Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

I am leaving the U.S after living in Florida 20 years. I have been home every year for 3-4 weeks for the past 6 years and just realise I am happy there and that is "home"... I may not stay in Birmingam but that is where I will go first since that is where I am from and my family and friends.. Some people think I am nuts for leaving the U.S to go back to the UK but all those people are in the UK and have only experienced the USA from a t.v or vacation stand point... Any how I have a very good resume or "c.v" here in property managment , running large apartment communities... what job should i look for there I as I dont think that is a huge position in the UK... Thanks and good Luck to everyone!
Cant wait to ride the number 50 bus and get the trains into London and travel our homeland... (:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

I think that "Burrrmingham" has a lot more going for it now than when I grew up there. I have been back a couple of times over the past 4 years and was very impressed with the town centre, and overall the place didn't seem so grim as back in the 70's and 80's. It also has a main rail hub, and is within easy reach of some beautiful countryside so all in all I think you are making a good choice. The only disadvantage of Brum is that the rest of the UK thinks it should be the butt of all humour ... but that's OK, as long as they stay away you will have the place to yourself.

If my plans to go back to the US fall through, I would definitely consider moving to Brum or elsewhere in the Midlands, as I can't spend the rest of my life up here in Glasgow (no offence to any Glaswegians; each to their own).

Sorry I can't advise you on the job/career stuff, but good luck with that. (one thought: maybe look at the Council, maybe there are some jobs in council housing management ... also, I get the feeling that office development is growing in Brum as it is central for businesses - maybe look for some openings with office management? Contact the Chamber of Commerce? OK, I'm officially out of harebrained ideas!)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

My sister is a council housing officer and she reckons that there are a lot of decent paying jobs in housing.........something I am considering for myself.....though not in Birmingham LOL!!

I did spy that big Bullring shopping centre there on my way oop North from Somerset but didn't have time to pop in.......:frown:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

I moved away from Birmingham basically about 30+ years ago and have never lived there since.

Despite being based in the North West since '82 and having been overseas since 2001, when people say 'where are you from' or 'where's home' I always say 'Birmingham' without hesitation or second thought.

I would also like to go back there and have done a number of 'reccies' over the last 4 or 5 summers. It still has that 'home' feeling when I walk around the town.

One thing I would say is that you should expect to feel different in some ways as things will not be exactly the same.

I get anxious about moving down there sometimes as it is such a big change after so many years and lots of (sometimes turbulent) water has passed under the bridge etc. But then remind myself I have moved 1000's of miles away, 3 times in the last 10 years, made new friends, set up a new home each time.

I am sure you are aware of all of the benefits of living there (other than being miles away from the sea). When you do go, keep us updated.:thumbsup:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

One thing I forgot to say is that I believe the City Council is making massive cutbacks and slashing many jobs.

A friend of mine has worked for the Council for many years and has reported back that people are very worried about redundancies.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

thanks so much.... i taotally agree 10 years ago i doubt you could pay me to move back to Brum, but the city centre does look great, the canals and the shops around it are really nice now it has definatly moved up the scale i have a friend in scotland he is a bit bored up there .. i love the hustle and bustle of city life so Birmingham is always great for me.. thanks for the positive responce ....hope all works out for you too!:D

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

thanks thats really helpfl advise for me... now i know where to start :thumbup:
i loved town in birmingham, the new selfridges is amazing......:thumbsup:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

well my dog is cleared for travel the end of June.. so its a money game... since i left my job in florida (cost of living was crazy) even though it paid good, i am in S.C with my mom as she is moving back also, all I can find here is my waitress job.. soo just huslting away mking what i can to get home as soon as I can.... It just funny lots of people always act like they wana "get out" of the Uk and Birmingham... but once you have been out , you know its not all that.... glad for the experience though.. the grass is always greener!

Brum will always be home,, you can take the girl out of Birmingam but you cant take theBrimingham out of the girl i guess (:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Another job possibility is working with the "Estates Management" department at a university (that's what they call it at my university, not sure what it would be called in England). There are plenty of universities in Brum ... although as with the Council, they may well be cutting back (our place is, big time).

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Hi,

I can't help on the job front but I'll be moving back to near Birmingham (closer to Coventry) in June too, with my 3 cats :)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

cool i am taking my lttle dog that is so expensive but i wouldnt leave her for any cost...

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Brum has a lot going for it, if you've been visiting each year you'll know there has been a lot of regeneration. The only drawback, as dunroving pointed out, is the low regard in which it is held by people from other parts of the country :lol:

Good luck with your move.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Ooooh - I grew up in Coventry and all of my family still live there (just 15-20 mins from Birmingham airport too).

Are you moving to Meriden? Coleshill?

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

i'm a kings heath, kings norton girl... riding the no# 50 .. lol

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Not heading back to Birmingham - but close - I'll be heading back to Wolves hopefully sooner rather than later :)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Not too far from my neck of the woods - Bournville, Selly Park, Bartley Green (we moved about a bit). Can't remember bus #'s though - maybe we caught the #31 and #27 to school in Northfiled? It was a long time ago (no, it wasn't a horse-drawn tram, either).

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Yeah tell me about it, 6 months for 3 cats quarantine = gbp 3,000! :ohmy:

Aaaw nice. I'll actually be in Kenilworth, do you know it?

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

#9 bus for me to Quinton...

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

I know Kenilworth, it used to have a cafe called the Rocking Horse, which I recognized on Keeping up Appearances the other night :lol: Nice little town.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

how cool, i shall have to go look for it and have a cuppa...:thumbsup:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Looks like it's still there

http://www.kenilworthweb.co.uk/rocki...offee_shop.htm

Enjoy your cuppa!

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

For those in the know, which of the following would you think the best area to look at:

Selly Park
Bournville
Edgbaston
Barnt Green/Wythall
Alvechurch

and Further out:
Stourbridge
Lickey Hills area

I think the basic choice is between close to town (and facilities) and further out in the outskirts but further away from the centre and facilities.

I keep looking on Rightmove at all of these areas and seem to be going round in circles.

I'm feeling very confused.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Sure.....used to go to the pubs there LOL! It's beautiful in the castle area with all the old tudor-style cottages. When I was a little girl my granny used to take me to Kenilworth to see one of her sisters and I've always liked the town (which is pretty affluent). Just off the main road between Kenilworth and Coventry (just as you enter or leave Kenilworth) there used to be a windmill. It no longer has the sails but many years ago someone converted it into a home.....it's lovely. Actually Gibbet Hill is a lovely road to drive along between Coventry and K'worth with some ancient trees. (I think a Gibbet is an old term for a hangman's noose.....!)

Lots of beautiful countryside in the area, wonderful access to the road networks and Warwick, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon on your doorstep. Also lots of big-name concerts and events on at nearby Warwick University. Lucky you!

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Gosh it depends what lifestyle you're looking for and budget doesn't it - a lot of the professors at Birmingham Uni live in Edgbaston, it does seem nice but pretty pricey - mind you we lived in Solihull which is pricey too. I think all those areas have something to offer, all different though.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Thanks, that made me feel quite chuffed :) It's where my parents live so I'll be staying with them when I return for a few months until I get a secure job so I can rent / buy myself but sadly I won't be able to afford Kenilworth!

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

As a Yorkshireman, who was brought up to believe that there is nowhere like Yorkshire, I now live in Malvern, Worcestershire after returning to the UK after 28 years absence. Due to an improved highway network and public transport links, Birmingham is now commutable from this area.

Also, Birmingham does indeed get a bad rap. It is surrounded by a very efficient motorway network which allows easy access to many parts of the country. Many parts of Birmingham have now been cleaned up and there is some beautiful countryside and decent suburbs surrounding the city. For recreation, you can get to the Cotswolds and Wales quite easily and Devon and the south coast are also only a couple of hours away. Other than that, it is probably the second largest city in the UK after London and offers all the facilities of a larger city and good job opportunities. Having an international airport is also a plus. Too bad Yorkshire Airlines do not fly from there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgFQ8I2VyoQ

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Now I'm really kicking myself about leaving Brum :lol:

Love the clip.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

You can always go home. ;)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

;)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Mmmmmm Bournville :lol:
My Mum and her family lived in Great Barr she said she wanted to live in Bournville cause the school uniforms were chocolate brown and hers wasn't
I have been to Brum since the 70's as a kid, and the bus station smelled and the bull ring scared the heck out of me. :lol: But from what I hear it's all improved.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

The brown uniforms were for the "Dame-O" pupils (Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School), we wore Blue (Bournville Grammar-Tech) - or maybe you were referring to primary school (I can't remember what they wore).

I also have Great Barr connections as some of my family lived there. My dad also used to compete for Birchfield Harriers in Perry Barr (at the stadium that is now a greyhound stadium).

Yes, I remember the bus station had a pong. Mind you I think a lot of publc places like that in the UK smell because they are used as urinals on a Friday night. :thumbdown:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Birmingham?......your not serious!! lol

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Southport? ....... you're not serious!! lol

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Up the Villa :thumbsup:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Yeah really i could think of worse places to be than Birmingham.....:)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

I know, i'd rather be in florida:thumbup:

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Have you ever lived there?

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Believe me, the grass always seems greener on the other side.

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Very true, I was born a Brummie and still have family there round the Castle Bromwich area :)

Re: Anyone moving back to Birmingham?
 

Exactly.. people are real quick to talk about somewhere they have never lived... the grass is definatly always grener.. hahaha Florida.... i think after 20 years i have a good bit knowledge on the sunshine state...