mmm … been asked if I would be interested in a 1 year secondment, and can’t decide what to do (but have to make a decision asap!)

Career-wise it would be excellent – working in an area if research I’m really interested in, leading a team of specialists in that field, and making good contacts for future work opportunities. It would also be a reasonable pay rise. I would be able to return to my current job after a year as the offer is for a secondment.

But, it would mean moving from Snowdonia to London (yikes!). In theory, the move for just a year would be relatively straightforward as I’m currently renting (albeit looking for a house to buy). But I love where I live now and have started to re-build a good social network after a substantial amount of change in my life. Plus, it would make it very difficult to spend lots of time with my dog (who I share with my ex).

So, do I stay or do I go for it? Anyone else moved for a one year secondment?

Do it. Sounds like a great opportunity.

Regret what you did do, not what you did not.

I moved from Snowdonia to a City almost 3 years ago now, after spending 10 years in the area. It was a big change, but discovered that moving outside of the city into the rural area really worked for me.

Find somewhere that you can do the things you like, if its riding, running etc… and look to move there.

Only you are in control of your destiny, and if a year out means you’ll firm up your experience and make your life that much better in the future, then go for it.

I’m in a similar situation at the moment, and have decided to work away from home 4/5 days a week due to increase in pay and experience – and knowing that a few years doing what I will be doing and I can live wherever I want in the country – and my partner will be able to give up work.

Dog-wise…. that’s hard, I couldn’t be without my dog – but will be in the week. You’ll adjust, and it’s not forever, and it’ll make it that much more special when you see them again.

Is this a good excuse to get some space from the ex too, and actually get on with your life?

Simple answer, do it 🙂

If it was from North Wales to say, Manchester or Birmingham or somewhere, I’d say no not worth it.

But to That London’s Famous London???

No brainer. 😀

Got any kids ? if not, go….

A year is not a long time really. You may pick up valuable experience that will give you more options to live where you like in future.

If you like the outdoors – and particularly if you plan on doing any MTBing on a regular basis – you will probably prefer to live outside of London.

Surrey would be my choice for the riding, the hills aren’t as high as Snowdonia’s but a lot of the singletrack is better.

😉

Where you live is important.

Careers are important.

Ask yourself this: “If I go for 12 months, what will it give me?”

Personally, I’d HATE moving from somewhere like Snowdonia to London. But from what I’m reading, you’d be mad not to do it, career wise. Do these things while you can, they’ll be worth it, and a year will fly by.

Hmm – some interesting points to ponder.

I have no kids / mortgage / other commitments apart from the dog at the moment, so it is feasible if I chose to go for it.

The job would be based in the Westminster area – so whereabouts would be a good place to consider living within commuting distance? Priorities for a ‘good’ place would be safe / affordable / access to road cycling and mountain biking / greenspace / near a climbing wall.

Live in london – nothing would be worth that to me.

I did it once and I hated it.

its merely my opinion.

Having recently moved to London from deepest darkest Derbyshire for work I would recommend it, if its as good for your career as it sounds!

One thing to bear in mind is you don’t have to live in the city, we have a dog and cat, plus the bikes need riding! So we looked outside of London, currently in St Albans, can ride out of my house, or drive 30mins to Aston Hill, and 30 mins to Chicksands etc.

Cost wise it is quite expensive compared to some parts of London, with train fare but we rent a nice house, can have the pets, seems to make sense at the moment!

I once went on a secondment, my original job disappeared about 6 months later as the the company went through a big organisational change. They offered me a ‘similar’ alternative job at the end, but it was a different department and not what I wanted. Besides I had got used to the increase in pay and had new skills so just went else where.

Points in no order:
Money isnt everything.

When you have been in the new job for a year will you really want to move back to your old job?

Is the increase in pay enough to put up with living in London and its extra costs?

I don’t like London generally (no space to keep my toys or play with them), but I would quite like to live there for a year as there’s a definite metropolitan ‘life’ that you don’t really see anywhere else in the UK, at least not to the same degree.

Do it.

Snowdonia will still be there after a year. In fact it’s been there for thousands of years so another one probably won’t make much difference 😐

I do regret not living in London at least for a short time, i had the chance but didn’t take it.

Blimus! Don’t know if this would be a feasible opportunity – even with a salary increase the cost of accomodation in London is eyebrow raising and I don’t think I’d be able to afford it.

How on earth do normal people manage to afford to live there?

Do it.

I had two fun years in London. While I’d never go back, it was worth it just to learn know that I’d never go back 😉

If you are young and its an opportunity, do it.

Westminister from outer Buckinghamshire where i live is commutable, but tbh for one person I’d rent a room a lot nearer.

Plenty of MTBing around too – Chilterns, North Downs, Swinley, Ridgeway, South Downs – no mountains but loads of singletrack.

Do you have any friends in London? makes a difference.

How do you feel about commuting?

Do you have any friends in London? makes a difference

not necessarily.

An instant circle of friends can be generated by just joining a club or society – for me it was hockey club.

Your best friends will still be your best friends wherever you live. Acquaintances can be created anywhere. Unless youre a combative and antagonistic ****** in which case yes, it may make a difference.

What are you looking at for accommodation?

Obviously you can consider living further out to be cheaper, but only so much. I’d definitely be commuting by motorbike and mountain bike (can’t stand cars in traffic and not a fan of waiting for public transport.)

I moved to London on a one year secondment. I’m still here nearly 11 years later.

Not necessarily a bad thing, but what happens to your permanent role in the mean time? Mine disappeared, so I could have gone back, but to a job I wasn’t interested in.

**EDIT**

Wonders if FunkyDunk worked for the same company I do at the time…

Sue_W – Member
Blimus! Don’t know if this would be a feasible opportunity – even with a salary increase the cost of accomodation in London is eyebrow raising and I don’t think I’d be able to afford it.

How on earth do normal people manage to afford to live there?

They don’t expect to live in the same style / space of accommodation as you would outside London.

I say if you do it live in London not in the suburbs or outside. You will beable to socialise more if you live in London, waste less money on commuting, be able to have the positives of living in a city, be able to truly appreciate the contrast between rural and city living rather than end up in the worst of both worlds that is outer London / M25 commuter towns. Also getting away is actually easier living as central as possible as you don’t have to travel in to catch trains out again or drive round / though London if the place you are heading is on the other side of London. You have the freedom to head off in any direction.

The fact that it’s to london would make me think “no thanks” from the start, but if you like that sort of thing then hell it’s only a year.

Go to London! I guarantee you’ll either be mugged or not appreciated. Catch the train to London, stopping at Rejection, Disappointment, Backstabbing Central and Shattered Dreams Parkway 🙂

I know a few people in London, and am a pretty sociable person and genuinely enjoy meeting new people. I guess I feel a bit unsure about starting to do this again having just built up a new group of friends after moving here only a year ago.

I agree that if was there for a year I’d want to live in the city rather than in the burbs, just to experience the contrast with rural living. Plus I’d get to make the most out of what the city has to offer. However, if I’m honest with myself I prefer what the mountains / sea have to offer than the cultural opportunities of London.

So it comes down to a career choice. It would be an exceptionally good experience (which I know I’d not be able to obtain in my current job). However, the organisation I work for is likely to be going through significant change over the next 12 – 18 months, and I’m therefore not sure what role I’d return to.

Ho hum … I’m still so firmly on the fence I’ve got splinters in my bum!

Oh and meant to say, especially as it’s only for a year, consider renting a room in a shared house.
Get to know some local people and save a chunk on general costs.

I’m living in a small town in Yorkshire that’s pretty much as cheap as could be to live, but still gone for a room in a shared house as I’m new here.

Stoner – Member
An instant circle of friends can be generated by just joining a club or society – for me it was hockey club.

Or at least it was, until you broke their first and second rules.

OP – do it. There is a small chance i might be asked to spend six months in the US. It is daunting, but a great opportunity which will only come around once in a while. What’s the worst that could happen? Maybe you bump into Elfin, but you’d get over that.

Moved down South a few months ago from the Wirral due to mrs getting a new job. Do miss the old house (despite still paying for it until it gets sold) and miss not getting to Goodison (especially at times like tonight with the game thats on just now). working in central London near Westminster too and it’s actually really good. Stay in Horsham about an hour out from Victoria but used to the commute now still not used to the prices though despite being able to write it off against my company.
One of the reasons for picking Horsham was that we already had a group of friends here (wife’s best freind and all our god kids are here) but I really like it.
Cost wise you won’t get anything like you do up north especially Wales we’re renting a terrace with no room to move all our stuff down but it’s still £1100 a month! On top of that the train is nearly £400 a month but Hardly use any diesel now.
Lots of cracking riding down here, still need to find folk to ride with ( and get fit and stop smoking) and more trails but what I have found so far with the small bits of the south downs and round peaslake have been fantastic.

jamiec360 – head east a little bit and you should find plenty around ‘boxhill’ too. Used to do the byways around there on my motorbike, often saw mountainbikers out and a few of our ‘crew’ who lived locally went out on their mountainbikes there too.

I live near Horsham and commute into London, I’d definitely look to live closer! Dorking/Leatherhead are nice if you want rural but still within access of London. Leatherhead to Westminster would be about 18 miles at a guess, potentially rideable on occasion. You do miss out on the city life though as has been said.

My thoughts would be to go for it.

I’m in a slightly different position, as for the past 8 yeas I’ve been moving around the world on a regular basis on contracts (Serbia, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Dubai, currently India) of between 6 months and 2 years. I get my accommodation paid for, so the relative costs of living aren’t much of an effect, but it’s a similar concept.

I’d certainly say renting a room in a shared house, you’ll most likely have your housemates to socialise with should you want, and it’ll be loads cheaper than a place on your own. You’ll therefore be able to afford to live somewhere nicer/more central.

It’s only a year, which will fly by, and you will have advanced your career. Worst case scenario and your old job isn’t still available, you’ll be in a much better position having taken this secondment. You could find that you get made redundant in a year if you don’t take the secondment, and be in a much worse situation than had you not.

Throw yourself into London life rather than travelling back to Snowdonia every weekend would be my other suggestion, try and take as much out of the opportunity as possible.

Cheers, Rich

London is a big place as are the surrounding areas. I live broadly “In London” but not actually in London and where we live, space is a little less of a problem but price is still something to consider. But you could live somewhere along the SW heading mainline (Say Surbiton, Esher, Walton etc) which will get you into London quickly but also give you a little greenery to look at and easier access to the downs, surrey hills etc.

For what it’s worth, I’m about to move away. I’ve enjoyed my 15 years here but am looking forward to spending a few years outside London and the UK for a change. I won’t hesitate to come back though.

Do it. Everyone should live in London for a bit.

If you’re working in Westminster then living in Hammersmith (I live by the River ! ba ba da dummmm) is cheaper, easy to commute from and easy to get out from.

have you been to London? i’d do anything i could to avoid visiting let alone live there

nowt more to say

Ignoring the people who hate London, if you don’t hate London yourself, give it a chance for a year. What’s the worst that can happen?

I’d say jump at the chance, even though I’m a country boy at heart I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Madrid village. London isn’t that far from home and you’ll be able to visit and see it in a different light. After more than 10 years away I still find it AWESOMELY beautiful, and I haven’t ventured much further than Wrecsam… 😕
It’s only a year, it’s not that far and the experience will not harm you. No brainer.

Definitely a toughie, personally I really don’t like London for anything more than a flying visit. I’ve got loads of friends there, but anything more than 2 days there and I NEED to get out, and fast! Its hard to put a finger on why that is too, I don’t ever feel the same anywhere else, but I really don’t like London after a couple of days.

But don’t let my opinions cloud your judgement… Cos if it was any other city, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh or the likes, I’d probably not think twice. You’ll miss your dog, but he’s still going to be there when you get back, and inevitably you’ll visit every couple of months still.

If you do it, as said above, throw yourself into it fully, make new friends, socialise, don’t go home every weekend etc. Otherwise you’ll just end up regretting doing it, cos going back to Snowdonia every weekend would just make you feel miserable in the week. I also don’t think you’ll have any problems making new friends either, I’ve made a few local friends off STW, and there’s tonnes of Londoners on here I’m sure would take you out riding or go for a pie and a pint. Even that Elfinsafety fella, though I’ve heard he carries a government health warning these days, and you can’t get him wet or feed him after midnight! 😉

Maybe you bump into Elfin, but you’d get over that.

So unkind. 😥

have you been to London? i’d do anything i could to avoid visiting let alone live there

Yeah, of course you would, you’d never come here,ever, eh?

What an utter hypocrite. 😆

Now boys … no fighting on one of my threads 🙂

Anyhow, thanks all for your thoughts / advice / comments.

Even as a girl who belongs in the mountains, I do like hanging out in cities too. I currently spend at least one or two days every week working in a city somewhere – usually Cardiff, but often London as well. Love the people watching / architecture / Victorian parks etc, so would certainly enjoy living in London for a while. I’ve even survived meeting Mr Elfinsafety 😆

Cost of living in London will be a significant consideration, ‘cos I agree with everyone who’s said to live towards the centre. If I was going to get the most out of a year of city living then I’d want to be in ‘town’, but I’d also want to be in a safe / clean / greenish area, and from what I’ve found so far, accomodation costs might be beyond what I could afford even with an increased salary.

Will continue to look into the details, so any other info / opinions much appreciated (just no arguing 🙂 )

Oh, and Don Simon – Wales is indeed awesome! Let me know if you ever fancy meeting for a north wales ride (Kev on the forum is also based up here).