The trek is over now the journey begins

[Uncle Spud Murphy]

Groete everyone and dankie,

Mossie bites to date - six and climbing.

The trek that softness and I began so long ago is over, now the real journey for us begins. We will not be packing up to return home after three weeks, not this time. We have a new place to live and now we have to work, overcome the obstacles put in our way and make SA our home.

It was a grand start so it was. Our taxi turned up in the wrong place. Had to wait two hours before we could process the moggy export and our excess baggage charge came to R9000, which was R6000 more than I expected. Greedy #uggers so they are and then our luck changed for the better.

RV Sometime, my softness and I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, patience, understanding and generosity upon meeting us at the airport. I shudder to think what we would have done if you had not been there. Chances are I would have totally lost it with the lying gits at pet customs and ended up in the back of a van. Won't go into details here, but Andre has a few tales to tell over the next meat frying meeting. Baie Dankie Andre, we owe you sooooooo much

The municipality at Phalaborwa is now staffed by the disadvantaged, so it should not have come as a surprise to us to be told that all the time and expense spent last year claiming temporary residence no longer counted. We have to start again because thick'oes cannot understand what was done before and do not have the common sense to listen to what they are being told. And so, tomorrow we have another medical R300 and a TB test R400. Another visit to the accountant (Nice guy) to prove we have the means to support ourselves and yet another fee to home affairs for screwing things up. Yeah, yeah I know TIA. Get used to it sunshine, it'll get worse

Right then. I hope to add to this topic each day if I can, right up to the time when Home Affairs allow us to buy a home when we will invite you all to our house warming in Phalaborwa and yes. It is bloody hot and going to get hotter eieesh.

Baie Dankie everyone - pm your number (Land Line asseblief) and I will call you

Alles van die beste
and from softness also

[johnsa]

Welcome to SA. Unfortunately home affairs also had a braindrain and people are sometimes not promoted on a job because of there capabilities. That is because the Rainbow nation does not understand yet that we should all work together and its not a matter of getting even. I hope it will be the best man for the job, black, white, indian, paki or coloured does not matter but capable people SA needs. I understand that there was a time to promote the black numbers but now get back to in making this the country that beats for instance Malysia

But think of it, you live now in one of the finest countries, for dining, wining, flying, motoring, diving and what ever your hart needs. And don't forget to taste the Billtong and Beer. Enjoy, stay safe, drive safe

[Aerosan]

Welcome Oom Spud and Mrs Spud

I sometimes wonder how people can immigrate here when I'm gearing up to leave because this is indeed a beautiful country with wonderful people. The flying weather is fantastic (not the last three months though) and nature is always just ten minutes away. I'm planning to leave ( and don't know if I really will) because I believe that it will be a safer environment for my children to grow and learn in but believe me, it is not easy.

What I'm trying to say is that it couldn't have been easy for you to leave your home, so welcome and I hope that you find joy in , what I believe to be a very stressful time.

Sanna

[AndyG]

Oh no he is here. I thought you were joking about moving here.

Jokes aside welcome my mate to you and the lovely Babs.(and Garfield)

If there is anything I can do to help in any way just give me a shout.

Suggestion for the mozzies, drink lots of Klippies!!!!


Cheers,

[Wart]

Oom Aardappel and Tannie Babs, welcome at last to sunny SA. Sounds like you have already had some taste of the previously disadvantaged regime and your patience is being tested; if you pass this then you will fit in quite fine (not that I doubt that for one minute!).

Sit back, relax and let it all take its own course; one thing is for sure, you cannot buck the "system".

Looking forward to meeting up with you guys in the near future.

[Grumpy]

Hey Spud, Welcome to SAFRICA, but now listen to me.............. cos I know !!!
Before you become 'mash' or 'slapchips', raise your tolerance levels and you'll be just fine.
I know it's not easy, but we don't have a choice.
Good luck here matey.!!

[Smiley]

Goeie dag Uncle Spud

You now need to learn a couple of afrikaans words just to improve your communication with the farmers (Boere) in Phalaborwa..

So let's start :
Good day : Goeie dag
I love the warm weather : Ek's lief vir die warm weer

Keep it up, you're doing fine

Can you please help me : Mamparra kom hier of jy kry n klap
Thank You : Jou gat man
I'm tired : Ek's nou jimpel

Welcome to the great SA

[weedy]

Goeie dag Uncle Spud

You now need to learn a couple of afrikaans words just to improve your communication with the farmers (Boere) in Phalaborwa..

So let's start :

I love the warm weather : Ek's lief vir die warm weer

Ek smaak die hitte

[Trikenut]

DON'T LISTEN TO SMILEY!!!!!
If you do what he says, you'll be kicked out of SA.
I'll translate one of them for you: Thank You : Jou gat man
Correction: Thank You: Dankie.
Jou gat man, means: Your whole man! (The afrikaans way of saying you ar**hole)

[Nkwazi]

Welcome mate and well done, me missus made the move 9 years ago and hasnt looked back. If you ever get asked in Afrikaans "hoe gaan dit" (how are you), your stock standard answer should be "arm maar jags" (Fine thanks)!!
Enjoy the bush and all the good that comes with it, I'm jealous.

[Uncle Spud Murphy]

Welcome Oom Spud and Mrs Spud

I sometimes wonder how people can immigrate here when I'm gearing up to leave because this is indeed a beautiful country with wonderful people. The flying weather is fantastic (not the last three months though) and nature is always just ten minutes away. I'm planning to leave ( and don't know if I really will) because I believe that it will be a safer environment for my children to grow and learn in but believe me, it is not easy.

What I'm trying to say is that it couldn't have been easy for you to leave your home, so welcome and I hope that you find joy in , what I believe to be a very stressful time.

Sanna

The only safe place to live in this world today Aerosan is somewhere where there are no people. My own country is having it's problems with crime and corruption, just like SA. We have our knife crime. Muggings. Stabbings. Robberies etc and our police and government are just as useless as yours in dealing with the problem

Softness and I came here for our SA Family and a quality of life that we do not feel is possible in our own country. The ANC is already fighting among themselves so it won't be long before SA can begin re-building her country and repair the damage caused by the #iss poor attitude of the disadvantaged. I firmly believe this but we all have to work together to achieve the same goal.

I wish you and your Family well for the future young man. I wish all South Africans well for the future

Alles van die beste
and from softness also

[Uncle Spud Murphy]

Thursday 27th Nov 2008

Mossie bites 16 and climbing despite immersing oneself in a daily Tabard bath. Should have malaria or some other flying borne illness by Christmas. Cannot even see the little b@stards

Changed the sim card today to vodacom. If you wish, pm me and I will give thee the number as well as skype and land-line. No email yet. Will be having to use Daughters computer for some time to come. Good news regarding residence. Previous Home Affairs Officer (Yeah, not disadvantaged) who sorted everything out last year has intervened and we should have our residency tomorrow after a short interview - eeehh, watch this space. Depends upon how many T's need crossing and i's need dotting

Still very strange to be here. Not my country, do not belong and feel out of place but I know that feeling of detachment will alter as time passes - bloody well better and that's a fact so it is. No turning back now.

Going to take me a while adjust to your country and my posts may be a little formal for a while, but have patience. Will be trading insults soon as the need arises. Love you guys

Alles van die beste
and from softness as well

[andreb]

Welcome Spud, this is a great country. I hope you are safe and love life here. As I type this we are packing and all our stuff goes into a container for Aus tomorrow.
We will meet and have a few beers!!

[AndyG]

Spud stop talking kak, you are now a serf efricen and get on with it.

Mate you have made and met some of the best friends around on this forum.

My invite is still open if you and your lovely wife (no cat it will fight with mine) ever come down to the beautiful province of kZN. I have a room waiting

Welcome again

Cheers

[Smiley]

If you ever get asked in Afrikaans "hoe gaan dit" (how are you), your stock standard answer should be "arm maar jags" (Fine thanks)!!

He he he