Corona Virus Concerns
Comments
-
"Being fairly rural": this is our dream!
I do keep thinking how much our lives would be improved when we make the move.
However, we're trying to do our research and take off the rose tinted specs occasionally. So the shopping issues etc are relevant 😊
That's why I'm genuinely interested in the "concerns" those based in rural locations have.
1 -
Thebells. Our SW village is partly on gas, another big group doesn't have fast broadband and some have poor mobile reception. We've lived in more remote places without any gas. At one time, living in a very cold and damp spot in the Borders of Scotland was the hardest to endure, plus midges when it warmed up. Strangely enough I miss it there as it had other compensations. Looks like in the future many more homes will have to function without gas.
However in the present crisis living in a rural area feels less threatening than being in a busy populated area, but who knows, it will only take one local outbreak to upset the balance.
1 -
You're wise to study both sides of the coin.
Although we have a GP surgery close at hand and a community hospital only about 3 miles away, it concerns me at times that our two big general hospitals are 25 and 35 miles away. While that’s not a big issue while we're still able to drive, I do have concerns about coping in our later years. That, though, is my only non-positive thought.
2 -
They were queuing outside one of our Co-ops today as I passed too.
0 -
During this crisis, I've been droning on and on about food deliveries however living in a rural area we can also get farm produce including meat straight from a local farm. When this is all over I will consider sticking with more of the local produce just as I've stuck it out with milk deliveries even though it costs more. Years ago we lived in another northern spot that required a 90 mile round trip to a supermarket, I certainly stayed with our local small shops at the time.
1 -
Yes, it's funny isn't it TW? As one gets older one starts to think more about locations of hospitals and transport links than before.
We're in the midst of a "should we or shouldn't we move" stage and these things come a bit further up the list than they used to.
1 -
It's certainly one of the reasons I think I've persuaded Mrs M that we won't be moving again voluntarily!
We're ideally situated for travelling around the country in any direction being close to the M4/M5 motorways. We have a large supermarket within walking distance, a community hospital and doctors surgery just a 5 minute drive away. We have family nearby too.
And, more to the point we get on well with all the neighbours! Better the devil you know etc etc!
2 -
I'm very conscious of the fact that now we're almost at an age where we could afford to move into a rural area, we're unfortunately almost at an age where our current location is more practical!
We're a 10-15 minute drive from South Tyneside hospital, a 10 minute walk from the Metro and various bus stops and have had no issues at all with sourcing groceries despite the panic buying....
However, we yearn for the countryside and spend whatever time we can there.
It's a dilemma 😯
1 -
As the current situation stands, Moulesy, I'm not sure we'd move too far. MiL is very settled and being 87 we're unsure whether uprooting her from familiar surroundings and friends will be best.
We, like yourself, have everything to hand so any move might just be to something a bit smaller with less maintenance.
However should she decide that she doesn't care one way or the other then we might land in anyone's backyard and there goes the neighbourhood!
1 -
Plenty of pluses but also lots of minuses in the countryside.Plus, Peace and quiet, low crime,good neighbours, clean air, slow life. Properties usually have good size gardens. Minuses. Drs surgery, dentists miles away.No mains gas. Dear fuel. No supermarkets ( only Co op). No deliveries. Hospital 50 miles away.Supermarket 30 , miles. Reliant on being able to drive, poor public transport.Theaters/cinemas non existent. Sounds dire but would not change it for anything, but unless you are used to it, can be daunting especially if the first time you move to the country is in later life- its quite an adjustment. If you do, please dont try to change the ways the locals live- ie complain about cockerels, church bells the farm smells, shooting and other not quite "Countryfile" pursuits.
1 -
Don't worry too much.
Even out here in the sticks we get the occasional Home Service Broadcast.
Try for a smaller town, something maybe the size of Hexham but on the edge or one of the villages. All of the countryside on your doorstep with facilities nearby.
We live an expanding village a couple of miles from a small market town but only 30 minutes and on bus routes to the main hospitals in Wrexham and Chester.
Walking the back lanes I might only meet farm vehicles so, I ask myself why am I thinking of moving? See what you've done.
1 -
Good advice Fisherman: wouldn't dream of trying to change anything. In fact there would be no point doing it if we didnt want to embrace the whole lifestyle. We have a coupke of friends who are born and bred "country", so are well aware of the reality. Hubby's best friend is a gamekeeper so we are well versed in the etiquette. Even so, I'm sure it will be a learning curve😊
0 -
I realise that we are going of topic but to add a response Bells. We have been looking to move for the last three years. We have our house just how we want it but it is on an estate and, although our neighbours are nice there are a lot of young children around. Also since giving up the allotment I would like a bigger garden and less shady one. However, how long will I manage a bigger garden and we won't always be able to drive, so the house must be on a bus route. Near shops, Dr etc so the search is taking a while. Also Bells, if going rural, even with a local hospital they can't always cater for everything. When OH needed an OP last year we found that he would need to go 50 miles and into another county for vascular surgery. A long round trip for visits for 10 days.
1 -
Bellingham is nice. I recall sitting in the pub some 30 years ago, (it was late June, we were camping) and we caught a conversation between two elderly locals. The gist of it was sort of “couple more months and then best get set for Winter, snow will be falling” 😱😁
1 -
DEBSC: a digression from the main topic makes it interesting😁
Your situation and points are all pertinent to us and part of the dilemma! Hubby is 100% convinced of the move but I'm very boring and practical and keep pointing potential issues out to him.
Thanks for input!
1 -
Moving house, even if downsizing, can be expensive in itself. Have you thought about doing what we and Debs have done - stay put but invest in a static van in your desired area? You get the best of both worlds then, the security of having everything on hand where you are nd neighbours you know but the benefit, in "normal times" of being able to get away to a more rural area as often as you wish?
As above, apologies for rather going off thread but it seems to be the way the thread has just drifted!
1 -
I mentioned earlier in thread about confusing Coronavirus information from NHS England. This link to Guardian confirms what I was saying. I think they are using some out of date records for individuals.....
0 -
That's concerning Takethedogalong! I must admit I was worried about the accuracy around the letters to the vulnerable. Where I work we are in a four-way "relationship" with our patients, their GP's and the hospital and being completely honest there are all kinds of mix-ups regarding the transference of medical information.
0 -
Is it actually a dilemma? Surely the whole point of our hobby is that it allows us to have the advantage of both sides of the divide. With a motorhome/caravan it is easy to get out into the countryside which you yearn for? We often discuss this and both of us would hate to live out in the middle of no where or even in a small village, it has no interest to us what so ever. OK, everyone is different and perhaps we are lucky to be living in Milton Keynes which is relatively low density compared to many traditional towns and cities. We have the advantage of easy transport either by car, bus or taxi. We have acres of green space with millions of trees. Everything is at hand. I suppose I could claim to live in a village, albeit one swallowed up by Milton Keynes but we still have a village green and a Manor House. As much as I don't understand the desire to live out in the sticks there will equally be people who don't understand my desire to in a town or city!! C'est la vie
David
1 -
In Feb 2018 ,i was blue light to the resus a&e dept,,at our "local" as now, hospital when i was discharged , i hears nothing until i had a letter from our GP to make an appointment 6months later from my "visit" to a&e ,as he could not understand why i had been admitted and what for,? ,when i explained, he asked me to wait while he made some phone calls
All my tests and other records could not be found,
since then i have had 3 stents fitted in my heart arteries,
so nothing is suprising with the shortage of staff they have it seems in all depts of the NHS
0 -
Yes, it’s a tad worrying. Our GP surgery always, without fail, phones my mobile number and asks for my OH. Despite us at least twice filling in surgery forms with our full contact details! Mum is linked to me, as along with my sister, we are her primary carers, as she has dementia. So it was a mystery who the “you are extremely vulnerable, don’t go out for the next three months”, (from last Thursday!) target was, as no names were mentioned. 🤷♀️ None of us fit any of the stated criteria for the extremely vulnerable category, but certainly Mum is being wrapped in cotton wool, not going out other than garden, and that started three weeks ago! I drop shopping and meds off but my sister is doing the full stay at home with Mum.
0 -
David: it's a dilemma for us because we would in all honesty prefer to live in the countryside. We have no interest in our city life other than the fear that as we get older the easy access to hospitals etc is something which may become an issue!
I live near to and work in Newcastle which is a vibrant and beautiful city, with the countryside and the coast on its doorstep: so perhaps even more appealing than Milton Keynes 😉....However I'd give it all up in a heart beat for a small place in the country with open views and peace and quiet.
C'est la vie indeed😊
0 -
Middle of Dartmoor, or a tiny Cornish village (Lerryn) would be my dream. I prefer animals to most humans, so wouldn’t miss being with lots of others. Houses with character, fresh air, wildlife everywhere. Bliss. So long as Tesco deliver.......😁
I’d like to wake up to this every single morning.....
1 -
Dartmoor in winter? Brrrr🥶😀
0 -
We have live on the northern edge of our town ,if you have ever travelled by train to London you will have probably have seen where we live, as the train passes over the very often pictured ,Digswell/ Welwyn Viaduct, so we have a very open countryside ,which is our daily walks with Rosa our tri colour collie ,which encompases also ancients woods,
We have often in the past, thought of moving elsewhere OH been in this house for 50yrs,,but have found nowhere to match what we have here, and as we have got older are glad we decided to stay put ,with good buses a parade of shops,with all our needs ,and if as in the past (not now) could be in Kings Cross in 25mins
The A1 is just 3 miles away
1
