Moving to a new part of the country - Essex

[tioga5]

Hi there,

I'm not sure if this is the best category for my question, but here goes anyway!! :

I work in the sailing industry (for the Volvo Ocean Race) and have just got a big promotion at work. My new job means I will have to move to Essex, but don't really know the area at all, so wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction of places I should be looking in?!

My office will be in Maldon, but I am very free and easy to travel etc. to work if needs be.

I'm totally single with no ties, so it's just myself I need to worry about. But I am 33 now, so would like to stay away from the Essex culture of all night partying that we all know and have heard so much about over the years (think I did that to death when I was in my 20's!!). But also don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere (as I don't know anyone in this part of the country), where it's difficult to meet anyone (esp. women – been single far too long now!). I guess i am a bit of a country boy at heart though!

As I say, I'm going that way tomorrow for a few days to start checking it all out and house hunting (going to rent for a while first), but wondered where might be some good places to start looking.

All and any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks for all your help.

[ChuckFickens]

Oh, so you're coming my way then :)

Maldon its self is OK, other main local towns are Witham (OK but stay away from the area called the courts), Tiptree (smaller but has a reasonable range of shops), Braintree (where I grew up LOL) is OK but a little rough in places.

It's also not too much of a trip to get there from either Colchester or Chelmsford, which are the two larger main towns close by (though with both of them being on the correct side of town would make a huge difference to travel times).

There is also a massive selection of Villages around the area that would offer a quieter place to live, but you said you didn't want too quiet.

If you see any area you like while you are down this way then feel free to ask and I will let you know what it's like from a locals point of view.

[tioga5]

Hi ChuckFickens (by the way, great name – what does it stand for/mean?!),

Thanks so much for your help/advice.
I forgot to also say, I need good links to C.London too, but figured that most places in Essex would have that anyway?!

Thanks also for your offer of being on line at the weekend to help out too.
As I say, I will be travelling around a fair bit, but know that the hotel I'm staying in (in Maldon) has Wi-Fi, so I'll try to jump online at somepoint to say 'hi' and let you know of my progress, if you like?!
Might be easier to get me at my personal email address as I'm having difficulty logging on here ([email protected])

So your Essex born and bred eh? - You must like it!
I've been moving around everywhere since I left home at 17 (many, many moons ago!). However, hoping to start settling down a little after this move!

Anyway, be good to hear more from you.
Have a good weekend

Matt

[lil75]

Hi Matt, I live on the outskirts of Romford, which isnt bad, but my parents live in Brentwood, which is where I want to end up, its not far from Chelmsford about 10 mins in the car. Very respectable area...good luck in ur search!

[ChuckFickens]

The user name is a spoonerism :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoonerism

For the links into London then you either have fairly good train links from most main towns (though maldon has no station, witham or hatfield peveral are the two closest at about 5-6miles away) with a journey times of approx 45min into Liverpool street. Or the whole area has fairly easy access onto the A12 which leads into the heart of london and also has several places where you can park up on the outskirts of London and jump on the underground.

if you want to drop me a mail with any questions about the area over the weekend Email at [email protected]

[saxy_jag]

My son lives in south Suffolk, just over the border from Essex. It's a very quiet, rural part of the country and property prices don't seem too bad either. His girlfriend's family live there because it was handy for her Dad when he was in the army, stationed at Colchester.

Not sure if it's the sort of thing you want, or even if it's close enough for you, but it may be worth a look.

[Aquagility]

If you want a quiet, boaty sort of place, have a look at Heybridge Basin.