I'd move, were I you.
The pay cut isn't that much; how does that compare after changes in travel expenses and so forth?

Job satisfaction is worth about a grand at that level, in my opinion, and time is the one thing you won't be able to claw back some other way.

Nuts to the two month period. I don't know about your contract; most UK jobs have a three month trial period. It's generally assumed that there will be no problems (my transition to full employee status wasn't even mentioned), but it is there for a reason. Six to eighteen months is the time period where the problems kick in; that's too long a time to make a decision.

I don't imagine any potential employer would begrudge a short-lived career move; I can't think of anyone I know who hasn't had to take a job they didn't really want for money. If an opportunity to move back into a desired area arises, I'd recommend taking it.
(ThomsonsPier consumes, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 15:17, Reply)