So, I'm thinking of moving.

[lemonbella]

It's expensive where I am and with my job involving the travelling it does, I'm not tied to one place. I know I'm going to have to move back here at some point when my mother retires, so it would be nice to use the freedom while I've got it. Also, given that the PhD Plan is no more, it's time to start thinking of Other Plans. I don't know what they are, but they're sure to involve money and therefore not throwing away a third of my monthly income on rent would be helpful.

My job requires me to go to the following places, so anywhere near one of them would be a good place to start: Norfolk, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, London, West Sussex, Kent, and Ipswich....

So, do any of you know about any of those places? What's the renting market like? Are there reasons to move there other than the presence of attractive cricketers? (I'm not saying that's not sufficient) Will the locals be welcoming to me and StraussCat? Do they have electricity?

In other news: StraussCat has allergies.... How do I end up with the neurotic and expensive ones?

Comments

[akkrenskarin.livejournal.com]

Move to Kent! All the best people are from Kent...

Renting's not the cheapest, especially near Canterbury or up Tonbridge/Sevenoaks way, but it's not so bad on the coast.

We have electricity, we like cats, but our cricket team is shit.

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

It's just first match jitters....

I thought it might be expensive. The problem with the coast is it adds an extra hour onto any of my work journeys. But then there is the sea which is an extra incentive.

[akkrenskarin.livejournal.com]

I shall blindly hope it'll be all right come next game...

It's a very limited example, but for my first flat, three years ago, I was paying £425 a month for a 2-bedroom flat, in good order, in a fairly nice area. For my second flat, which was the same size, not in quite such a nice area, but absolutely beautiful, new kitchen and bathroom and everything, it was £500-ish a month.

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

It will. Maybe Rob could scratch the ball, that might help.

I will randomly stare in agents' windows when I'm next in the area...

[indian-skimmer.livejournal.com]

Lincolnshire can boast no cricketers of its own, but it is within day driving distance of almost every city in Britain, and you'd only ever be an hour an twenty minutes away from Stuart Broad.

I have no idea what the rental market is like, but I can't imagine it'd be expensive. Norfolk however is turning into second-home land and is quite scarily pricey unless you want to live in a caravan.

Poor nervous StraussCat. Is he allergic to anything specific, or is it everything?

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of being no more than an hour away from Stuart Broad. Norfolk was near the top of my list, so it's a bit of a shame that it's expensive. It still might be cheaper than here though.

I think it might be everything. The vet said it would be horribly expensive to find out, so we might not actually ever find out.

At the moment we're trying behaviour modification and distraction. It involves hiding food in a plastic bottle with holes in and encouraging Strauss to chase it around the carpet....

[indian-skimmer.livejournal.com]

I may be wrong, but when I was up there everyone was complaining about how expensive the houses were. Of course that may just be expensive for Norfolk, and not at all compared to Buckinghamshire.

Wow... Does he actualy chase it or does he sit and look at it forlornly until you open it and put the food in a proper bowl?

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

I'll look into it, because it's the comparison that's important. I stay on the same wage regardless of where I live.

He's a bit sceptical, but once I'm not there to stare accusingly at he does chase it.

[indian-skimmer.livejournal.com]

Actually, no, you can't move. If you move I'll lose my free B&B in the South East. What will I do if I want to go to the rugby?

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

It probably won't ever actually happen, so don't panic just yet.

[indian-skimmer.livejournal.com]

Not that I have in any way picked my circle of friends to I have free places to stay near most international sports grounds. But if I had, you moving would totally ruin that.

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a good job you didn't.....

[beautifulworld.livejournal.com]

*waves to StraussCat*

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

StraussCat waved his tail in your direction.

[beautifulworld.livejournal.com]

Yay! *pets StraussCat*

[make-a-move.livejournal.com]

I live in West Sussex, in Easebourne to be precise (not Eastbourne. Sorry, I always have to clarify that. People get them confused), and it's incredibly nice here. The countryside is gorgeous, most of the people are lovely, there's polo, and both the Surrey and Sussex cricket grounds in Guildford and Hove are train rides away. Only thing is, it's getting rather expensive now to buy a house or something here, so I imagine renting is kind of expensive too.

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

Oooh...it does sound rather lovely. I will have to check out prices; everywhere is expensive, but Bucks (where I am) is the most expensive county in the country, so anywhere should be an improvement - it just depends whether it's enough to justify a move.