I mentioned Canning Town after reading on a paper that it's up and coming for buying/renting flats and because it's not too far from here. Yes, it does look depressing and the station reminds me of a place you'd rather take a plane from and fly away.

It's horrible, especially at night. In the day it's not too bad because of commuters going into docklands but after they've gone it's totally dead and pretty much just a massive cluster of sink estates.

I've only been there a few times at night when I have been out and ended up falling asleep on the night bus and I had to change number from the station. There is a pub in that area where Iron Maiden played their first gig in London, I forget its name. Loads of metal bands still play in the same place.

My boss who was born and raised in England said that there is a government ban on using newspapers to wrap fish n chips? He says they sell wax paper printed to look like a newspaper. weird.

gotta love the drano bottles next to the coffee maker!

In my lifetime I've never had fish n chips wrapped in newspaper.

Me neither

I think they saved the newspaper for the tourists.

All I know is things went rapidly down hill when the polystyrene tray was introduced

Slavo - Now that I know what your proposed salary is more or less going to be after tax, it would help if you tell us more about the sort of lifestyle you're acquainted with and the things you and can and can’t do without.

Transport – I imagine at first you’ll rely heavily on the tube and buses to move around until eventually you choose what’s best for you. A weekly bus pass is £ 19.60 and it can be used to travel in all zones (1 to 6). I didn’t buy a weekly pass for the tube in a long time so I don’t know how much it costs now but you can check the price on the TFL website. The price varies according to the zones your journeys cover. If you end up finding accommodation which is not too far from your workplace, I suggest you start learning which bus (or buses) to take to get there because travelling overground you’ll learn more about moving around by foot too, which eventually comes in handy if you decide to cycle around town. It helped me when I decided that being trapped in a bus for a long time while commuting was taking too much of my time which I’d rather spend doing other things. Cycling cut down my journey by at least 20 minutes but that obviously depends on where you are travelling from and to. You’ll never escape the public transport completely, unless you drive a car, because it’s not always possible to cycle or walk due to the changing weather conditions or because you’re simply on a night out and cycling/walking are not an option to go back home. Minicabs charge you a minimum of £5 and anything after that amount depends on how far the place you’re going to is.

Woe be the one making a sleepy eyed pot of coffee thinking they were reaching for the creamer :eek:

I don't go out too much any more. I read books, watch movies, make music and spend time with my girlfriend. That's all I do, basically.
It'd be nice to go out and see a gig once in a month or so. And go to a pub to have one or two pints now and then.

i negotiated a bit and they raised the yearly salary a bit.
sounds better now.

So when's it all happening?

Not much to offer on the costs thing but if you do end up here, give me a shout if you fancy playing gigs in Brighton (a short-ish train ride away), can think of a few promoters that'd be interested in your ting and can probably hook you up with a few in London as well.

Slavo you'll be fine, you're a relocating square without a smack habit. I can't see you struggling in the big city.

I still have to decide - I'm taking the following weekend to say my final yes or no.
Many things to consider.

I'm excited.

Wait ...
is that really true?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/it.htm#2a

If I make more than £31,866 a year, they tax me 40% in the UK?

But ... that's just ... not ... right.

if i understand progressive income taxes correctly, you get taxed 10% on the first 2880, 20% on the 2881-31,065, 40% on the 31,866+

it's not like they tax you 40% on the whole income-- only on the income above each margin.

i hope i'm clear and correct on this because that's how it works in 'merica. otherwise someone who makes 31865 would take home a lot more than someone who makes 31,866-- which would be an incentive to earn less and therefore stupid.

I doubt it's much different in the other countries that have proper infrastructure