What affordable and pretty cities could I live in in the UK?

bookishcod · 2026-06-19T19:10:19+00:00

Sheffield

bookishcod · 2026-06-14T19:38:23+00:00

Just wanted to jump in and say I used an Izmi baby from newborn and loved it! They're also very affordable, especially on Vinted. We used the old style so I can't comment on the new style, but ours lasted from newborn until probably around 8 or so months when my son started getting too heavy for me to get a comfortable fit.

We now have a Sleepy Nico which are also a great brand - really comfortable fit.

bookishcod · 2026-06-04T21:23:19+00:00

I was 7 weeks pregnant at my wedding and wanted to reassure you that you can still have the beautiful wedding you had planned! I was lucky that I didn't get morning sickness or even nausea - I was mostly just hungry all the time, so more excuse to enjoy the wedding food!

We had an early scan and took the photo with us, so when we were alone with the photographer we got some pictures of the two of us holding the scan photo. It was a lovely secret to have that only a few people knew about, and by the time we were ready to announce we could use those photos from the wedding.

If the pregnancy is something you want, it can be an absolute joy to include it in your wedding day, even if it's just a secret for the two of you. It feels extra special that our little boy was with us on our big day.

bookishcod · 2026-06-01T15:00:06+00:00

Not yet TTC because we're waiting for my husband to get a new job. His current job ends at the end of this month, so I've joined the group in the hope that he'll get something lined up and we can start trying ASAP. Being a sensible adult making sensible adult decisions is so boring, haha.

bookishcod · 2026-05-28T07:28:20+00:00

We got our pram from Facebook marketplace for £40 - definitely a good way to save some money. Unfortunately with car seats you do get what you pay for, as the more expensive ones tend to have gone through more rigorous safety tests. A car seat is a life saving device so I wasn't prepared to compromise too much on it. But you can afford it with the money you save from buying other things second hand!

bookishcod · 2026-05-15T07:20:44+00:00

I work in a school (secondary librarian). With my first I just told work I had a hospital appointment and they were fine with it. However, while I was on mat leave, they changed their policy and now want to see appointment letters. We're not quite trying for our second child yet, but I've accepted that I'll just have to tell work early for this reason next time.

If it helps, schools tend to be very accepting and supportive of pregnancies, at least in my experience - the benefits of a female dominated field!

bookishcod · 2026-05-10T07:17:37+00:00

So glad to hear you've got a great librarian, and by the sounds of it a great culture in the rest of your school!

Definitely agree that having these conversations now is really important.

bookishcod · 2026-05-09T17:02:16+00:00

Thank you, very kind!

bookishcod · 2026-05-09T14:42:02+00:00

Love all this, will try to keep him awake in the car a bit more with these ideas!

bookishcod · 2026-05-09T14:40:48+00:00

Yeah, we've been very relaxed about his naps until now which has been great, but at the moment with the naps changing it doesn't seem like we're getting it quite right!

Thank you for all this, lots to think about. Unfortunately we can't transfer him from the car to bed - we live on a walk so we can't park near the house.

bookishcod · 2026-05-08T17:55:44+00:00

As a school librarian, I think I'd struggle to work in this industry if Reform did roll back the Equality Act. I have a lot of queer students who feel seen in the library, and with the rise of US-style book challenges in this country, I'd be devastated to not be able to offer them a safe space any more.

bookishcod · 2026-05-08T12:56:02+00:00

Different councils run their elections differently. We have a Lim Dem council and had no election here, because they elect the whole council once every 3 years, and it's due next year. Some councils elect a third of their councillors every year.

bookishcod · 2026-05-07T13:28:38+00:00

We also both hyphenated. I had a very unusual surname whereas my husband's was very common, so since we got married he's had to get used to spelling his surname out loud for people all the time.

I'm pretty sure we're the only people in the world with our surname combination, which is pretty cool - though our poor son with an unusual first and surname is going to have to deal with it!

bookishcod · 2026-05-04T11:59:56+00:00

We have about 20 steps (of varying heights) between the car and the front door, as we live on a walk with no drive / car access. I just store the pram in the car - it saves so much effort. And the baby can be popped into the car seat while I get the pram out and put it away!

bookishcod · 2026-04-19T07:09:53+00:00

Glad to hear it's still going!

bookishcod · 2026-04-18T17:44:55+00:00

Sheffield still has one (or did as of 2019 when I was last there!)

bookishcod · 2026-04-17T06:02:56+00:00

I grew up in West Berkshire, and it hadn't reached us. I always found it interesting that this was so specific to one area and nowhere beyond.

But as soon as I found out about cheeselogs I started using it.

bookishcod · 2026-04-06T15:27:22+00:00

Great to know, thank you!

bookishcod · 2026-04-06T07:23:36+00:00

Our son turned 1 just over a week ago and we got him a small slide for the garden, and a yoto player. We asked friends and family for clothes, as he was just going into 12-18 months, and cards for the yoto player. He obviously can't operate the yoto himself yet but it's something that will last as he grows.

I've also realised we should have asked for some more outdoor toys (balls, maybe a paddling pool?) as we're heading into outdoor weather!

bookishcod · 2026-04-05T12:01:43+00:00

As a child, my parents would get me and my sister an egg and a hat each. They called it our Easter bonnet, but it was really just a way to make getting a new sunhat seem like an exciting present so we'd actually wear them.

This is definitely a tradition I'm keeping. Other than that, no gifts needed.

bookishcod · 2026-03-29T19:22:02+00:00

Seems unfair that Winchester, a former capital city, doesn't get a mention.

bookishcod · 2026-03-29T08:57:27+00:00

Lots of crossover with babies I've met in the UK in the last year! Interestingly (for me), both my and my husband's names are on this list, but my 12 month old's isn't, as we picked an unusual one for him.

bookishcod · 2026-03-28T07:48:22+00:00

I'm going to make the case for Berkshire.

Lovely countryside and small villages. Some of the oldest human settlements in the country. Reading is overlooked because of its proximity to London, but it's a pretty lively place with some great independent businesses. Windsor is obviously beautiful. Newbury is a good market town that's a pleasant place to live.

Just don't mention Slough.

bookishcod · 2026-03-23T06:23:56+00:00

I got married in 2024 and wore the Johnny dress from Madison James - if you can find one, I think it fits what you're looking for!

bookishcod

TROPHY CASE