Anyone lived there or know it fairly well?

We have just got a slight glimmer of hope. OH saw a job in forensics at the jail there. Emailed them and just had a reply. It is only a 9mth contract to start with but according to the guy who emailed it would be permanent after that.
Not sure we would want to stay there long term, but i am sure we could cope for 9mths to get our feet back in blighty.

Basically want to know if it is a crap hole or somewhere we could happily live for a while?

I know it quite well, spend a lot of time there in the summer and have friends who live there.

What prison?

Not sure which one as yet. The email has come from the health service provider. Will know more this week hopefully. I know one of of the prisons used to be quite notorious, but OH has worked with heavy duty forensic mental health for years so used to it.

Yeah, Parkhurst, but I think it has been downscaled for some reason, but that may be my imagination.


I love the Island, it is very different as to where you are, Cowes is horrible, lots of boaty snobs and not pleasant, the south is a tourist hell, but some areas are just so beautiful, we have good friends in Seaview, close to Ryde, and that has changed so much since I have known it, much better now than it was say 10 years ago.

The centre of the Island is, I'm told, what the south of England used to be 40 years ago, very rural, traditional and quiet, with prices generally very reasonable.

Thanks for your help.

So would you say it would be a good idea to look around Ryde for somewhere to rent? I like rural but not isolated.
When you say Cowes isnt pleasant, do you mean just because of the snobs or does it have dodgy areas mixed in with the snobs?

No Cowes is fairly safe to be honest, but there is a lot of money there and lots of public school kids all over the place.

Ryde is nice, a bit too busy for me in the summer but loads to do.

I absolutely love the area around Freshwater, its just so lovely, on the other side of the Island but lovely all the same.

Prices in Cowes can be REALLY pricey, we looked at living there a couple of years back but it was so expensive to rent that we were put off bloody quick.

No where is isolated on the Island, its so easy to get from one side to the other its a bit weird really.

I am very grateful thankyou.

It may well not come off but no harm doing the research and finding stuff out.

If we could afford to live there its one of the places we would live, but for us the work would be thin on the ground and unless you have work it can be so seasonal.

Good luck, and if you need any more help let me know.

Good morning: We lived on the IOW for 5 years (until 2006) and didn't like it...very insular (as one would suspect on an island )I taught sixth form ...low standards and constant turnover of teaching staff...my OH was a self employed plumber/CORGI.. the bulk of his clients were grockles (mainlanders) Many think the IOW is England 30 years ago but definitely not the case..same problems as the mainland with slightly cheaper house prices. The local paper is a good source of info http://www.iwcp.co.uk/
Great place for a holiday though.
HTH

Canucklehead

Well then they are shafted if they accept the job eh?

I really liked the IOW (but then only ever visited it for a day at a time from Portsmouth). I worked with a guy who lived on the island and he got the ferry every day over to Portsmouth to work - he always said he wouldn`t want to live anywhere else.

That's what one of my friends says about Seaview.

Oh, Flea, I got so excited for you when I read your post. Could be very promising Also, even if you end up staying there for only 9 months you have accomplished what you want to do ~ both you and your OH would be in England again. Keep us informed on how it goes. Good luck

My best mate moved to the IoW three years ago from the South East. She loves elements of it, and hates others. She would also say it is very insular, and the mainlanders must do their time to be accepted ! She is not impressed generally with the education on offer (but that won't affect you directly) and there is a huge drugs problem in many areas. She loves the seaside and walks and scenery but sometimes feels that a quick shopping expedition turns into a marathon organisation with child care and timing of crossings.

Having said that, there are some extremely pretty areas, beautiful villages and you can get from one side to the other in no time at all. The roads clog up wonderfully from Easter onwards with all the tourists -and with my snobby head on -she says most of them are not 'good quality' tourists Cheap and cheerful all the time, everywhere. Cowes does buck this trend by going the complete opposite

For a 9 month contract - definitely consider it - it's a pretty place in most parts and housing (if you were to buy) should be reasonable, by south eastern standards. Rentals should not be hard to find either due to the huge holiday nature of the island ... it would be as good a foot in the UK door as any - best wishes with this potential route in ....

Thanks for all your replies. By the sounds of it we could cope with it for 9mths, especially as it is a means to an end. It would mean we are back to blighty!!
In all honesty, I doubt it would be a long term move as i need to be near my grandaughter especially when she starts the painful foot operations.

Finger crossed it works out. If it doesnt back to the drawing board i guess!