I walked into Taunton town centre this morning.
*stop the press*
It was the first time I had actually left the new house on foot since we moved in as Belle is still on crutches; our outings so far have mainly been to Sainsbury’s where she can wheel herself around in a complimentary wheelchair and we can pretend we are anywhere other than Taunton.
As I walked I tried to think of the positives of having moved out of Bristol. “It’s really handy,” I thought to myself, “that it’s only a ten minute walk to the bank for me to pay this cheque in.” In Bristol I had to go all the way down into the city centre for a branch of the Halifax.
And then I ran out of things. I had been walking for more than five minutes and there was not a single Boston Tea Party in sight and I started to cry.
I totally realise that crying in the street is not a normal reaction to not being within walking distance of a decent eggs florentine. I am clearly the most ridiculously spoilt, ungrateful woman ever, but I waited so bloody long to move to Bristol and even though no one apart from me seemed to like it, it was everything I ever thought it would be. It felt like home. And now I’ve left and I can’t help but think ‘SHIT SHIT SHIT WHAT HAVE I DONE??’
*stamps feet like a toddler who has been refused a giant candy floss*
I do try to remember that I felt like this when I moved to Bristol as well, that it always takes a while to adjust to somewhere new, but that’s part of the problem I suppose, that Taunton isn’t new. I lived here for a few years ten years ago, and never really liked it much then. Ten years on and am I really simply back where I started, only older and more tired?
So I paid in my cheque – that really was handy – then it started to rain so I went to Starbucks and cried in there instead.
This post is an extract from my new novel – 1001 First World Problems to Experience Before You Die
I cry every time I walk through there which happens to be twice a day.
Author
I will just have to stay at home Bee, or just go to other places in the car. (Someone just sent me the Brazz breakfast menu on Twitter though, which raised my spirits a little.)
Get a Graze box delivered :)
Try Mr Miles? Or hopefully Roots will open again soon, they do a v good breakfast x
Love the sound of your book! On the upside maybe Taunton will help you make the book a best seller!
So the bank thing, the great things for your book you are on a roll now!
It will take time but it will come x
oh Jo I really want to give you a hug, you sound so down in the dumps. It’ll pass, as all things do. Do something nice for yourself today.
There is a lovely Wetherspoons, and while they don’t do Eggs Florentine, they can manage a pretty good Eggs Benedict. And you can always console yourself with the fact that Taunton isn’t Bridgwater. That is the biggest positive about the whole of the rest of the world, not being Bridgwater.
Taunton will get better, new places are always hard.
Author
Very true Lorraine! I lived in Bridgwater for about 20 years and if I had ended up back there again that WOULD have been bad!
Oh dear, I can say nothing supportive, as I am not wildly keen either. But you aren’t back in Bridgwater and you have lots of friends in the area. 40 minutes from both Bristol AND Exeter? Hang on in there x
I’m finding relocating tough and I’m where I want to be.
My only advice is never go to Starbucks.
Could you persuade the Glouster road to launch a campaign to have you returned? I’d sign.
Pop to Glastonbury, there’s a nice lil cafe there on the high street, I think its eggs Benedict though. Planning on heading there myself soon.
I think Taunton is lovely, I would love to live there. The town is really sweet yet has a lot of variety and Vivary park is great. It’s one of the places we would choose to live as a family if OH’s job would allow. All that access to wonderful countryside too. Not far away from Bristol, make me giddy thinking about it.
I hope you get that turn of fate that suddenly makes you love a place.
Vivary Park has a Sunday band concert, 3pm – take a picnic :) xx
Author
Thanks for your post – you are totally right of course, Taunton has loads going for it and now I feel like a right grump for complaining! I think it just feels more isolated at the moment as Belle is on crutches and so we can’t just walk into town and explore.