Reply to: Contracting outside of London/Moving to the coast

[dotnetter]

I was doing it the other way, li9ve just outside M25 and was driving to Southampton for 3 months.

Absolute HELL!

M25 was the bain of my life, one day i spent 7 hours travelling, that was the last straw

[lexington_spurs]

wait for sea levels to rise - you'll probably find yourself closer to the coast than you realise.

[ContractIn]

Thanks CB - i may come back to about this at a later date, closer to the time.

Have spoken to a couple of agencies in Norwich this morning - there is contract work (norwich union, government), but it's obv not as ongoing as London.

Guess it's a tradeoff: money vs lifestyle

or re-train into something that is in high demand for the area. There is a mass exodus from London, which majority are moving to the country, so there is a huge demand for property and refurbishments. Skilled tradesman are worth their weight in gold in those areas...

[LouC]

Thanks

There is contract work up in Norwich for Oracle DBAs/developers. Both RBS and Virgin Money use Oracle and take on contractors. I've still got a few contacts up there so can ask around if there's anything going - provided you're serious. Rates are pretty low by London standards though.

Thanks CB - i may come back to about this at a later date, closer to the time.

Have spoken to a couple of agencies in Norwich this morning - there is contract work (norwich union, government), but it's obv not as ongoing as London.

Guess it's a tradeoff: money vs lifestyle

[NickFitz]

It makes me laugh how people say the tide is never in when they visit

There was lots of water there on the only occasion I've ever visited, for about an hour 10 years ago. Looks like we arrived at just the right time

[gingerjedi]

It's possible to live in Weston-super-mare and commute to Bristol. You could have the missus/husband running a B&B while you do your DBA stuff

That’s what I do minus the B&B, the wife makes plenty working for a pharma near Avonmouth.

Yeah, we looked at W-S-M, but it's a mud beach (yuk!)

Norwich or Bournemouth do seem to be the only places, but again, it'd mean becoming permie...

The Beach isn't made of mud??? It's vast and clean but if you go out 200 yards (50 at the north end) when the tide is out you hit the mud, Its only because we have the highest tidal range in the world so the basin of the Severn estuary gets exposed when the water is in Wales, at the far south end you can access the water via the river Axe so dingy sailing and windsurfing are possible for most of the day, also sand yachting is quite popular when the tide is out.

It makes me laugh how people say the tide is never in when they visit, it goes out and comes in twice a day just like any other tidal area in the world its just ours goes out a lot further! The water may look like the Thames but I can assure you it is clean!

I know all the snobs will knock it but I have never thought about moving with so much to do on my doorstep.

[Cowboy Bob]

There is contract work up in Norwich for Oracle DBAs/developers. Both RBS and Virgin Money use Oracle and take on contractors. I've still got a few contacts up there so can ask around if there's anything going - provided you're serious. Rates are pretty low by London standards though.

[BlasterBates]

There are huge chemical works, oil refineries in Middlesboro which aren't far from the coast. They're quite impressive they stretch as far as the eye can see and belch out huge quantities of black smoke. Also check out Warrington, again big chemical factories.

[Hart-floot]

Brighton and Portsmouth are possibilities but the number of IT jobs has shrunk in recent years (usual cause outsourcing etc)

Easily the best area for IT work (permie & contracting) beyond the M25 is in Surrey (just about commutable from the south coast) or the Thames Valley. Both areas still have a lively IT sector

[LouC]

Yeah, we looked at W-S-M, but it's a mud beach (yuk!)

Norwich or Bournemouth do seem to be the only places, but again, it'd mean becoming permie...

[King Cnvt]

Mrs Rup forced me to go to Herne Bay the other week *shudder* - was worse than southend on the chav front. I would imagine most of them think IT stands for "I'm Thick"

Fick

[daviejones]

Wow, not what i was hoping for!

I thought it'd be like, 'come on in, the water's fine!'

Hmmm....Don't like the idea of a 3 hour commute everyday.

C'mon people, there must be some success stories - don't be shy!

Thanks to everyone that's replied so far...

I used to do 4 hours each way every day by train......I must have been maaaad!!!

[daviejones]

Doesn't the long commute (distance-wise) make it more likely that you'll be late or absent, owing to rail foul-ups?

Yes. I once took 7 hours to get home...

[Ruprect]

What are you expecting? Herne Bay to be the IT hub of the UK?

Mrs Rup forced me to go to Herne Bay the other week *shudder* - was worse than southend on the chav front. I would imagine most of them think IT stands for "I'm Thick"

[NickFitz]

It's possible to live in Weston-super-mare and commute to Bristol. You could have the missus/husband running a B&B while you do your DBA stuff