Spent 4 years pretending it's all OK

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  • NoOneAround
    NoOneAround Posts: 1,822 Forumite
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    trix-a-belle wrote: »
    I can highly recommend jungle formula insect repellent, available at the usual high street suspects, worked like a dream for me when I went to Cuba a few years ago.
    Hope you have a lovely time

    Thank You Trix-a-belle - I bought the jungle one as you recommended - it wasn't much more than the own brands, and there was a buy one get one half price offer - so I did pretty well methinks!
    Cuba sounds fantastic.....hmmmm.... destination for next trip perhaps....

    NOA
    x
    Feb2014 Total unsecured debt £72,520>>01/06/16 £68166>01/02/17 £66,600=8.18%PAID
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  • NoOneAround
    NoOneAround Posts: 1,822 Forumite
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    On a bit of a high as just returned for graduation ceremony :):)
    Need to get myself to bed as still working tomorrow and some complications with car hire to sort out ....:eek::eek:
    credit card essential and a photo licence too :eek::eek: some last minute panic stuff to take care of tomorrow.

    NOA
    xx
    Feb2014 Total unsecured debt £72,520>>01/06/16 £68166>01/02/17 £66,600=8.18%PAID
    Mortgage Jan14=209,800 Jan15=£200,300 Jan17£180,700>OCT17 £170,200
    Health/Fitness Challenges Priority#1 Stay Fit and healthy - whatever it takes:)
    Wombling Free Cash May2016 £51
  • Cherryfudge
    Cherryfudge Posts: 10,048 Forumite
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    Fantastic news from both the children! You are absolutely right to be 'proud mum' - they are a credit to you.
    I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
    The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)

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  • eco_farmer
    eco_farmer Posts: 117 Forumite
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    have a lovely time NOA xxx
    debt free 1st October 2016
  • brizzledfw
    brizzledfw Posts: 7,302 Forumite
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    Fantastic news re your kids :j

    Your long trip sounds amazing. So thrilled you've just gone for it :) life is for living hon xxx
    MFiT-T4 Member No. 96 - 2022 is my MF goal :D
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  • jvr
    jvr Posts: 426 Forumite
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    Oooooo didn't realise you were going there!! When are you going? You will have an amazing time :)
    Debt: £14,000 now £2169
    Emergency Fund: 1000/ £1000
    :j
  • NoOneAround
    NoOneAround Posts: 1,822 Forumite
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    eco_farmer wrote: »
    have a lovely time NOA xxx

    Thank You Eco, I am sure we will once we get there. DS already there :)
    NOA x
    Cherryfudge wrote: »
    Fantastic news from both the children! You are absolutely right to be 'proud mum' - they are a credit to you.
    Thank you Cherry, I am so very pleased for them :)

    NOA
    x
    Feb2014 Total unsecured debt £72,520>>01/06/16 £68166>01/02/17 £66,600=8.18%PAID
    Mortgage Jan14=209,800 Jan15=£200,300 Jan17£180,700>OCT17 £170,200
    Health/Fitness Challenges Priority#1 Stay Fit and healthy - whatever it takes:)
    Wombling Free Cash May2016 £51
  • NoOneAround
    NoOneAround Posts: 1,822 Forumite
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    brizzledfw wrote: »
    Fantastic news re your kids :j

    Your long trip sounds amazing. So thrilled you've just gone for it :) life is for living hon xxx
    Thank You Brizzle, Still feeling very guilty about it, but it's taken a long while to realise the Life is for living, mostly with the help and inspiration from the lovely people on here :A like you know who :D

    NOA
    x
    jvr wrote: »
    Oooooo didn't realise you were going there!! When are you going? You will have an amazing time :)

    :D Thanks you jvr, had wanted to post/ask you about it but haven't been on much due to work and family commitment overload during the last 2 months! Sunday!
    Major chaos at home, exhausted myself getting DS off. Not packed yet, and dithering about whether to go see mum today. At least car hire issues are sorted.

    NOA
    x
    Feb2014 Total unsecured debt £72,520>>01/06/16 £68166>01/02/17 £66,600=8.18%PAID
    Mortgage Jan14=209,800 Jan15=£200,300 Jan17£180,700>OCT17 £170,200
    Health/Fitness Challenges Priority#1 Stay Fit and healthy - whatever it takes:)
    Wombling Free Cash May2016 £51
  • jvr
    jvr Posts: 426 Forumite
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    Hi Noa


    Feel free to ask away :) where abouts are you going? Will try think of a list of weird quirks about the place that are useful to know!


    Exchange rate is not as good as it has been but still pretty good :) If you like a glass of vino you will be delighted at the prices over there.
    Debt: £14,000 now £2169
    Emergency Fund: 1000/ £1000
    :j
  • jvr
    jvr Posts: 426 Forumite
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    Quirks
    Car parks – you will see ‘car park attendants’ who offer to watch your car for a fee… usually useful to slip them nominal amount to keep on side!
    Cars – illegal to fill up your own petrol they have lots of petrol attendants
    Driving – depending where you go they can be absolutely normal and drive on the left or mental head cases……. Just stick to driving and they will expertly swerve around you
    Taxis- don’t do it, not safe in anyway shape or form
    Eating out – cheap! Both drinks and restaurant food is cheap, strangely supermarkets are not much cheaper than here.
    Sundays – can’t by alcohol in supermarkets, in some provinces restaurants and bars close very early
    Airports – you will come out and someone will come up in hiviz looking official to help you – just say you are fine – they just want money (this is a theme of high viz in SA)
    Walking – south Africans don’t do it and aside from really tourist areas like Cape town waterfront generally better to drive
    Language – Racism is huge….. but confusingly ‘coloured’ refers to lighter skinned ethnic group and is not considered offensive while ‘mixed race’ is.
    English – people will tell you they are English too – they differentiate between the africaans and the English white populations – you are british to them
    Drinks – if you drink you must try a klipdrift it’s a brandy that they basically worship although they consider it a mans drink so I like to order it to prove a point
    Food – biltong – bit like beef jerky but actually tasty and you will see it in lots of places. Milk tarts – bit like custard tart these are the ‘traditional’ africaans food……….. everything else is steak!


    Anything you don't pack will be cheaper their so don't stress!!!
    Debt: £14,000 now £2169
    Emergency Fund: 1000/ £1000
    :j
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