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.