relocation to Scotland?

Question

my husband has the opportunity to relocate to scotland with the fire service. we would have to move home and the children would have to move schools etc. we live in birmingham, england at the moment, where crime is high and i worry for my kids future. The kids dont want to go as they would miss friends and family, i have told them they are not a million miles away and have tried to explain that crime is lower, education is better and all the other good points i can think of.two or three other people i have talked to said if the had the chance they would go tomorrow. Please help. What would you lot do?

Answer 1

Depends where in Scotland!! I mean there is high crime and drugs in places there too!!!

Answer 2

I moved up to Scotland (near Loch Ness) from South Buckinghamshire in 1995 and it was, frankly, the best thing I ever did. I only wish I'd discovered Scotland when my kids were still kids. The quality of life here is far greater than down South, smaller classes in schools, kids here still have good manners unlike their Southern counterparts, the roads are not so congested, there are few speed cameras, the air is pure and clean, the scenery is to die for, the water is straight off the mountains not re-cycled wee, and if it wasn't for visiting the family occasionally, I would NEVER cross the border into England ever again!

My advice would be to go and do not look back. It will be the best thing you have ever done. I promise! Good luck!

Answer 3

I was relocated to Lincoln towards the end of last year, one hundred and seventy five miles away from where I grew up. My children did not want to leave their friends and I didn't particually want to go myself even though I was aware that I would have a better life here in Lincoln. But I have been in Lincoln for almost a year now, I am very pleased and my two daughters are happy with their new lives here. It takes a little bit of getting used to, took me four months before I was probably ok with my life here, and my girls were a little unhappy with the idea at first but they wouldn't move back given the chance now. I say go for it, if it's going to be a better life, your children will probably be cross with you for a while first but they'll soon come around once they realise how nice it is there.

Answer 4

We moved around a lot when we were children, and I'm happy we did because it's good to have experiences in different towns and countries. It gives you a broader outlook, I mean you can understand that people live and think differently.
It is true that at the end of the day it's the parents who decide for the family and not the other way round. Good Luck, (I loved living in Scotland and I'd like to go back there one day).

Answer 5

Well, I don't live in Birmingham!
But don't imagine that it's all like Monarch of the Glen here. Not all schools are good. Many are just dire. Scotland isn't really one country. There's a big difference between the middle of Glasgow and the midle of Angus. Happy to give any advice if you can be a bit more specific about where you're going.

Answer 6

After living in scotland for a few years as an englishman I can pass on some advice.

The central belt is where the majority of the population live (Glasgow-Edinburgh), north of this is the highlands and south the borders. Both cities still have issues with Catholics and Protestants (never believed it untill I moved up there) with it centered about the football teams (Celtic/Rangers and Hibs/Hearts) but also city areas. You still get orange marches etc.

There are only a few breweries that supply the pubs and the beers tends to be a bit sweet, most pubs only have a few selections of beer and very few sell bitter. The nearest to bitter is called 60 shillings. Most pubs are drinking pubs, so you don't tend to find the typically english country pub style. Pub food is either basic or they think they are doing something special with the local produce and charge you accordingly.

On the plus side they tend to open longer in the evening and usually have good selections of whisky (for someone that did not like whisky, I found some that I enjoyed drinking).

There is a storng undercurrent of dislike of the english. This is not apparent when you visit intially but as the scots relax their guard (normally because they forget you are english - as you start adopting the language a bit, with wees and ayes) it starts coming through. Though you might meet some that will say it to your face (normally after they have had a few). The british goverment becomes an english goverment when it is being criticised and all bad events are created by the english. Much of the history (you will need to learn your scots history!) is pub folk lore and is a bastardised version of factual history, even though it is quoted as fact. Scots tend to drink to get drunk and have a laugh and don't get aggressive like the english (generally) so a night out normally involve some friendly banter and arms around shoulders.

This continual undercurrent of anti-english meant that when I arrived I was British, but by the end of my stay I was glad to leave as a proud englishman. This attitude is reminisant of the racist attitude of the 50's, the scots thinks it's normal and just a bit of fun, but being on the other side it often hypocritical and tiresome.

Forget any english sports news, unless you get Sky.

Be prepared for lots of drizzle (though it seems drier than drizzle in england, don't ask me why) and a few degrees cooler all round.

If you are in the highlands you will fall in love with the countryside, but you need to get out and climb a few mountains. Be prepared to drive a lot, but this is not too much problem as the roads are pretty clear.

Answer 7

It really depends on where you are moving to in Scotland.
If your kids would benefit from the move education-wise, it may be a good idea. If your kids are young, they will make new friends very easily. I would let them have friends visit them in Scotland and make regular visits to friends and family so they don't feel so disconnected.

Answer 8

there's a Tesco in Aviemore, and different than for the swimming pools already mentioned, there is likewise entertainment Waters in Inverness. apartment might nicely be something from mid £300s upwards. The cities surrounding Aviemore, - Grantown on Spey, Kingussie and so on all have small populations - around the two,000 mark , yet then thats the superb thing approximately residing in a usa with this variety of small inhabitants - no longer many neds in those places. in fact, no longer counting the glaring huge cities like Glasgow and so on and the vast cities, you will in all likelihood discover greater neds in Essex than contained in something of Scotland :o)

Answer 9

my parents relocated us for better education etc when i was younger. I didn't like it then as it meant moving from all my friends to somewhere that was a plane journey away, but I am very greatful now.
at the end of the day, it isn't really your kids' decision, it is up to you and your husband as the wise, mature adults to make decisions for the best of the family.

take care

Answer 10

It's a decision for you to make as a family. Do you have extended family around you in Birmingham, because if you do, take into consideration that you will miss their support if you go. It may seem like a little thing now, but believe me it's not.

Answer 11

there is gonna be crime and drugs etc where ever u move to thou there maybe less of it.
I'd go for it
Your kids will adjust and settle in prob quicker than yourselfs cos kids do
we re-located 6 times when i was a kid to various places accross the uk owing to my dads job each time i never wanted to go but it didn't do me any harm and i soon made lots of new friends.
the only re-location we didn't do was when my dad was offered a job in the usa after a trial 3 months over there me and my brother couldn't get used to it and begged to come home, so we did.