YoungWinston

Thanks for everyone who helped me out. Much appreciated. Still not sure I'll make the 'right' decision, but it won't be for lack of advice; and I've had a damn good laugh along the way. I'd forgotten about Scottish spelling too - once you get used to it, it's great, because it reads exactly like it sounds. Winston

Brilliant. Bookmarked. Thanks Doc. Winston

Marshmallo. If you're stiil out there son, that's one of the funniest clips I've heard in a long time. Ended up having to wipe snot off me keyboard. Winston

Ah right. So at least I can drink myself to death. Spot on. Winston

Thanks honesty, It occurred to me that if it's used as a holiday area, I might be able to get a bit of seasonal work because I speak good French. Was also a programmer for 30 years (including a stint at South Ayrshire Council), so might be able to get some contract work. At these prices I don't need much to keep my savings relatively intact. BTW, anyone have any opinions about Johnstone? Found a couple of places there too, and it's a lot closer to Glasgow. Just don't know whether that's good or bad. :-)

:-) Cheers Dazzle. My dad actually lived in Fife during the war. He was one of the Poles shipped up to Scotland after Dunkirk, because they were the only buggers that still had their rifles. I remember him taking us on a tour of the places he stayed in 1970, mostly in Angus and P&Kinross: Monifieth, Coupar Angus, Pitlochry, Kirrermuir. Nice country, but I remember some pretty grim places too. Winston

Yeah, I finally watched the YouTube clip that Hedgecutter suggested (it's 5/5 BTW; about 1/3 of the way in). Jesus...and that's 2 miles down the road... Cheers Sarge. Winston

1. No - So far: Ayr, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and worked in Ayr, Possil, Livingstone and Falkirk (for a short time). 2. I suspect that a house is out of my reach financially. I'm single, so a 1-bed or a studio will do me just fine. I want something that I can buy outright. Been debt-free for the last 8 years; don't fancy getting back in that game again. :-) But thanks for the interest, Bobby. Winston

Thaniks Meathead. Perhaps 'grim' is what I'm reduced to; but as long as it isn't Possilpark grim, I suspect I'll make do; and all the places look good, and all are newly redone; I saw a place in Saltcoats, but it's "in need of upgrading", and after what I've read I don't think I'll be viewing. If you don't mind me asking, what's the problem with Maybole? I've onlly seen one post that disses it, and a few actually singing its praises, And it's 15 minutes closer to civilization (Ayr? Glasgow?) than Girvan. Like I say, I'm not looking for excitement; I'm looking for a reasonably quiet place to live that I can afford. A decent pub would be nice, but I brew my own these days, so it's not a necessity. Good to know about the shops in Girvan though. Thanks a lot. Winston

I'm sure you're right, and I certainly never saw anything that would put it on the 'worst places' to live. But at the time I was earning good money and iiving on Queen St in Edinburgh (I suspect in a Robert Adams building), just working on a sh**ty contract; and all that "newtown" development around the offices depressed me. I actually ended up buying an apartment off the Grassmarket; which ended up being the one smart financial decision of my life, which has pretty much sustained me ever since. But now I need to downsize. Winston

Cheers Hedgecutter. Sounds like another "thumbs down" unfortunately. I should say that I really enjoyed my time in Scotland. Started out in Glasgow; and once I worked out that these "fierce sounding" (and there IS a bit of a 'language barrier') guys I met in the pub weren't going to nut me, I found everybody really friendly. And TALK - sheesh can you guys talk - which is great because I come from a family of 'em. Weather, politics, history, religion...nothing's taboo - which is brilliant. Try talking about religion in a Canadian pub... About the only "strange" thing I remember was being asked to leave because I was wearing a blue shirt in a Celtic pub and there was an auld firm game coming on. I was a bit cheesed off at the time, but I'm sure they did it for my protection. Winston

Actually been to Dunfermline - although it was just to Sky's offices there, so probably didn't see the "real" town. Even so, I was glad to get back over the bridge. :-) Winston

Hope you're not taking the P because I'm a cross-border Son of William. I'm obviously going to look; but after what Ive heard about it and New Cumnock down the road... Much as I want the quiet life, I want to be able to live it; and it'd be nice to have a few decent shops nearby. Winston

Really. Ah well ... guess I won't be making an 'offer' on that one then... But seriously? Possil reminded me of the outskirts of Warsaw in the seventies: Huge blocks of badly-built "comrade" apartments, slapped together to alleviate the housing shortage after the war. And of course, a beer desert at the time... Winston

Nice one McNaughton.