Any Saffers out there?

[BabyJoy]

Well, I only just discovered this little spot hidden away on the bubhub forums... shame that no one has posted yet, so I'll go first. I'm not South African, but my husband is, and all his family are still in SA. They are in two minds about whether to imigrate or not but my DH and I are particularly concerned for his mother who is retiring this year. She lives alone and is finding South Africa a rather dim place to live (that's putting it mildly!). Trouble is that she has two other sons and grandchildren in SA and doesn't want to leave them to go to Australia. But when she visits us she sees how much better her life could be over here (safer, better health system, more affordable, etc). It's a bit of a tug-of-war between the two countries and we're at a loss to know what to do about it. In the end, it has to be her decision, but I think she should decide sooner rather than later because the application takes at least two years.

On a different subject, any saffers know of a good place online to buy cheap Mrs Balls chutney... you can buy it here in specialty stores, but it's really expensive!
Guess I should try google.... I'm just lazy! :laughing:

[Jo9999]

I am married to a SA too, where are your husbands parents from? Mine is from Durban. His family are all still there too.
I have found Mrs Balls tomato chutney (not the original one though) in Coles, otherwise I just get from a speciality SA shop.

[JaYdEn&CaYLeE'sMuMmY]

hi. im from SA..Capetown,my mums from durban,my dads from capetown..all my family is from there but we(all 7 kids &my parents) all came to australia when i was about 9months old(my dad came a few months before to get a job and a house for us to move into).. my parents still have all their family there.. my mums mum came over when i was really yooung.. i can hardly remember her..my sister went over there a few years ago aswell to visit the rest of the family

[gillianf]

Hi! My DH and I are from South Africa. We emigrated last November with our (then) 10 month old. I've also been meaning to find a speciality shop for Ouma's Rusk *mmmmmmmmmmm*, Niknaks and chutney. :)

[Jo9999]

The one we go to is Springbok Foods, Oxenford on the Gold Coast on the Old Pacific Highway, they supply Coles with their boerewors.
http://www.springbokfoods.com/main.html

I have found chutney in the occasional supermarket. The local European deli in Eight Mile Plains actually stocks Biltong (very tasty).

There is another SA shop just off the Gateway motorway on the way towards Manly we have driven past but we have never been in.

[babytoo]

My mums partner is from Capetown...they just got back from a 5 week trip over there....they bought back some lovely clothes for my DD...so cheap and great...Ackermans Baby and 123 and some stuff from Woolworths...aparantly like our David Jones here.

The new Robbie Williams film clip 'sin sin sin' was filmed at his old boarding school a few weeks be4 they were there...so he was pretty chuffed!

[dearcandy]

Hi all
just found this thread, i get a lot of South African foods from an online shop called SAtoOZ (www.satooz.com). not sure how the prices compare but it's easier than looking for the stuff here in melbourne and angela is great to deal with. i often get my cross & blackwell mayonaise and droe wors and biltong from here, love my SA mayo!!!
:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

[BabyJoy]

Hi ladies! Good to see this post getting some interest from other bubhubbers! :wave:

Gillian, where do you live? There is a great specialty shop near my home in Cairns which sells heaps of SA products (at a price!). My DH got a nice surprise for his birthday when I filled up a box with SA products: jelly tots (yummy!), tennis biscuits, Mrs Ball's, etc. Personally, I think Twisties are a lot nicer than Niknaks.

Thanks Jo and Candy for the web links!
Jo, my husband grew up in a town called Dundee in Natal. After his father passed away, his mum moved to Vereeniging for work. He has a brother in Pretoria and another in Vryheid. Check out this map if you are unsure where these places are:
http://www.places.co.za/maps/kwazulu_natal_map.html

Do you guys know where I can buy children's books written in Afrikaans?

[Anine]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Anine and I'm 26. I've discovered this forum only today and I'm so impressed with all the content and info on this site.

I'm currently in South Africa (Johannesburg). My husband and I are planning to come over in July 2007. We are in no hurry and we are also busy saving enough money to survive for a month in Australia without a salary...just to be financially save if something should happen. We want to live and work in Brisbane if possible.

We are very exited about our plans.

I was laughing about the Mrs Balls chutney issue...that was one of the major concerns for my husband. He wanted to know if we will still be able to get it there.

We are thinking of starting a family soon but we also don't want to miss the opportunity go to Aus. Here we have our support structure of family and friends and sometimes I feel it's better to have a baby here before coming over. But then again I think it must be very difficult to adjust to a new country and 'n new baby, etc. It's maybe better to go over and start builing a support structure there before starting a family?

Can someone please also tell me what a average/good annual salary is? I have no clue how much money we will need on a monthly/weekly basis in terms of food, electricity & water, travel, tax deduction, etc. For example will the two of us be able to live comfortably on a $60 000 annual salary?

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

[Jo9999]

I have just sent you a private message answer your questions, hope it helps!

[BabyJoy]

Hi Anine!! Welcome to Aus (when you get here!) I think you've picked a great place to start your new life. Brisbane is a great city. I think you will live quite comfortably on $60,000pa, but I can say that because I'm currently living off half of that amount as my husband changed careers and is doing a mature-age apprentice. We are living hand to mouth until I go back to work because apprentice wages are terrible. So it's hard to say - what you regard as "comfortable living" could be very different to someone else's point of view.
I also agree that you should wait until you come to Australia before starting a family. You will find our hospitals a lot better as well... at least that is what my husband told me as he has experienced hospitals in SA as well as in Australia.
Good luck and don't forget bubhub when you get here!

[TheMamma]

Hi all
just found this thread, i get a lot of South African foods from an online shop called SAtoOZ (www.satooz.com) (http://www.satooz.com)). not sure how the prices compare but it's easier than looking for the stuff here in melbourne and angela is great to deal with. i often get my cross & blackwell mayonaise and droe wors and biltong from here, love my SA mayo!!!
:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

There is also a good SA shop in Templestowe! Some of the prices are a bit steep - but when you crave rusks or biltong....you are willing to pay!

[Dedrei]

You can buy some Afrikaans books from a SA website www.kalahari.net (http://www.kalahari.net) and they'll deliver to Australia for you. We would be going this route or will be asking family to send us some books when the time comes.

I prefer niknaks over the aussie one. Just doesn't taste the same.

I loved shopping at Ackermans Baby, they just have the best baby clothes and at the best price.

[BabyJoy]

Thanks Dedrei for the link! I'll check it out!

[Natascha]

Just wanted to say hello :wave: and see if there are any south africans on the Gold Coast. I originally come from Cape Town and have just recently moved to Australia from London (6 yrs). I met my Australian Husband in CT :kiss: when he was holidaying there with a friend. We now have 2 lovely kids (Kelsey, 3 and Hannah, 9 mths). Must say I enjoy beeing in Australia, as it does feel a bit more like SA than the UK. How funny reading how peoeple are missing things. I remember arriving back in South Africa after a 2 year travelling stint and having to eat everything that I missed on the first day. All the things that you get at the cafie: fudge, droewors, chocolate logs, samoosas, koeksisters, liquifruit, nic-naks. Needless to say I did not feel well at the end of it. Oh well, you got to do what you got to do.

[Jo9999]

Hi Natascha, just thought I'd say hello, I am not Sth African but am married to one (from Durban) and we are living around half way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
I couldn't imagine raising children in the UK!

[Natascha]

It's actually not tooo bad. The beginning anyway. I stayed in an area of London also nic named 'nappy valley' and it was unusal to leave the house and not see someone pushing a pram. There is lot going on for mums and one o'clock centers localy where you can go with your baby/ child and play and meet others and it all does not cost a cent. I must say they were a real life safer.

PS I heard there are quite a lot of Durbanites around. They must feel totally at home in the Gold Cost climate.

[Xanthic]

Hi there,

Jhb born and bred. Moved to Aus 6 years ago and live in the Sydney Northen Beaches.

[Blueyes]

Hello!
We're from Jozi, moved here in August last year. Settling in really well now and loving the outdoors scene - been able to go to the beach, a walk around the block, a ride with DD in her baby seat on my bike, and been able to take her to parks! The safety here is amazing ... not having to live behind high walls, electric fencing and not having to watch out for hi-jackers when u get home - just amazing. I even bought a doorbell for our front door.. just not used to people been able to come right up to the door!! To all the saffers out there.. howzit!!

[Jordy]

This is the first time I have noticed this section - my hubby, daughter and I came over in May 2008 and since then I have had a little aussie son. I am from Joburg, now in Mandurah Western Australia and we love it here