Muddy Funker Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 A big change has arrived. A couple of days ago I worked my last shift with Surrey Police after ten years. The other half and I have always dreamed of having a sensible sized detached house with acres of land but the reality is that down this way it just isn't ever going to be achievable. So a year ago I applied to mod plod with a view to working at Clyde and living within an hour or so putting us around the Inveraray area of the Highlands. We've travelled extensively in Scotland and love the place. It was going full steam ahead until their budget caused recruitment to be frozen. A couple of months ago they got in touch and asked if I'd consider St Fergus as a location. Cue a bit of research and with the area and property prices looking great I said hell yeah let's do this. We cut a trip to the Hebrides short to drive across and check out the areas around Turriff and Banff as the Aberdeenshire area isn't somewhere we've really spent any time. It looked great from where I was sitting. Not as rugged as the west more like the rolling farmland of devon and cornwall which to be fair is no bad thing. The last couple of months have snowballed, had medical with a formal offer a couple of days later, a months notice and that's it. I have to say I found leaving quite hard, ten years is quite a while to be working somewhere. The last 4 years I've spent working on the ARV's which I kept quiet about here. It was something I always wanted to have a go at to and I've been really proud to have earned a place on that dept and keep it. I like where I live and love the role within the job I do as well as the team I work with. I guess it's only natural that it's difficult to walk away from something you care about. Would be easier if I hated everything!!! But bigger picture and all. We'll forever be chasing our tails if we stay in the South, it's just too expensive. I'm driving up to mod hq later today to start a couple of weeks admin course tomorrow. Then a full 12 week arv course up at faslane commuting each week from down here! I think we'll move up during course as that's going to destroy me. I was hoping not to have to do a full course to be fair. I always said never again after the first firearms course, guess I'm a glutton for punishment. The logistics of it all is a bit of a headache but I'm fairly certain it's the right move. I'm 40 now and liifes too short to fanny about and wonder what if.I've got a co terminous renewal next year with the permissions down here so I guess this is just another headache to short out, I'm sure there's no shortage of dealers to look after the guns. Renting initially so doubt I can use my safe. Sure everything will work out and a year from now all the ball ache he will be forgotten :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Banffshire is a beautiful place! There are some very picturesque towns up there! Portknockie is very nice! Cullen is worth a visit too! I loved the place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Best of luck to you Sir Takes balls to turn your world upside down and I sincerely hope you both find happiness and a better life in your new venture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Sounds great. I'd love to do something similar one day. Good luck with it, I'm sure it will be worth the short term pain in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
storm in a teacup Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 You won't look back, I moved to a similar force and it's great. Always finish on time for a start. Can't believe you have to do a full coarse! I took my quals with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Good luck. Banffshire, Moray and Aberdeenshire are great places for sporting activities. Just don't forget your thermals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jega Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Well done mate ,i really hope it all works out for you and your family ,as has already been said your moving to a truly beautiful part of the world . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Good Man. you have mail f. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Gordon Smith gunsmith at Colpy,( Between Inverurie & Huntly ) does firearm storage at a reasonable rate.Best of luck in your Re/Location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 good luck fella, good mix of arable and hill, great fishing, real winters, and drier than the west ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 You can't really go wrong so good luck with it. I've been to Banff and I remember it as a very peaceful lovely place, its going to be a contrast from Surrey. Where abouts in Surrey were you based? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted September 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Cheers for the good lucks. It's a big change but I know a few people that have moved from Surrey to Aus and Canada so I've taken some man up pills and got on with it haha. That's a really big step so I guess an hours plane ride away is no big deal, that's what I'm telling myself. Looking forward to seeing how it pans out. I'll check out that gunshop re storage thank you. You won't look back, I moved to a similar force and it's great. Always finish on time for a start.Can't believe you have to do a full coarse! I took my quals with me. I thought I might get away with a few weeks conversion type thing as all the qualifications are national. Of course there's always some variations from force to force but yeah didn't think I'd be doing the lot. I don't mind though it certainly won't be as hard as the first one plus it'll be good to polish things up. It's come at a good time as after 10 years I'm pretty much done with home office policing. It's only the fact I've been in an armed role that I've stayed. I'm happy stepping into the shadows now and doing a guarding role away from numbnut idiots police generally deal with. Good Man. you have mail f. Replied to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Good luck , I went for the police and missed out on the tests was three points short on exam was gutted , they said come back in six months I said if I wasn't good enough now why should I be in six months , still kick my self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Best of luck. Can't blame you for wanting out of the response side of policing. Let's hope that you get a better quality of life and work out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 (edited) Moved North of Inverness 20 years ago, not a single regret, apart from not been able to go watch the Leeds Rhinos! Edited September 11, 2016 by button Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adge Cutler Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Well done..it takes balls to uproot and move at 40. I had the opportunity to do the same 20 years ago over to Canada.. But Bottled it at the 11th hour. I'm sure you wont regret it. Good Luck and don't be a stranger to the Forum. Moved North of Inverness 20 years ago, not a single regret, apart from not been able to go watch the Leeds Rhinos! That's no bad thing. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrowning2 Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 To old and set in my ways now but wish I had done similar years ago, thanks for ten years keeping us all safe cannot have been an easy job in this messed up country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Good luck it's beautiful up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Good for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Sounds like an adventure! Its something we're seriously looking into, we'll never be able to get house and land round here so a move will be on the cards in the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krugerandsmith Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 A big change has arrived. A couple of days ago I worked my last shift with Surrey Police after ten years. The other half and I have always dreamed of having a sensible sized detached house with acres of land but the reality is that down this way it just isn't ever going to be achievable. So a year ago I applied to mod plod with a view to working at Clyde and living within an hour or so putting us around the Inveraray area of the Highlands. We've travelled extensively in Scotland and love the place. It was going full steam ahead until their budget caused recruitment to be frozen. A couple of months ago they got in touch and asked if I'd consider St Fergus as a location. Cue a bit of research and with the area and property prices looking great I said hell yeah let's do this. We cut a trip to the Hebrides short to drive across and check out the areas around Turriff and Banff as the Aberdeenshire area isn't somewhere we've really spent any time. It looked great from where I was sitting. Not as rugged as the west more like the rolling farmland of devon and cornwall which to be fair is no bad thing. The last couple of months have snowballed, had medical with a formal offer a couple of days later, a months notice and that's it. I have to say I found leaving quite hard, ten years is quite a while to be working somewhere. The last 4 years I've spent working on the ARV's which I kept quiet about here. It was something I always wanted to have a go at to and I've been really proud to have earned a place on that dept and keep it. I like where I live and love the role within the job I do as well as the team I work with. I guess it's only natural that it's difficult to walk away from something you care about. Would be easier if I hated everything!!! But bigger picture and all. We'll forever be chasing our tails if we stay in the South, it's just too expensive. I'm driving up to mod hq later today to start a couple of weeks admin course tomorrow. Then a full 12 week arv course up at faslane commuting each week from down here! I think we'll move up during course as that's going to destroy me. I was hoping not to have to do a full course to be fair. I always said never again after the first firearms course, guess I'm a glutton for punishment. The logistics of it all is a bit of a headache but I'm fairly certain it's the right move. I'm 40 now and liifes too short to fanny about and wonder what if. I've got a co terminous renewal next year with the permissions down here so I guess this is just another headache to short out, I'm sure there's no shortage of dealers to look after the guns. Renting initially so doubt I can use my safe. Sure everything will work out and a year from now all the ball ache he will be forgotten :-) St Fergus ...... Memories ... As you say not like the west coast ... Worked there a few times bringing the gas pipes ashore into the gas plant. Peterhead to the south .. Fraserborough just north. Plenty of rabbits to shoot and if your into golf a great course at Cruden bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Once you grasp the accent you will love it a much slower easier life style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Good on you for making the jump, I moved from the south east to Cornwall 17 years ago with my wife and and 2 young children and have never regretted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted September 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2016 Cheers guys, much appreciated replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugs Posted September 16, 2016 Report Share Posted September 16, 2016 (edited) Done that but I would consider the possibilities IF SNP go round 2 with independance and how you would feel about that. We have discussed possibly 'moving back to the UK' if that was the case. It's not going to be pretty during round 2 either! Also, try to avoid spending hours commuting, find a place near to where you work, you'll regret wasting those hours when the west coast beckons or over the long winter months Edited September 16, 2016 by Pugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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