country soul, your partner can't be any more of a shopaholic than I was (I have boxes of stuff we still haven't unloaded from the move to prove it) However, with a bit of planning a good shopping trip is still possible, just not so often.
Sally

[in the hills]

Yes, we had a good shopping trip at Shrewsbury ...... 3 years ago    ...... good job I never liked shopping, and now I go only when really essential.


Most people near to me seem to only shop very locally and make do with that. If shopping was important to you I think you would have to take that into account when choosing your location.

[kumquat]

get used to everything being either padded, fleece lined and wind/water proof 

[Alistair]

To quote the comedtn Rhod Gilbert

"I was 12 when I realised I could take my anorak off"

[in the hills]

 


A new neighbour asked me recently  ...... do you own any wellies? .....    ...... try only own/need wellies. They'll learn.

[Small Farmer]

I have been following this thread with interest.  I was born and brought-up in London and have never lived outside the south-east, but we expect to move away in the next five years.  It's just too busy, too frantic and too unfriendly.


We have discussed this off and on for the past couple of years and we have made some reconnaissance trips. But despite our connections Pembrokeshire isn't on the list.  Abergavenny area is far more appealing along with the South-west around Exeter and the Yorkshire Dales.


Any supporters of those areas?

[MAK]

me too Small Farmer.
The thought of having to speak welsh, all that rain and the cost of land made me opt for France.  it's a smallholders paradise here in the La Creuse department ( region Limousin) - certainly beats London, Herts, Cambs and Suffolk borders.

[Victorian Farmer]

iv been in Scotland for 17 ya res i think if you put some think in to the community you will be fine .I speak to the doctors banks shop all first names .If the post man comes and the tractor is out he will go in and put the letters parcels in the kitchin .If I'm bad i phone the doctor up and he comes dawn gets some eggs etc .The vet will give me a prescription over the phone Ido keep in  with the community and we are all equal and work together.I do think you should go for it and live simple and be happey and dont take to much on .

[henchard]

The thought of having to speak welsh,

You don't have to speak Welsh; the country is bilingual. Just as in any community it's nice to know a few words though.

[Nickie]

Well, I moved from Shepton Mallet to Abergavenny, from there to a small village halfway between Abergavenny & Hereford & from there to Snowdonia in North Wales.


Some of the small villages on the Herefordshire/Monmouthshire border are lovely & friendly - Like Somerset used to be 25 odd years ago.


However, some areas of North Wales are just special. The scenery is fabulous & the people are really friendly & supportive as long as you make an effort to fit in - no different to anywhere else! You don't need to speak welsh although a few every day words are welcomed & classes are available (I did a year of 2 1/2 hours a week for £25). It's a big smallholder area as farming is hard here so most people have land & a job to make ends meet. We have received massive support (new to this life when we moved here) & the sense of community is very strong. Land & property is cheaper of course, which is a bonus!

[Small Farmer]

The thought of having to speak welsh,

You don't have to speak Welsh; the country is bilingual. Just as in any community it's nice to know a few words though.

No, you have to know a few words, and then carry on learning more of them.  It really isn't optional unless you like total silence when you enter the farmers co-op.

[henchard]

No, you have to know a few words, and then carry on learning more of them.  It really isn't optional unless you like total silence when you enter the farmers co-op.

Sorry to disagree; I live in a pretty Welsh speaking area and I only know a few words but there are no issues if you don't speak Welsh. I get on fine with my Welsh speaking neighbours in English although the odd phrase like 'diolch yn fawr' goes a long way.

In fact a lot of people who have lived here all their lives don't speak Welsh. As a whole only around 25% of the population speak Welsh. It's great that the language is alive and kicking and incomers should have respect for it; but it isn't obligatory.

[MAK]

Living in wales and speaking a bit of welsh is probabley both polite but not essential.As said previousley the Welsh in some areas are bi-lingual and have the option to speak either welsh or English.
Here in France I do not have the option to speak English - BUT to my horror all my old neighbours speak a patois between themselves and only learnt French when they were 7-9 years old at school. They talk to me in french though.

[cleopatra]

The thought of having to speak welsh,

You don't have to speak Welsh; the country is bilingual. Just as in any community it's nice to know a few words though.

we nearly moved to wales but was put off about the language and the childrens schooling. in the area we were wanting (north wales) the first language at school was welsh which is a good thing but a bit daunting for a non-welsh speaking child.
i got the impression that the area north of aberaeron was welsh speaking, south less so. the youth in aberaeron certainly chose to speak welsh but were bilingual.
we are in scotland now and the kids are learning french/german. they have never had a gaelic lesson in their lives - big shame.

[Nickie]

In our area of North Wales welsh is definitely the first language. It is what people speak by choice, although almost all can speak english as well. However, everyone I have come across is willing to switch to english without making me feel uncomfortable.


The idea that the people here only speak welsh so that the english can not understand them is so wrong. In fact I have found the opposite. If I walk into a pub (or whatever!) & conversation around the bar (or whatever!) is happening in welsh, I have known them to switch to english so that I am included. Same with the hairdressers (I go here even less frequently than the pub I'll have you know). The general conversation between staff & customers is in welsh, but my stylist switches to english so that I get at least part of the conversation,  it's seemless.


It doesn't take much effort on my part to learn a few phrases & that small effort is greeted with great smiles & enthusiasm.


I have to agree with one earlier comment though. There appears to be a bit of a relaxed attitude to time keeping & urgency. Many do things 'just in time' or even later than that. I'm still struggling with this one!