On the back of some advice from the astute Annalisa Barbieri (Family, 20 May) to a woman who is resisting a move to the West Country with her young children, I feel compelled to add my experience. We moved away from London when my children were one and just three, to a West Country village. It took a month to get accustomed to the change, after which I never looked back. Don’t delay. While your children are small you have the very best chance of getting to know new people with things in common (your children for starters). Timing made the key difference. Friends and family will visit, and as they tend to stay over it’s less rushed. If you remain somewhere near a city and good infrastructure you’ll have an urban life fix on your doorstep, while popping back to London is a breeze. Remember that there are many benefits to the country as well as negatives. We visit London frequently, but on the way home my daughters always comment “we’re so glad we live in the country”. Be brave, give it a try. You’re unhappy now – you might be unhappy with a move, but you’ll never know until you take the plunge.
Laura Stout
Shillingstone, Dorset
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