June 16, 2005

• No insights, but I am quite jealous that you're moving to the city where Newcastle beeris brewed (my favorite).
• Is there a Newcastle craigslist to ask? Or perhaps an association of British software professionals? I would think these might be more focused for your question. My knowledge of Newcastle is entirely limited to Catherine Cookson novels set in the old coalmining days, and a couple of fascinating academic talks on the early coalmining period (c.1600-1750). I was thinking at one point on doing my thesis on the area, and still would really like to visit. This is pretty useless though, I think Newcastle might have changed a bit since then. One thing to keep in mind is that England is teeny tiny and you can easily commute from a nearby city if you find work there (Cambridge houses are being bought up by Londoners). The gas is much more expensive, but the train service is much better than anything I've seen in North America (though not as good as it used to be apparently).
• I lived in North Yorkshire as a teenager. I understand things are very different now, and Newcastle is a city and I lived in the country. Having said that, what will kill you is the little things, like the difference in the way meat is ground and (where I was) getting pasteurized milk that wasn't homogenized. More American goods are probably available there than there were 20 years ago in the boonies, though, so you won't get as homesick I can't help you with the jobs situation, but I suggest if you can go, you do. I had a great time living in England and so did my parents. We travelled a lot and tried a lot of things we wouldn't have gotten to do otherwise and had a great time. I hope you do the same!
• Sorry - I did't mean to imply you would be able to commute from London - Newcastle is much too far. But there are many nearby cities in the North which might be doable. Tech firms also tend to cluster around universties, and there is definitely a major university in nearby Durham. Or maybe google software and Newcastle and find this. It also matters how much of an opportunity this is for your wife - if it's a good job for her, there may be very good reasons to go even if there is no job for you. If you wanted to keep working, there are at least opportunities for programmers to work from home.
• I have absolutely no helpful information to offer, but I just wanted to say that if I were an employer, I would give you a job based solely on the pun in the heading. It's brilliant.
• and, once again, a lovely brit location name: Newcastle upon Tyne. sigh. i wish we had "upon" places here. sincerely, SideDish in Washington upon Potomac (see? it just doesn't work)
• It's because the English aren't very imaginative, and only have a limited number of names. Do you know how many Westons there are in England? Not including Weston-super-mare. Not that North Americans should talk - after all, we copied half of ours from them. (disclaimer - I wrote that Weston, Ontario entry, and both my parents are from there. I love wikipedia - it even has room for tiny, defunct towns that exist only in the minds of the inhabitants.)
• Ah, but that misses the best Weston of all, namely Edith Weston (a place, not a person, I promise). I believe it (she?) must be a friend of the village called Mavis Enderby (in Lincolnshire?).
• I've been to Mavis Enderby! (Or at least nearby).Yes, it's in Lincolnshire, a couple of miles from Spilsby, where Dreadnought's mother is from. Along with Bag Enderby, where the hobbits live in houses with curved walls and round windows. Or round beam pins, close enough.