Moving to Norfolk

Retro1702

Well, after 14 months of trying it looks as if we've finally sold our house near Glasgow & the long anticipated move to Norfolk is on.

Having done some initial research about places to live, schools etc, I'd appreciate if anyone on here has more definite stuff like contacts with estate agents (to buy or let) - we've still got to now find somewhere quickly in the Wymondham/Taverham/Thorpe St Andrew areas, as well as contacts recruitment agencies etc (or even better knows of organisations who are recruiting, finance professionals preferably).

Even info on things like decent bike shops (heard good stuff about Pedal Revolution), restaurants, things to see & do most welcome

Ben6899

Retro1702 wrote:

Well, after 14 months of trying it looks as if we've finally sold our house near Glasgow & the long anticipated move to Norfolk is on.

Having done some initial research about places to live, schools etc, I'd appreciate if anyone on here has more definite stuff like contacts with estate agents (to buy or let) - we've still got to now find somewhere quickly in the Wymondham/Taverham/Thorpe St Andrew areas, as well as contacts recruitment agencies etc (or even better knows of organisations who are recruiting, finance professionals preferably).

Even info on things like decent bike shops (heard good stuff about Pedal Revolution), restaurants, things to see & do most welcome

The only advice I can offer is: fit a 53/39.

Alinshearah

You may also want to stock up on gloves before you go as most Norfolk gloves have six fingers

Aggieboy

You taking your sisters with you, or perhaps you have some nice cousins there?

jordan_217

You can visit this place:

http://www.bewilderwood.co.uk/

solosuperia

I agree about the gloves mentioned above, but my reason is different in the sense that most people from Norfolk and indeed the Fens can't wear gloves it has to be mittens, because that don't have seperate fingers.
Along the same lines you cannot buy "flip-flops" locally.

Chinley Churner

Ben6899 wrote:

Retro1702 wrote:

Well, after 14 months of trying it looks as if we've finally sold our house near Glasgow & the long anticipated move to Norfolk is on.

Having done some initial research about places to live, schools etc, I'd appreciate if anyone on here has more definite stuff like contacts with estate agents (to buy or let) - we've still got to now find somewhere quickly in the Wymondham/Taverham/Thorpe St Andrew areas, as well as contacts recruitment agencies etc (or even better knows of organisations who are recruiting, finance professionals preferably).

Even info on things like decent bike shops (heard good stuff about Pedal Revolution), restaurants, things to see & do most welcome

The only advice I can offer is: fit a 53/39.

I think just a single 55t with a straight through 11-21 block would be more suitable.

Zendog1

Hope you enjoy Norfolk - I moved here 15 years back from London and have never regretted it .

A good place to start for estate agents is in central Norwich. There is a cluster of them (at least 7 from memory) all with in 100ms of Upper King St. All price ranges.

I am very rusty on recuitment agencies but you might be better off starting looking in Cambridge.

Cheers
Steve

verylonglegs

I was going to reply earlier but I thought I'd wait for the inevitable six finger and sister shagging jokes to have their turn

Out of the 3 areas you've mentioned I'd say Taverham is best bet for area to live in and potentional cycling routes, I actually went to school in Thorpe, it's ok and a handy distance from city centre but not many great roads to use from there imo. My only experience of Wymondham is a couple of feisty football matches when I was still doing Sunday league...now they were a bunch of sister-shagging knuckle-draggers
Surely Rightmove would be a starting point for rentals?

Not sure about Pedal Revolution, I've never bought anything in there due to the indifferent attitude from staff and I'm not the only one to think this. They are well stocked though with plenty of bikes to look at.

cornerblock

They are always on the lookout for good people in Norfolk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdAC3NjI ... re=related

pinno

Weegie boy - why are you leaving Glasgow? Such a lot to offer, great surrounding areas:
Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Easterhouse, Dumbarton, Pollockshaws, The Gorbals, Most of the East Side...
Are you going to sell your 13-29 cassette now you don't need it? How much do you want for it? I've got 6 gallons of creosote - want to do a swap?

pinno

You'll miss this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBVTjEjy ... detailpage

Peddle Up!

Anyone else hearing banjo music?

Kieran_Burns

Glasgow to Norfolk?

How long do you think it's going to be before you can actually hold a conversation with ANYONE without needing a translator?

team47b

I was told that the 'slogan' for Glasgow was 'Miles Better'...

...and for Norfolk it was 'Norfolk n' good'

verylonglegs

team47b wrote:

I was told that the 'slogan' for Glasgow was 'Miles Better'...

...and for Norfolk it was 'Norfolk n' good'

No, our slogan is 'Incest is best.'

markos1963

How did you get a visa? I thought Paul Lambert had got the only one left for mumbling Scot's

MichaelW

Welcome to Norwich; A fine city.
Norwich Union and Marsh are the big finance employers. We still can't bring ourselves to say Avuiwaua or whatever its name is.
Plenty of good bike shops including Specialised Cycles on Conaught St, Borwells, Freemans, Streetlife.
The Bicycle Shop on St Benedicts is not a bicycle shop any more but a cafe.
Pub highlights include The Fat Cat.
Most locals never take a trip on the Broads but it is worth hiring a plastic boat for the day.

All this talk of webbed fingers and "you must meet my wife and sister" is deeply insulting and not at all applicable to Norwich. You have to go to the Fens to hear the banjo music.

ilm_zero7

lucky bugger - get yourself up around Holkham - great cycling country up there, and little climbs that will grind you down. stunning countryside....plus there is "chelsea on sea"

markos1963

+1 for Specialised Cycles in Connaught St, not a lot of cycles in stock but for servicing and reapirs they are the best in the city imo.
Living north or south of the city will give you the best choices of riding routes although the great thing about Norwich is it only takes ten minutes riding to get out of the centre and into the countryside. Plenty of riding clubs in Norwich if that's your thing, VC Norwich, Iceni and Norwich ABC to name just a few.
I've lived here twenty six years so the locals are just beginning to accept me and in general they are a friendly lot.

BigJimmyB

ILM Zero7 wrote:

lucky bugger - get yourself up around Holkham - great cycling country up there, and little climbs that will grind you down. stunning countryside....plus there is "chelsea on sea"

Nice beach through the pines there IIRC

Retro1702

Thanks for all comments so far, even the comedy ones have at least given me a laugh.
I should have mentioned I'm not a native Weegie (& in 12 years certainly haven't picked up the accent), born in Essex & spent most of my teens and early 20s near Ipswich so East Anglia and it's "inbred" sterotypes are nothing new to me.
Partly moving to be more accessible to my parents who are now getting on a bit and having had 5 "summers" of rain have sold the better weather to the wife (although guess that's not the case for the past few days), plus better cycling country for me amongst other 2-wheeled reasons.
Anyway, if you do some internet digging, I was told last week Norwich (& Norfolk) is currently sitting at No3 in the "best places to live in Britain" charts

jmcc500

I grew up in Norfolk, which is why I can't ride up hills. Lovely part of the world though. All (and I mean ALL) you need to know can be found here:

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Norwich

Not sure about employment opportunities, obviously NU (Aviva) used to be huge in 'the city' when I was a boy, but not sure that they are even there any more.

Good luck with it all.

James

gavbarron

I'd avoid pedal revolution if I can, well stocked but the staff always make you feel as though they have far more important things to be doing than talk to you. Streetlife is a very good shop and just round the corner from specialised.
As for clubs, Iceni Velo are very good and have big numbers turning up for rides so you can join fast or slow groups as fit.

As for location, from those you mentioned i'd not bother with Wymondham unless you want to work at police hq or down the road at Lotus as there's not too much else there.
Taverham is nice part of city, (although compared to most larger cities it's all nice!) and it's easy access out into the country.

For riding head north to the coast for plenty of cares, quite roads and a few cheeky drags.

Finally, for those suggesting big chain rings, by all means come here and ride on a windy day, it'll work you for longer than any 'climbs' we have in the uk

Bruce Thornton

Don't forget the west of the county for riding. I live between Fakenham and Kings Lynn and often ride the No1 route from my home to Sandringham then follow the route rond to Fakenham. I rode it on Monday heading into a NE wind coming straight from the North Sea equally as hard as cycling up Leith hill in Surrey.
I've used UK Cycles in the city centre and found them very good and they've just extended the store.
One last point we now have a brilliant football team going places with Paul God Lambert

jmcc500

Not sure about road cycling, but if you've an MTB or CX bike, the Marriots way would be easy to access from Taverham and get you well north towards the coast keeping away from traffic...

gavbarron

Bruce where about are you? I'm near Litcham, you nearer Weasenham?

turkeytickler

Here's my take on living in Norfolk having been born there and lived there for most of my life
Work / Commerce
- plenty of public sector work in norwich with local authorities and hospitals etc, but not sure whether they are hiring
- big private sector employers that spring to mind are Aviva, Colmans, Lotus Cars, HP, Archant, May Gurney - there are no doubt plenty of others
- employment and estate agencies - the usual mixed bag of national agencies - mainly all sharks, plus a few more honourable independents - a good estate agency is Allgood & Davey. What's your line of work?

Where to Live
I wouldn't disagree about Taverham, except to say that depending on your priorities and preferences there may be nicer places. The NR2 area (known rather smugly as the Golden Triangle) is the student / middle class / bohemian suburb close to the centre (in easy walking distance) with good pubs, shops, and mainly terraced victorian housing stock.. Some excellent schools and property is very desirable / expensive. Expect to pay £170k for a 2 up 2 down terraced house with a courtyard garden.

I think Wymondham is a very nice little town, in easy commuting distance by bus, train, cycle or car to central norwich for work. Again, good schools. It's only 3 miles to the Lotus Test Track where there is a cycle racing league on wednesdays in the spring / summer. Word of warning, there are plans on the table to massively develop the A11 corridor area leading up to wymondham which may radically change the character of the place for the worse.

Cycling
IMO the area south west of norwich is the nicest for cycling, its pretty flat but the roads a plentiful and largely quiet. There is a lovely little triangle between Norwich, Wymondham and Hingham that you can easily spend a morning or afternoon pootling around. The main clubs for roadies are VC Norwich (well established but some people find them a little cliquey (I dont)), Iceni Velo (new but apprently v friendly) and Norwich ACB (dont know much about them). Marriotts Way is lovely for the first 3-4 times you ride it then it becomes a bit monotonous (I think).

LBSs
Pedal Revolution all the way - brilliant bike shop, great stock, prices competitive with online - I've never had anything but good service from them (although I know of plenty of others who would disagree).
John Borwells - this is the LBS of choice of the hardcore roadie.
Streetlife is quite family oriented so expect to wade through lots of kids bikes rather than lots of de-rosas. If you like decent beer, the Fat Cat pub opposite is a frequent award winner....
Cycles UK in the City Centre - ok but a bit pricey and not a great choice of brands
Specialised Cycles, just off Earlham Road, tucked away in a little corner shop like a scene from open all hours, you will find a couple of true craftsmen with a bewildering array of stock and they are great wheel builders. This place is like the tardis.

North Norfolk is very nice and very expensive. East Coast is very cheap (for a reason).

Ignore the comments about inbreeding. It's not true, and my wife - who happens to be my sister too - agrees. :P

Hope some of the above helps, and none of the above offends....

Best of luck with your research.