David Masters
365 x28 Carved Park Bench (The Anatomy of a Major Life Decision)
Photo 28 in my 365 day challenge. An intricately carved bench in the corner of Wythenshawe Park. Taken on my early morning walk.
How we decided to move to Northenden
In four weeks time, Siona and I are leaving Northenden and moving to Belfast.
We decided to live in Northenden on a whimsical decision involving a farmer's market, the 43 bus, urban theology, the above park bench, and the constraints of economics and anxiety. I think this is how most life decisions are made. Speak up, though, if you disagree.
First, the urban theology. In my final year at university, I studied the theology of the city. The course being at Manchester University, we used the city of Manchester as a basis for much of our theological reflection on the urban. Through this, I learnt about Wythenshawe, a council estate in south Manchester built on the dreams of a socialist visionary, but now a hotbed of crime, and known for the social and economic deprivation of its residents. If I was staying in Manchester after my degree, I mused, this was where I wanted to live.
Second, economics. When it came to the practicalities of searching for a house, Wythenshawe proved affordable. For £500 a month - the mid range of our estimated budget - we could rent a 3 bedroom semi.
Third, anxiety. For me, there was the anxiety of convincing Siona that Wythenshawe would be a good place to live. This proved simpler than I thought, because Wythenshawe is a long way out of the city centre of Manchester, and thus nearer the countryside. We both agreed this would be a good thing. For Siona, there was the anxiety of my refusal to make a decision. She wanted me to decide to live in Manchester, then look for a job. I wanted to apply for the job I wanted in Manchester, then, if I got it, to stay in Manchester. Otherwise, I would look for a job elsewhere. Extra stress was added by the current contract on both of our houses. Being in student areas, the contracts expired at the end of June. It was already mid-April. In the end, I agreed with Siona that we should look for a house first, and worry about the job second. Finally, there was the anxiety for both of us of not knowing whether we'd have a job after July.
Fourth, the 43 bus. On a sunny Saturday towards the end of April 2008, we hopped onto a 43 bus from the university to Wythenshawe.
We liked Wythenshawe town centre. It had a bustling market, cheap shops, and the vibrancy of a local community that's always missing in student areas of a city. However, we couldn't find an estate agent anywhere. We decided to walk to find one, but after 30 minutes walking we found ourselves lost on a large, spacious housing estate. Wythenshawe is a beautiful place to live. There is much greenery, and when they built the houses, they left the old trees standing. But because the houses are spaced out, it takes a long while to walk anywhere. You need a car. We planned not to have a car. And the bus journey from the university to Wythenshawe had taken the best part of an hour - not exactly the journey we wanted in to work every day.
Fifth, the farmers' market. While on the 43 bus to Wythenshawe, we had passed through a farmers market on a small high street. This was 20 minutes closer to the university on the 43 bus, and in the middle of the bus route. We hopped back onto the bus towards the university, and alighted at the farmer's market.
We'd arrived, we discovered, at Northenden village. We pronounced it North-end-den. (Only after weeks of this did a local correct me. It's pronounced Northern-don).
Finally, the park bench. After wandering up and down Northenden village shops, we found the local park. We sat on the bench above. We got out our sandwiches we'd packed, squashed now and smelling of banana as packed lunches always do, and sat shivering on the bench, between an owl, a daisy, a hedgehog, and a snail shell.
As we ate our lunch, looking out over an abundance of greenery we'd never seen before in the city, horses trotting past, we decided we'd live here.
The park is Wythenshawe Park. It has a children's farm, a walled garden, a crazy golf course, a jungle adventure greenhouse, and vast expanses of grass.
We have been happy here in Northenden, for our first year of marriage. And though it is time for us to go, we will be sad to leave.
365 x28 Carved Park Bench (The Anatomy of a Major Life Decision)
Photo 28 in my 365 day challenge. An intricately carved bench in the corner of Wythenshawe Park. Taken on my early morning walk.
How we decided to move to Northenden
In four weeks time, Siona and I are leaving Northenden and moving to Belfast.
We decided to live in Northenden on a whimsical decision involving a farmer's market, the 43 bus, urban theology, the above park bench, and the constraints of economics and anxiety. I think this is how most life decisions are made. Speak up, though, if you disagree.
First, the urban theology. In my final year at university, I studied the theology of the city. The course being at Manchester University, we used the city of Manchester as a basis for much of our theological reflection on the urban. Through this, I learnt about Wythenshawe, a council estate in south Manchester built on the dreams of a socialist visionary, but now a hotbed of crime, and known for the social and economic deprivation of its residents. If I was staying in Manchester after my degree, I mused, this was where I wanted to live.
Second, economics. When it came to the practicalities of searching for a house, Wythenshawe proved affordable. For £500 a month - the mid range of our estimated budget - we could rent a 3 bedroom semi.
Third, anxiety. For me, there was the anxiety of convincing Siona that Wythenshawe would be a good place to live. This proved simpler than I thought, because Wythenshawe is a long way out of the city centre of Manchester, and thus nearer the countryside. We both agreed this would be a good thing. For Siona, there was the anxiety of my refusal to make a decision. She wanted me to decide to live in Manchester, then look for a job. I wanted to apply for the job I wanted in Manchester, then, if I got it, to stay in Manchester. Otherwise, I would look for a job elsewhere. Extra stress was added by the current contract on both of our houses. Being in student areas, the contracts expired at the end of June. It was already mid-April. In the end, I agreed with Siona that we should look for a house first, and worry about the job second. Finally, there was the anxiety for both of us of not knowing whether we'd have a job after July.
Fourth, the 43 bus. On a sunny Saturday towards the end of April 2008, we hopped onto a 43 bus from the university to Wythenshawe.
We liked Wythenshawe town centre. It had a bustling market, cheap shops, and the vibrancy of a local community that's always missing in student areas of a city. However, we couldn't find an estate agent anywhere. We decided to walk to find one, but after 30 minutes walking we found ourselves lost on a large, spacious housing estate. Wythenshawe is a beautiful place to live. There is much greenery, and when they built the houses, they left the old trees standing. But because the houses are spaced out, it takes a long while to walk anywhere. You need a car. We planned not to have a car. And the bus journey from the university to Wythenshawe had taken the best part of an hour - not exactly the journey we wanted in to work every day.
Fifth, the farmers' market. While on the 43 bus to Wythenshawe, we had passed through a farmers market on a small high street. This was 20 minutes closer to the university on the 43 bus, and in the middle of the bus route. We hopped back onto the bus towards the university, and alighted at the farmer's market.
We'd arrived, we discovered, at Northenden village. We pronounced it North-end-den. (Only after weeks of this did a local correct me. It's pronounced Northern-don).
Finally, the park bench. After wandering up and down Northenden village shops, we found the local park. We sat on the bench above. We got out our sandwiches we'd packed, squashed now and smelling of banana as packed lunches always do, and sat shivering on the bench, between an owl, a daisy, a hedgehog, and a snail shell.
As we ate our lunch, looking out over an abundance of greenery we'd never seen before in the city, horses trotting past, we decided we'd live here.
The park is Wythenshawe Park. It has a children's farm, a walled garden, a crazy golf course, a jungle adventure greenhouse, and vast expanses of grass.
We have been happy here in Northenden, for our first year of marriage. And though it is time for us to go, we will be sad to leave.