Spent 4 years pretending it's all OK

NoOneAround

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

NoOneAround

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

Cherryfudge

Fantastic news from both the children! You are absolutely right to be 'proud mum' - they are a credit to you.

eco_farmer

have a lovely time NOA xxx

brizzledfw

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

jvr

Oooooo didn't realise you were going there!! When are you going? You will have an amazing time

NoOneAround

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

NoOneAround

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

NOA
x

jvr wrote: »

Oooooo didn't realise you were going there!! When are you going? You will have an amazing time

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

jvr

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.

jvr

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!!!