29 August 2020

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Late Thursday afternoon driving down to London in a Vauxhall Vivaro van courtesy of Enterprise Van Hire. One's concentration had to be turned on to full intensity because of the inclement weather.

Rain fell heavily all the way and reduced speed limits were in force for each one of the hundred and seventy miles. The surface water was sprayed up like a fog and getting past slow moving heavy goods vehicles was rather nightmarish. I gripped the steering wheel, listened to Radio 4 and hoped for the best, arriving in Wood Green, London four hours after setting off.

We went straight out to "Capital" - one of the big Turkish restaurants on the high street. As usual, the food was delightful. Frances's belly is now bulging for she is half way through her pregnancy. It was bulging a little more when we left "Capital".

Friday morning was sunny and dry. I stirred later than I had intended. Stewart was already loading the van but I was soon out there carrying boxes and bags. He did a good job of squeezing it all in - making maximum use of the space available.

At half past ten they locked their London flat and with three of us in the front of the Vivaro we set off back to the land of Up North. There were a few mysterious hold ups on the M1 and at a couple of points we ended up stationary but we were back in Sheffield by two thirty.

They are renting a house in the suburbs - about a mile from where we live while their London flat is rented out to two friends. I think it was COVID19 that drew Frances and Stew back from London. For months they were trapped in their flat. It became a place not just to live but to work too. Frances found that working from home could be just as effective as working in her office with colleagues around. 

London's transport system became a no-go area and they were cut off from friends. In this climate and with a baby on the way, the idea was hatched to get back to their home city. It seems that they have no intention of returning to London even though it was the availability of decent paying jobs that pulled them there in the first place. It's a huge decision inspired by their COVID experience. 

Sheffield will be a better place for our first grandchild to be born and raised and I keep my fingers crossed that in the post-Brexit, ongoing COVID world their work situation will be buoyant. Sometimes you just have to be brave and dive or you'll remain shivering on the diving board forever.

41 comments:

  1. Glad your little family is back in Sheffield safely, motorways are horrendous.

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    1. It was much nicer driving back on Friday. Far less stressful because we met very little rain.

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  2. "Sometimes you just have to be brave and dive or you'll remain shivering on the diving board forever." I shall remember that sentence. Good luck to the family. I gave up reading for The Bar because the idea of living in London (where my son, Andy, later lived) was completely anathema to me.

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    1. It's a crazy place. You found a happier, more fulfilling life on Lewis.

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  3. Brave new world. I couldn't live in a city. Maybe in the suburbs but not in a big place like London. I wish them well in their new exciting future.

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    1. Kind words. Thank you Northsider. Sheffield seems like a village compared with London.

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  4. How lovely to have them near you. Glad you made it through the rain to London and back. Hope you waved to me as you passed J 10 , or did you go A1?

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    1. I was going to wave Frances but I had to keep both hands on the steering wheel.

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  5. I read recently that quite a lot of people are considering moving out of London and the home counties, and that Sheffield is one of the most popular relocation locations. I think we are seeing a major change in working practices and commanding people to "get back to the office" won't work. Although not everyone can work from home - another social division.
    PS I hope you kept both hands on the steering wheel while taking that photograph.

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    1. Ha-ha! I cheated with that picture - simply culling if from Google Images.

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  6. It's very stressful driving on motorways in torrential rain. You must have been relieved when that journey was over.

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    1. I certainly was Sue. Where the M1 meets The North Circular Road, I passed through a lake!

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  7. I think one day we will see that Frances and Stew are making history.
    I'm so pleased for you

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    1. Their move back "home" - away from London will certainly not prove to be exceptional Kylie.

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  8. Forget "shivering . . . forever". There is the shame of climbing back down from the diving board. As I tend to fight for, and take care of, the underdog (no, I am not a social worker) I took care of those of my school mates who just couldn't face the three meter, never mind five or ten. You know, later in the dressing room. We all have limits. Best to acknowledge them. And make sure the water is deep enough when diving in unknown territory, and head first. Otherwise you may never find yourself doing so much as walking, never mind diving.

    The current Yorkshire Puddings and their family set-up sound all good, and how it should be. It's an homage to you as future grandparents that your daughter and her husband seek to be in your vicinity - nestbuilding.

    U

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    1. Or in my case, walking away from the edge of the pool.

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    2. If it's any consolation, Tasker, it takes a man to admit being a mouse.

      U

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  9. Another silver lining to the dark cloud of Covid: thanks to the virus your daughter and family will be back home and you'll get to be an everyday part of your grandchild's life. How wonderful for you all! I lived in the same little town as my maternal grandparents growing up and I wouldn't change it for anything. I spent as much time with them as with my parents and their home was my home, too. It will be so good for the baby to have you and Shirley around! And good for Frances and Stewart to have that support. I'm so happy for you all!

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    1. You are a kind friend Jennifer - wanting the best for people like me who have only known you through blogging. Thank you so much for your characteristically kind words.

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I'm so pleased for you and Shirley to have your daughter, son-in-law, and not-quite-here-yet grandchild back at home and out of the mess that is London. Long may they prosper and thrive in their new location.

      I am going to repeat below my reply to your comment on my blog today as I am unsure whether you ever return to a place after having deposited your wisdom there.

      "You obviously haven't read my responses to Adrian and Tasker on the subject of the dreaded New Blogger. My page, as you call it, doesn't have the three dots either. I could take a picture and show you but I trust that you know I am speaking the truth. Let me pull out the relevant information and highlight it to make my point. My page doesn't have the three dots either. Thank you for your comment, though. It is quite clear, rather as if you were speaking to a 10-year-old."

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  11. Nice metaphor for a conclusion. Sometimes we have to take a risk.

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    1. When we don't dive we often live to regret it.

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  12. Your last sentence is so true. It sounds like the right decision to me and wonderful for you all.

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    1. Those who hesitate are often lost. Thanks Jean.

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  13. Kudos to you for driving in that rain. I cannot do it as I get terrible panic attacks if I try. I just can't. The closest I ever came to passing out in my life involved trying to keep up with another car on the interstate at night in driving rain. It was horrible. So kudos to you!
    And I think it's wonderful that Frances and Stewart are coming home to live and have their baby. All of my children but one have moved away and then come back which I think is ideal- they NEED to go off and fly far from the nest so that if they decide to make their own nests near their parents, they know that's what they truly want.
    Good for all of you.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words Mary. It is a shame that Stewart's parents moved down to Bristol in the south west of England. Their new grandchild will be many miles away from them and their only other grandchild lives in Australia.

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  14. Driving a large van in the rain would certainly not be fun! We have been in that situation a few times helping our son move. I'm so happy for you all that they have made this decision to move out of the city. It will be much better for raising a child not to mention having the family closer. Frances will appreciate having you and Shirley close in the last months of her pregnancy and the early weeks of new motherhood!

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    1. One mile of separation is much nicer than one hundred and seventy. Thanks for your kind words Bonnie.

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  15. Your wife must be so happy. Her daughter and soon to be grandchild nice and close and safe.

    We drove to Jasper last week and what should have been a four hour drive turned into a nine hour drive. There was a bad accident on the highway and the highway was closed for four hours. A little girl died sadly which is heartbreaking.

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    1. So tragic. So sad. There but for the grace of God go any of us when we take to busy highways in rainy weather.

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  16. Sounds like a good move for all concerned (except maybe Stewart's parents). Must adapt to changing situations and figure out what works best. Let's face it, 2020 has given a lot of us plenty of experiences requiring adaptation skills. Will be lovely for them to have support.

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    1. I just hope that their return to Sheffield does not disappoint. When you leave somewhere things have a habit of changing while you are gone.

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  17. You are a very lucky man, forget the motorway driving.
    I've just seen our daughter for the last time before she relocates to Munich.
    Nice lunch

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    1. "For the last time"? Surely you will see her again "No Roots". You could even travel to Munich yourself?

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  18. Glad the move went well. While you were driving north on the M1 yesterday, Kay and boyfriend were travelling south after their holiday in Yorkshire. Heavy rain and the bank holiday traffic meant it took them 7 hours.

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    1. Urrgh! Seven hours! Double the time it ought to take.

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  19. Best wishes to all. Its nice be near mom (and dad) for the first baby.

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    1. Hey - why is "and dad" in brackets Joanne? Like an afterthought!

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  20. Well, being around family is no doubt a huge part of why they wanted to be back home. I can understand that. And I totally get their concern about living in London in these crazy times!

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    1. It will be interesting to see in coming years how many people make life and work decisions based on their Covid experiences. Companies and governments, too. I think the pandemic stands to change many aspects of our society.

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Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

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