Where now?

[fisherofsouls]

As one or two on here might recall, I have not been well for a while.

My consultant yesterday went through the overall outlook and it's not so great - less than 50% of patients in my cohort survive more than 5 years post surgery.

So far, so bad BUT otherwise I am doing OK, walking around like a healthy person 

I have decided to go out with as many bangs as I can and therfore have a question:

What is the best value UK city to live and punt? Taking into account rents, incall rates and general availability of SPs?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

[stevedave]

Sorry to hear that.

I have no evidence to back this up, but I suspect Newcastle and the surrounding area may be the best, from a cost and availability perspective.

Definitely not Leeds, the standard of lass here is shocking at the moment (CV19 not withstanding).

[Thephoenix]

As one or two on here might recall, I have not been well for a while.

My consultant yesterday went through the overall outlook and it's not so great - less than 50% of patients in my cohort survive more than 5 years post surgery.

So far, so bad BUT otherwise I am doing OK, walking around like a healthy person 

I have decided to go out with as many bangs as I can and therfore have a question:

What is the best value UK city to live and punt? Taking into account rents, incall rates and general availability of SPs?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Sorry to hear that.
I obviously don't know the surgery you've had, but in any case I wish you all the best.

I don't know what your transport arrangements are, but if it was me, I might consider Southport.

You've got the benefit of being by the seaside with a selection of Thai places, and also within reasonable travel distance from Manchester, Blackpool, Preston and Liverpool, which gives you a good selection of punts.

Obviously rents will be cheaper up North.

Good luck!

[kayak]

Normally I would say Manchester, but after COVID I don’t know what it will be like. Even after Sandy’s closing, there have still been quite a few parlours around and the prices have been good. Plenty of independents on A/W too, and I suppose there’s gumtree and whatever else.

[Yankee21]

Bristol is a great place to live imo.

Can get to the coast easily, or across to Wales for some hills.
Rent isn't too bad.

[Home Alone]

Normally I would say Manchester, but after COVID I don’t know what it will be like. Even after Sandy’s closing, there have still been quite a few parlours around and the prices have been good. Plenty of independents on A/W too, and I suppose there’s gumtree and whatever else.

Sorry to read your news, fisherofsouls; lots of respect, though, for the way you're planning to occupy your time. Talk about going out with a bang!!

I see from some of your reviews that you know the Northwest so I'd agree with kayak with 🤞about the post-Covid 19 situation.

Wherever you choose, enjoy yourself. We all kinda know you will!!

[fisherofsouls]

Thanks for the prompt replies, much appreciated.

I used to live in Bristol (Bedminster to be precise) and while I did like it, not sure I would make it my #1.

Newcastle is interesting, I have been through on the train many times en route to Edinburgh but never actually set foot there.

Manchester I just don't like, sorry Manc people!

No love for Birmingham?

[Yankee41]

I found glasgow to be one of the best.  Cheap rent, cheap girls and more importantly good girls.  Edinburgh was almost the exact opposite.  Very few working girls and high prices.
I never cared for most of the northern cities like Newcastle or Manchester.  It was too easy to put yourself into a bad situation there.  Too rough for my tastes.

[twotight]

as for as the UK is concerned I believe the north east cities or Leeds and Manchester areas, as for WG well we will have to Waite till after all this, but in the NE the WG are more spread out over the small cities were as in the other two areas they are more concentrated round the major cities but if you want my opinion make the most of it in some foreign country

[twotight]

Newcastle also has some beautiful architecture and some really good culinary and night life if it ever opens again

[JontyR]

Buy a camper van! Or if you want to do something different a canal boat.

Here's wishing you every bit of luck and good fortune the world can bestow.

[Blackpool Rock]

Sorry to hear that FOS it must be quite a sobering thing to have to come to terms with but looks like you have decided to have XYZ good years rather than letting it get you down too much.

Trouble is there are so many considerations such as your age; whether you have family to consider; whether you are working and still plan to work; how financially secure you are etc etc.

Personally I think it's not just about living somewhere cheap and with easy access to cheap whores surely it needs to be about your overall quality of life and happiness, after all it's unlikely that you will be shagging every day 

If you move somewhere dirt cheap that's a shit hole are you going to be happy 

Not sure where you are now but recall you previously saying you were from the Preston area, perhaps worth considering moving back to the general area as it may also provide a support network should you need it at some point  Also fairly cost effective
Preston also has motorway access and a main rail hub so easy access to a lot of areas if you want to punt by train, couple of hours and your even in London

I'd like to think that I would also take your outlook in a similar situation but we never know how we'd actually act until faced with the reality of the situation, take time to think it through properly and do what you do for the right reasons

[Mr Doodle]

Sorry to hear about the prognosis, FOB, but your positive approach to making the most is humbling. As mentioned above, wishing you all the luck and fortune along the way.

One of the important considerations is the medical intervention you may require on the way. As great as the NHS is, there are areas that have better care for certain conditions than others areas, and it may pay to do the homework along those lines, too. I live in the SW, and the local hospital is great for the usual run of the mill stuff, but I think if I had something serious, I would be thinking about winging my way back to London for treatment (or maybe to Bristol, or any larger conurbation).

Best wishes...

[daviemac]

Sorry to hear about the prognosis, FOB, but your positive approach to making the most is humbling. As mentioned above, wishing you all the luck and fortune along the way.

One of the important considerations is the medical intervention you may require on the way. As great as the NHS is, there are areas that have better care for certain conditions than others areas, and it may pay to do the homework along those lines, too. I live in the SW, and the local hospital is great for the usual run of the mill stuff, but I think if I had something serious, I would be thinking about winging my way back to London for treatment (or maybe to Bristol, or any larger conurbation).

Best wishes...

I don't know what the OP's condition is but between the Newcastle RVI, the Freeman and the brand new Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital at Cramlington i know where I would rather be no matter what was wrong and it wouldn't be London or Bristol.

[tynetunnel]

I’m sorry to learn of your prognosis FoS and echo what the others have already said, make every day count and regret nothing. I don’t have an answer to your question really, but I’m sure you’ll have fun finding out and I hope you enjoy your journey wherever it takes you 

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Don't bother with Cambridge mate accomodation cost is on a par with the middle of london, and the chioce of good punts is pretty naff!

[boardyhell]

i had an op 7and a half years ago with a 50 per cent chance of living five years, recent check up clear
you are right to hope for the best and squeeze all the enjoyment you can out of life
good luck

[Thephoenix]

I found glasgow to be one of the best.  Cheap rent, cheap girls and more importantly good girls.  Edinburgh was almost the exact opposite.  Very few working girls and high prices.
I never cared for most of the northern cities like Newcastle or Manchester.  It was too easy to put yourself into a bad situation there.  Too rough for my tastes.

Just to confirm.... Glasgow is one of the best ......whereas Newcastle and Manchester are too rough 🤔

[Kev40ish]

Having been in a similar situation to yourself. I did go off the rails. I decided to live life for the moment, no limits and just enjoy myself.

At the time I was quite self destructive, as I had already decided my life was over.

Looking back I was probably quite selfish, I should have focused on my children and family. Would I do different if I was in the position again. I really don’t know; until your faced with that situation you don’t know how you will react.

Do what is right for you. Don’t go down the same road as me. Try to make informed decisions.

Most of all don’t give up, I did and fortunately was proved wrong. Good luck to whatever you need to go through 

[boardyhell]

Having been in a similar situation to yourself. I did go off the rails. I decided to live life for the moment, no limits and just enjoy myself.

At the time I was quite self destructive, as I had already decided my life was over.

Looking back I was probably quite selfish, I should have focused on my children and family. Would I do different if I was in the position again. I really don’t know; until your faced with that situation you don’t know how you will react.

Do what is right for you. Don’t go down the same road as me. Try to make informed decisions.

Most of all don’t give up, I did and fortunately was proved wrong. Good luck to whatever you need to go through 

excellent advice ,better than i could have phrased it

[BobAJobMan]

For cheap rent and punting it would surely have to be the north east, though not Newcastle centre for the former. There are some nice smaller towns in great countryside if driving won't be an issue, or if you rely on public transport, somewhere like Darlington, Bishop Auckland or Chester-le-Street?

[fisherofsouls]

Thanks again guys for the thoughtful replies.

I must admit I had not thought of Glasgow, a city I love but  have never punted in... Partly because of the weather and (more recently) partly because of the likely anti-English sentiment around independence.

North East does sound tempting though, as my extended family members in the North West have largely passed on, sadly so not much to pull me there now...

I look forward to Spring sunshine and looser restrictions to allow me some exploratory trips around the Toon

As to money, I will never be rich, but with early retirement and some medical benefits kicking in I should be able to rent a small flat, eat & drink and afford a couple of punts a month.

Point noted about access to NHS locations - will need to look in convenient areas.

The posts on this thread are a great example of what the UKP community can be, thank you ❤️

[Stevelondon]

A friend of mine retired to the North East after his wife died. They lived down south but she was a Geordie by birth and he always loved going up there to visit her family etc.
He is very happy in Ponteland now.

I suspect as I get older, I too may return to the my native North East.

Realistically though. It’s all about income v expenditure.
Live somewhere cheap so you can punt more at the risk of disliking the area in civvie time.
You can live anywhere as long as you’ve got the dosh.

Was up North only recently for a funeral with my son and his gf.
Her eyes were popping out at the asking price of the new builds we drove past on the coast.
Mind you. She has just moved into my sons two bedroom flat and is renting hers out in Putney. So everywhere seems bloody cheap to her. 

[Hobbit]

As one or two on here might recall, I have not been well for a while.

My consultant yesterday went through the overall outlook and it's not so great - less than 50% of patients in my cohort survive more than 5 years post surgery.

So far, so bad BUT otherwise I am doing OK, walking around like a healthy person 

I have decided to go out with as many bangs as I can and therfore have a question:

What is the best value UK city to live and punt? Taking into account rents, incall rates and general availability of SPs?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Sorry to hear what you going through. I have complete empathy. Over the past year, my health has also deteriorated slightly and although I am not fading away just yet, it can be quite scary knowing things may be coming to an end sooner than imagined. I understand you want to go out in a bang as I would do the same when the time comes.

I haven't travelled much so I can't really advise where to move to. Being London-based, I've always wanted to live somewhere warmer and be around really nice people. For some reason, I've always been attracted to the south-west, maybe around Devon or Somerset et cetera. The area seems nice but not sure what it's like with punting.

[Stevelondon]

It does seem slightly funny doesn’t it.
I would imagine most people thinking about relocation, would have a whole different dynamic to what us lot might consider.

“Yes dear, a lovely little villa perhaps in the Canaries”

But oh no. As far as we are concerned it’s,
“Can I get a shag in that area whenever I feel like it”

 

[Home Alone]

It does seem slightly funny doesn’t it.
I would imagine most people thinking about relocation, would have a whole different dynamic to what us lot might consider.

“Yes dear, a lovely little villa perhaps in the Canaries”

But oh no. As far as we are concerned it’s,
“Can I get a shag in that area whenever I feel like it”

 

😉😄😅😂🤣

Can you imagine one of those TV series about moving house based on this premise?!!

[Blackpool Rock]

😉😄😅😂🤣

Can you imagine one of those TV series about moving house based on this premise?!!

Yeah so will FOS choose this property based on it's good road and rail links to Manchester which has a great Indi scene and also some well reviewed parlours or will he choose our wild card choice which is within walking distance of Babes Babes Babes gentleman's club 

Now let's weigh up all the Pro's and Cons   

[latecomer]

I must admit I had not thought of Glasgow, a city I love but  have never punted in... Partly because of the weather and (more recently) partly because of the likely anti-English sentiment around independence.

I love Glasgow and confirm there are good value punts available there, though lockdown means I haven't managed to visit for over a year now.  Parts of the city are rough and it's a hotbed of SNP pro-independence feeling but at the same time, as it's so cosmopolitan, you're unlikely to be too aware of this.  Let me add my very best wishes for the remainder of your allotted time, which hopefully will turn out to be a lot longer than you imagine.  Look forward to hearing how your punting life goes.

[Stevelondon]

I’m writing the script right now.

daviemac senior editor. 
Auditions to be held after lockdown, so you lot get your acting hats on  😂😂😂