Seemingly trivial things that cheer you up
Comments
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A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 15 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
EDIT: changed the commute distance from 17 to 15 miles - i haven't actually done it yet!0 -
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week."I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.0 -
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.
"I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.0 -
We had the same issue in reverse and ended up one stop further out in Ashtead.
I'd like to move out a bit further to somewhere in the Surrey Hills out beyond Dorking but then it's easier for me because I don't have to deal with school drop off/pick-up like she does.0 -
Epsom is just down the road and over the racecourse from us. We're in Bansteadsurrey_commuter said:
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.
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Epsom is definitely not banjo country (not in my books anyway), it's a decent sized town. Good mate of mine lives off the Downs Road so I know what its like.surrey_commuter said:
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.
Part of the difference may be down to the built up area extending further out to the South West and West of London compared to the South East. Look on Google maps its quite noticeable. I could be in semi-banjo land round this way without being any further from the centre than you are now."I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
I agree with you, but then I consider zone 2 to be suburbia.surrey_commuter said:
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.
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she wanted Ashtead but the estate agents were a nightmare to deal with, they had the place sewn up and were managing chains to their advantage. We only got offered viewings theycould not shift, though I did not help by refusing to even view one the other side of the tracks on the grounds that I am temperamentally unsuited to live just over a level crossingmonkimark said:We had the same issue in reverse and ended up one stop further out in Ashtead.
I'd like to move out a bit further to somewhere in the Surrey Hills out beyond Dorking but then it's easier for me because I don't have to deal with school drop off/pick-up like she does.0 -
I thought zone 2 was the DMZ between Central London and the 'burbs.TheBigBean said:
I agree with you, but then I consider zone 2 to be suburbia.surrey_commuter said:
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week."I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
Ashtead / Epsom, not a huge amount of distance between them (one big common).
I actually grew up in Dorking, so are further in than where I started, but did live closer in to the City before this.
Looks like we're all local for a Box / Ranmore / Whitedown ride or two....0 -
That level crossing is forever breaking down as well and it's the only way in/out by car (unless you drive straight through the common)surrey_commuter said:
she wanted Ashtead but the estate agents were a nightmare to deal with, they had the place sewn up and were managing chains to their advantage. We only got offered viewings they could not shift, though I did not help by refusing to even view one the other side of the tracks on the grounds that I am temperamentally unsuited to live just over a level crossingmonkimark said:We had the same issue in reverse and ended up one stop further out in Ashtead.
I'd like to move out a bit further to somewhere in the Surrey Hills out beyond Dorking but then it's easier for me because I don't have to deal with school drop off/pick-up like she does.0 -
Sounds like the opposite of us. I think Mrs RJS viewed Zone 5 as banjo land, but has come round to the idea, and we're only 10 minutes from Elbow but with better connections to town.surrey_commuter said:
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.
North East Surrey doesn't feel like proper countryside to me: too many golf courses and Range Rovers, and not enough cows*** on the roads.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
I was in Merstham for a number of years (that's the place that took 4 years to sell). Further out than I am now, but 30 mins in to LB or Vic.rjsterry said:
Sounds like the opposite of us. I think Mrs RJS viewed Zone 5 as banjo land, but has come round to the idea, and we're only 10 minutes from Elbow but with better connections to town.surrey_commuter said:
my and the missus could not agree on what a move to the sticks was like, her vision is more like your banjo country whereas mine would have Elbow's Waitrose. Ended up in Epsom which I see as the sticks and she very much doesn't.Stevo_666 said:
Likewise, though our kid can drive when she's at home, so with the help of a pub bike or two we can increase the number of viable optionselbowloh said:
Yeah, we wanted to be in walking distance of a couple of cafés/shops and not have to jump in the car to get out with the sprogs. Not had to enjoy the cafés yet though with Covid!Stevo_666 said:
Sounds like you have a similar strategy, apart from we're trying not to be in a town, just a convenient travelling distance from one for the stuff we need. There's a big swathe of land East of Biggin Hill going rounded to the A20/M26 boundary where were looking which has almost no towns in it but is not too far out.elbowloh said:
A bit like us. We're inside the M25, but only just. It's a small town (it calls itself a village, but has a big Waitrose). The town is surrounded by farms and/or huge expanses of woods/commons on the North Downs. However, we're on a hill, so from my top floor windows you can see London, the Shard, Wembley Arch on a clear day. It's a 17 mile ish commute to the middle of London.Stevo_666 said:
Were going beyond the 'burbs - which is where we are already. Not as far as banjo country though.pinno said:
You mean - you're going to be communting from the 'Burbs?Stevo_666 said:Mrs. 666 agreeing with me that we should move house after I've been suggesting it for a while. Possibly not trivial from me in terms of what it will entail in the near future but anyway it probably fits in here now. Will be good to put a bit of green space between us and the borders of the The Big Smoke.
You'll have to buy a Trek or a Dogma or they'll look down on you.
Train service is pretty poor though for commuting, but doable.
Like you say, the train commute won't be as convenient but probably won't have to do it as often. And will be a good excuse for a longer ride in once or twice a week.
North East Surrey doesn't feel like proper countryside to me: too many golf courses and Range Rovers, and not enough cows*** on the roads.0 -
I am laughing at the amount of stick waving that would generate from the dog walkersmonkimark said:
That level crossing is forever breaking down as well and it's the only way in/out by car (unless you drive straight through the common)surrey_commuter said:
she wanted Ashtead but the estate agents were a nightmare to deal with, they had the place sewn up and were managing chains to their advantage. We only got offered viewings they could not shift, though I did not help by refusing to even view one the other side of the tracks on the grounds that I am temperamentally unsuited to live just over a level crossingmonkimark said:We had the same issue in reverse and ended up one stop further out in Ashtead.
I'd like to move out a bit further to somewhere in the Surrey Hills out beyond Dorking but then it's easier for me because I don't have to deal with school drop off/pick-up like she does.0 -
Ride and pub?elbowloh said:Looks like we're all local for a Box / Ranmore / Whitedown ride or two....
I've ridden little this year but would be up for that0 -
'banjo country' lolseanoconn - gruagach craic!0
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'sticks' ROFLseanoconn - gruagach craic!0
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It is funny reading about people living in and just outside the M25 talking about 'too rural'...'not rural enough'. I mean..what?!0
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I've not been on a bike since the week after Xmas!veronese68 said:
Ride and pub?elbowloh said:Looks like we're all local for a Box / Ranmore / Whitedown ride or two....
I've ridden little this year but would be up for that
I'd have to get a pass from the wife....0 -
seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
You live in Norfolk as I recall. That explains a lotverylonglegs said:It is funny reading about people living in and just outside the M25 talking about 'too rural'...'not rural enough'. I mean..what?!
"I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
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Indeed, when I'm travelling long distance to anywhere else in the UK it's an hours drive to even get out of the county. There is a Waitrose five miles from me though, I think it's a comfort blanket for all the second home owners from London along the coast.Stevo_666 said:
You live in Norfolk as I recall. That explains a lotverylonglegs said:It is funny reading about people living in and just outside the M25 talking about 'too rural'...'not rural enough'. I mean..what?!
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verylonglegs said:
Indeed, when I'm travelling long distance to anywhere else in the UK it's an hours drive to even get out of the county. There is a Waitrose five miles from me though, I think it's a comfort blanket for all the second home owners from London along the coast.Stevo_666 said:
You live in Norfolk as I recall. That explains a lotverylonglegs said:It is funny reading about people living in and just outside the M25 talking about 'too rural'...'not rural enough'. I mean..what?!
Just for amusement, I checked how long it would take to drive across Devon from Ilfracombe to East Portlemouth: the quickest route is 2h38 (110 miles), and the shortest route (103 miles) takes 3h08. I wonder if there are any English counties that have such a lengthy traverse.0 -
Only one Waitrose within 5 miles is the sticks, past that is banjo country.verylonglegs said:
Indeed, when I'm travelling long distance to anywhere else in the UK it's an hours drive to even get out of the county. There is a Waitrose five miles from me though, I think it's a comfort blanket for all the second home owners from London along the coast.Stevo_666 said:
You live in Norfolk as I recall. That explains a lotverylonglegs said:It is funny reading about people living in and just outside the M25 talking about 'too rural'...'not rural enough'. I mean..what?!
Another measure would be frosts - at a guess SteveO may not even own a windscreen scraper as he will only get 1-2 frosts a year, when he moves to the sticks he will see dozens.0
