How to make new friends in a new area
The children and I went to tea at a new friend’s house this afternoon. Luke lives on a nearby dairy farm so we were all very excited about feeding the animals, seeing new born calves and generally sploshing around in stinky mud (yes I did have the forethought to pack some spare clothes, wellies and slippers). The kids played really well together and Luke’s mum, Jules, and I chatted non-stop the whole time we were with them.
Driving home just now I was thinking about how lucky Bealers, the children and I have been to meet such great people since we moved here just 4.5 months ago. I was warned against moving away from London by a few people as we would miss our social life but luckily we have not been short of people inviting us to parties, to tea, quiz nights and just for a beer at the local.
Having children does make it easier to hook up with people when they have children of a similar age but also it really pays to be smiley and chatty (and not worry too much about appearing to be a nutter) as some of my favourite new friends have been ‘picked up’ in the most random of places (Helen I met whilst getting eggs at the local farm, Bryony, a friend of Helen’s, met at the local Post Office, Pete & Julia by the bouncy castle at summer fete) and also Upton people have approached me to ask if I’d like to come along to things they have been involved in (thanks Sam, Karen & Janet).
It is a bit nerve wracking moving away from top mates and to a place where no-one knows you but so far my advice would be to go for it as you will soon meet new people by getting involved in the local community and by being friendly and open about how much you like meeting new folks.
Out of all of the new friends I have made not one of them is from this area originally. People are so mobile these days that almost everyone was once the new girl/chap in the village and can empathise with what it’s like to be away from loved ones.