Cardiff and Glasgow

February 2019

After a lot of research into costs of living, opportunities, safety, and just general likability, we had narrowed down the two cities we would most like to live to Glasgow, in Scotland, and Cardiff, in Wales. Geographically these were in two rather opposite directions, so visiting both would be difficult but we were lucky enough to make it work.
Applying for roles in both areas, I soon had an interview for a librarian position at Cardiff City Library. So we took the train down to Cardiff for one night, for the interview and also to check out the town.

It was raining when we arrived, and was extremely stressful knowing I was about to interview after hours on the train, and as my first interview in years. It went okay though I didn't get the job, but it was great practice, and I knew a lot more on what to expect for library specific questions for next time.

The main thing we took away however, was our impression of Cardiff itself. 

It might have been a rainy dreary day when we arrived, but we loved it. It helped that we discovered 'Falafel Corner' for lunch, which was just as delicious as Humpit in Sheffield and York! 

Cardiff had an instant likability to it, and we could both see ourselves living there in a heartbeat. Little did we know we would eventually get there, but not without a few bumps in the road first. 

Our whirlwind tour complete, we hopped back on the train to London. But we wouldn't be back there long either, as we had found a couple of weeks long housesit in Glasgow, which we had decided was a cost effective way of checking out the city.

It was a much more expensive and longer trip to Glasgow, so we reluctantly booked a bus, which took 12 hours, but cost a fraction of the train price. 

We reluctantly said goodbye for good to the flat in Camden, knowing we had very little time to work something out before we became effectively homeless. The stress was on. 

After a horrifically long bus trip, we arrived exhausted. We would be looking after an elderly cat in an apartment about a thirty minute walk from the centre of Glasgow. 

We liked Glasgow, it felt Gothic and a little dreary, and didn't have the instant attraction Cardiff had given us, but something about it drew us in all the same. 

We looked around and thought, yes, we could live here. One problem we hadn't quite anticipated however was the accent barrier. Having traveled to Scotland before, I thought this wouldn't have been an issue, but it turns out the Glaswegian accent is a different beast altogether. 

My most amusing anecdote was probably when Ben popped into the nearby fish and chips one Friday night. We wanted two pieces of fish, and some chips. He walked out not long later looking very confused and with an armful of packages. He hadn't been able to understand a word the lady had said, and had eventually given up and just agreed to everything she asked. Dinner was excellent.

Valentines Day passed whilst we were at the housesit, and we used it as an excuse to cook delicious food.

We took a day trip out to Loch Lomond, one of the few nature places out of Glasgow we could get to without a car. It was a beautiful, harsh landscape, and we had it all to ourselves. 

The Loch is part of the Trossachs National Park, and we had a lovely time wandering all over, and having a picnic of sandwiches in the weak sunlight. 

With time running out in Glasgow, I received a call from a recruitment agency offering me a three month temp role as a field archaeologist in the English town of Southampton. I suspected I wouldn't like it, knowing I hadn't enjoyed my field schools in Italy and Spain, but this was English commercial Archaeology, and I thought I should probably give it a go, so I could at least see what a commercial dig was like compared to a field school.

Thus with a location in mind, I booked a week Airbnb in Southampton, to give me seven days to give the job, and location a feel. Ben would be going first to Bristol to see family, and then joining me for the last few days of the booked accomodation. 

Feeling nervous, we said goodbye to Glasgow, and went our separate ways. As of yet, we have never returned to Glasgow, but I would love to go back one day.