Life in the UK test

The ZAUK team have now been in the UK for 5 and a bit years, so it was time to do our 'Life in the UK' test, which is the test that we have to take to prove we have integrated in the UK way of life and can communicate in English.

It has been years since any of us had studied or taken a test which was probably the cause of most of our nerves. Well this and also having to know the answers to things like....what percentage of London is made up of the ethnic minority? Where is the European Parliament based? How many seats are in the Welsh Assembly? How many Buddists live in the UK? Did you know any of these answers...? So after much studying and practice tests we ate our Pronutro and drank our Milo for optimum energy and brain power then made our way to the test centre. The waiting felt like forever (you know when you just want to get it over with?) but we met a lovely South African family in the waiting room so the time started going faster. Eventually we sat the test and although it is only 24 questions and multiple choice you start doubting yourself as you really don't want to be the first South African in the history of this test to fail! It actually only took about 5 minutes (yes that was including the time to double check all the questions and answers) and then we got the news that we passed...woohoo!!!!!

So this allowed us to apply for our Indefinite Leave to Remain which came through today (yay!) and means that in just one more year's time we can apply for our British citizenship which is the ultimate prize for any South African wanting options in life. The next step is to get our letter from the SA Home Office confirming we can have dual nationality before we apply for our British passports.

It has been a good week :)

SA weather in the UK!!

Did you see this article in the Daily Mail today?

TROPICAL UK IN 15 YEARS
South African scientists working in the UK have made the astounding announcement today that the equator is shifting. Within 15 years the equator will lie along the South of England resulting in a tropical climate of hot, humid weather and heavy rain storms.

Karl van Rensburg, University of Cape Town, today announced that the equator is shifting by 0.00583 degrees a year and has been doing so for the last 25 years at least. It is not yet know what triggered the shifting process, however if it continues at this rate the world’s climate will be completely transformed in just 15 years. Speaking at the Green Summit in San Francisco, van Rensburg stated ‘in just 15 years we believe that the UK will have a tropical climate and the tip of America will form the new South Pole.’
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said they were excited about this new development and were looking to encourage South Africans, New Zealanders and Australians to stay in the UK as they could teach the British how to create the lifestyle they are accustomed to.

The response from Dr. Heinz Hrycyk of Green America was one of complete fury as this announcement goes against all findings to date. ‘We will be looking through Karl van Rensburg’s evidence and plan to have a view in the next 6 months’. Van Rensburg wasn’t available for further comment, however his team of expert climatologists stated that they had been observing these movements over a span of 10 years and that Dr. Hrycyk would have to come to the same conclusion after looking at the evidence.