Owning your own home

I did a 90 minute commute for a while, 5min walk to bus stop, bus, train then bus to right outside the office... It almost killed me, I lasted three weeks before I handed in my resignation...

I live further across that this (Royston) and have to be on the 7.15 to Stockholm next Thursday.

It honestly doesn’t bother me that much. Drive to the terminal (work pay for short stay parking & fuel) only takes an hour and ten at that time of day.

people who walk five minutes

Oh hai!

I did 3 months of 1h20 driving each way and while not unbearable, I think that was mostly because I knew there was an end in sight.

My girlfriend did it for about 9 months and I think it nearly broke her.

Completely echo this. There will be other houses and chances are they will be with an easier commute than the one mentioned above.

Dunno man, this 1 BED is pretty tempting and would leave you with enough change from a mil for a new kitchen and bathroom...
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74453089.html

1 Bed.

Can't believe I missed this pithy retort.
Only estate agents call it "The 'Stow", we're rebranding it Walthy as its less aggressive.
Zone 3 is where London starts these days.

I have to be in Reading each week, it’s roughly two hours each way on public transport, or 1.5 hours to drive there (early) and 3 hours to drive home (rush hour).

I tend to take one 6/6.30am flight from Heathrow per week, and the other days I’ll either be in our office by Blackfriars or wfh.

It’s Reading that’s the killer obviously- just makes me hate London when I drive and whilst the train is a lot better mentally it’s three different tube lines, then the main line, then a taxi (and the same in reverse) and it’s also hateful at peak commuting time.

I’d love to move to the countryside, somewhere to the South West of London probably, that can train into Waterloo in 30-40 minutes, but the Mrs won’t consider leaving London.

It’s Reading that’s the killer

Won't crossrail make that easier?

Honestly I don’t know.

Living in a shit hotel near a business Park 5 miles outside of Southampton 3 days a week.

What do I win?

Also, kids just fuck all your nice stuff up.

With peanut butter, mostly

I mean, it's not gonig to make Reading itself any better. I expect that's a lost cause entirely.

Did I say thanks for this? I can't remember. Thanks!

All this commuting chat is reminding me how unusually resilient my wife is for being six years into a two hour each way train commute.

I should say I have no intention of leaving London (born and raised) and the prospect of moving to the countryside/commuterland doesn’t bring joy to my heart.
Currently in the search for larger house with garden in south London and the only reason we’re considering being further out from our ideal location is being able to ride into work. Good transport links are for shitty days in winter and being able to get jnr around London easier.
Seeing more properties come back to our budget, which means we have more options than I thought we would.

As said above, kids change the equation toward being closer to family, know I’ve leant on my mum and brother in law to help out with jnr over the last 18mths and them being closeish has been a real boon.

Where you heading?

We're going to West Norwood

WTF, as a non-Brit these prices are killing me. Or maybe I should just step up my career a bit.

I think they are killing everyone...

I’d go and do a viewing at least. The house is banging and the garden and neighbourhood will probably be great for kids. I am biased though, because to me only zone 1 is London and the rest is a bit shit with the odd gem.

All these people saying they have to go into the office 4 days a week or whatever- why? I appreciate that if you are the office boy/ girl and your job is doing the post or photocopying then fair enough but if you are at a sufficiently senior level and you work for an organisation that has invested in remote working infrastructure why do you struggle in each day like some sort of hero?

My boss couldn't give a toss where I work from and that really is how it should be imo. I only really go into the office to get the exercise riding in.

Meetings

I have meetings all the time - I do them over the phone or by video conference.

I wish I could do that too, but sometimes you have to be there.

why do you struggle in each day like some sort of hero?

Because being at home sucks balls?

I mean...there are some good things about it, but you go bonkers if you are there most of the time.

I do 3 days WFH and 2 in the office and it's brilliant. I get to see my son a great deal and have a laugh with him , and put him in the bath each evening. It's brilliant. Going into the office to sit there for the purposes of pure facetime (which I suspect is the case for most people ) is utterly pointless.