Last Date for Orders

ZAUK would like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and new year!

Today it really felt like the start of Christmas with the first of the winter snow falling. As a South African, snow has not been something I've experienced much of and after 5 years of living in the UK it is still exciting!

Now if you are a registered member of the ZAUK website, you would have received our newsletter today - if not, check it out here.

If you would like some yummy SA goodies on your table this Christmas, make sure your order is placed before midday on the 22nd December to ensure you get it on time!

Enjoy this special time and speak to you in the new year.

Christmas Catch Up

Wow, a whole month (well almost) has passed since we last blogged - where does the time go?!

Well we are really pleased to announce the winner of our November competition and therefore the £50 ZAUK voucher, Derek Cross from the Scottish Borders. Derek was thrilled when our CEO (Chief Expat Officer) called him to notify him of his win. Apparently Derek stated that he never wins anything....so we are really pleased we could make his day!! Congratulations.

Our December competition is along the same lines of last month's competition however the prize is a hamper with a bottle of JC le Roux, Ouma Rusks, Romany Creams, 100g biltong, 100g droewors, large Simba chips, Mrs Balls Chutney, 2 x Peppermint Crisps and 3 x Damascus Nougats! (Drool....) Make sure you read our 'steps' for a chance to win this lovely prize on our competition page.

So with the details of our competitions out of the way, let's talk Christmas......what are your plans? Are you off to South Africa or do you have family coming over to see you? This will be our 6th Christmas in the UK and only once have we had a family member with us. As many of you will know, your friends become your family here and therefore Christmas meals end up with good friends around the table instead of the traditional family Christmas lunch/dinner. This year however we are off to visit family in America and we cannot wait! I don't know how we are going to do it, but we are planning on taking a few bottles of JC le Roux and some Christmas Crackers with us to ensure we add a bit of SA to this special time of year.

So here is wishing you all a wonderful, 'South Africanised' Christmas. Keep ZAUKing and don't forget to come and visit our community at the website - http://www.zauk.co.uk/

November Competition and Special

I know, I know, we have been really quiet on the blog front, but that is because we have been super busy in the background .....all I can tell you is that 2010 is going to bring some exciting things so that all the UK based South Africans will have a strong community to lean on whilst living in the United Kingdom.

NOVEMBER COMPETITION:

For the month of November, all orders via our website - http://www.zauk.co.uk/ - will be automatically added into a lucky draw for the chance to win a £50 ZAUK voucher....so more SA goodies to buy!

In addition to this we are also offering a 10% discount on bottles of 5th Avenue Cold Duck and JC le Roux, perfect for Christmas and New Years Eve.

If you haven't already done so, make sure you register on our website so that you do not miss any of competition details and specials.

Lekker bly.

Driving in the UK

The other day I received a speeding fine! Yes me!!! I mean, really!!! I have to be the most observant and conscientious motorist around when it comes to speeding (or rather lack of it!). Well my daughter was in the car with me and we were chatting so it’s all her fault that I didn’t notice the half dozen ‘30’ signs, Camera warning, slow down signs ....Now, not quite knowing the system and how many ‘points’ we’re allowed to receive I was terrified that I’d have a major black mark next to my name. So instead of paying the £60 and receiving 3 points I opted to do the Speed Awareness Course. So £102 (with no points), re-shuffling my day which is a major mission later, I arrived at the centre feeling like a criminal. 11:00 until 18:00 I ask you!!! So, together with 19 other guilty parties, I duly learned what I’d almost forgotten from when I originally did my driving test some 40 years ago!!! Two coffees and a lunch break made the day easier to handle.

After a morning session of ‘theory’ and learning how speed can actually kill and maim, how to be observant, etc, the afternoon session was getting into a car with a geriatric ‘instructor’ who did this work in order to add funds to his ailing pension.

Although I felt it was a waste of my hard earned cash and my precious time, I’m glad I did it for a number of reasons:

1. Road signs are really there to help and not to confuse drivers. Yeah right, you could have fooled me!!
2. I now know what the round white sign with the black diagonal line going through it means - normal drivers like you and I have one speed whilst buses and larger vehicles have their own slower speed – 60mph for normal size car drivers and 50 & 40mph for the larger guys.
3. I learned that ‘experienced’ drivers are allowed 12 points against their licence whereas newly qualified drivers have a limit of 6. If the fatal number is reached, it’s tickets for them (pardon the pun) for they have their licence removed. Am I glad I’m not reliant on public transport!!
4. Speed signs are there to inform of the limit - it’s NOT the target .... so, that’s where I’ve been going wrong all this time!!
5. If I did my licence all over again, it would be the case of ‘Do not pass. GO, straight to JAIL’.
6. I drove through some beautiful countryside, places I’d like to get back to.
7. I met some lovely people .... also some idiots!!

Moving to the "Mud Island"

Four and a half years ago I arrived in the UK kicking and spluttering. I was, yet again, being uprooted to a land totally foreign to me (well, holidays don’t really count!). First time round my then partner, children & I left Durban for Cape Town. I was devastated to be leaving my security blanket, aka family. Well, Cape Town opened its arms and welcomed me. There I very happily stayed for the next quarter century. The next jump was a major leap .... and so, four & half years down the line I find myself with loads of wonderful friends, travel far & wide (who the hell needs a car when the transport system is what it is, plus the UK is centre of transatlantic world so half the cost as if flying from SA), spend every day with half my immediate family (the other half is Stateside), SEE my family and friends via Skype as often as possible and I still get to munch on my favourite food ... BILTONG! Even if there are no physical premises to purchase SA goods in our area, the internet is a pretty cool system to use and use I do... www.zauk.co.uk. These few home comforts are so important for us to have, especially to people who are still crawling their way round after having just arrived.

It’s hard moving to a new country. Firstly you leave behind family & friends, you leave behind your personal history, a language you understand, your culture, your roots. You arrive in a foreign land with perpetuous grey skies, a language you hardly recognise even though you know you should, row upon row of houses with no break in sight. Where are the gardens, where are the treehouses, the dogs running around ? Children play indoors, all activities are indoors, even the swimming pools. It’s all so different! You have to start making friends, learn where the best and cheapest place to shop for food, clothes, entertainment, find a doctor, dentist, make friends ...!

Then it’s getting to know the local terminologies, for example barbeque! I mean really, what the hell is a barbeque!!!! To BRAAI is what real men do, isn’t it?? Football for Soccer, Permanent Markers for Kokis, Corn for Mealies ..... and so the list goes on!

As time goes by, so the heartache for ‘home’ starts to subside. The sense of freedom is very real. You find that Tesco is like Pick n Pay. Windhoek Lager and Mrs Balls Chutney are available at some local supermarkets. Lots of butcheries make and sell boerewors and biltong and so the taste buds are not subjected to cold turkey!

As I say, as times goes by ..... it takes about 2-3 years (sometimes longer) before you feel a sense of belonging. It’s worth the ‘hardships’ because just think of the monetary value (for when/if you return to SA). And when the sun does shine it’s truly glorious. Take the time to explore the land for although it is small and referred to as the Mud Island, it is truly a beautiful one.

Progress Report #2

We've been really quiet in the last few weeks however that doesn't mean we have cooled down. In fact we have been working incredibly hard in the background putting together our online South African shop which I'm thrilled to announce has now launched and is live!

I personally couldn't control my excitement so placed an order for all my favourite Saffa goodies - can't wait to receive them early next week.... Ouma rusks, peppermint crisps, zoo biscuits, pronutro mmmm yummy!

So that is our big news for this week. The next stage of our plan is to add more products, especially the biltong and droewors category ASAP and then to kick off our events!

As always, keep us posted at info@zauk.co.uk of any feedback or requests you may have.

Progress Report

We've been working really hard preparing for our launch on Tuesday. There is more than most people realise there is in getting a website launched, especially one that has so many areas to it. So our progress report is as follows:

On-line SA shop:

Our product range has increased at the last minute so there has been a mad rush to make sure that all products are available for the October opening date. All your favourite items like Nik Naks, Milo, Koeksisters and the rest will be available for home delivery in just a few more weeks!

Courier:

Our CEO has managed to get an estimated 30% reduction to FEDEX rates ensuring that all ZAUK registered users get a fantastic service at a rate that is unbeaten to and from South Africa.

Community:

As of today we have 413 members on the website with many more via facebook. We are so thrilled with the fast take up of membership with approximately 180 members joining yesterday! So far the feedback that we have received has been really positive.

Events:

We have been updating our events page with many SA events that are taking place around the country - of course you are always welcome to add your own too. In the new year though, ZAUK will be hosting a summer ball and a family Christmas event with many more smaller events throughout the year. We are very excited about the 2010 calendar so keep an eye open for one of our exciting events near you.

Information:

The information page is also growing with some vital information for new arrivals to the UK. Not in our information area but worth a mention is our recipe page with some South African favourite like tomato bredie, koeksisters, butternut soup and bobotie. Once again, if you have anything to add, just let us know via the website.

Then some really exciting news! Our CEO will be featured in this week's 'The South African' newspaper. We'll publish the link as soon as it is available or just keep an eye on our facebook page and group.

South African Goodies

Anybody who has been away from their friends, family, home will tell you that those first few months of home-sickness are really difficult. It takes a lot not to pack it all in and return home. Once you get through those first few months though, it definitely gets easier although you of course still have your moments.

What many have found is that the comfort foods of South Africa can really ease the 'home-sickness'....items like Pronutro, Ouma rusks, Sparletta cream soda....all these items that are not available in the superstores across the UK, but very soon will be available at www.zauk.co.uk for delivery!

ZAUK will be launching in September where you will be able to get information to help you settle in the UK, shop for your favourite items, get South African services (including very reasonable courier service) and much more.

Register today to be apart of all things South African in the UK.

Introducing ZAUK

ZAUK is about to launch - we are just a few weeks away from the website going live. Go and check it out at www.zauk.co.uk.

ZAUK aims to bring people, business, services and information together to form a collaborative hub for South Africans in the United Kingdom.

Through the collaborative hub:

1. make available direct to members, products and services needed by South African residents in the UK
2. create social networks and events for South African companies and South Africans in the UK
3. connect South Africans together through on-line profiles
4. raise funds for nominated charities in South Africa

South African companies will be able to promote their products and services directly to their target market namely expat South Africans in the UK. By doing so companies will be able to have greater market penetration, increase sales and at the same time reduce advertising and marketing costs by using a single portal with the largest number of potential customers. Our USP is being a 'one stop shop', encompassing all that other websites offer whilst providing companies direct access to their target market.

ZAUK will address specific needs for both its customers and members:

Customers

• reduce time marketing products and services
• reduce advertising and marketing costs through having access directly to their target market
• increase sales through greater target market penetration and brand awareness
• the facility to promote specials/events/functions etc directly to their target market
• networking events

Members

• information on living in the UK
• products and services
• events and socialising
• online forums
• business directory
• member profiles
• shop for South African products online
• courier service at incredible rates

Feel free to get in touch with us with any feedback or suggestions for a better website: andrew@zauk.co.uk