SaffasintheUK

The question I get asked often is “do you ever get homesick?” To be honest, the answer is actually no.   I don’t get homesick, I don’t long for Johannesburg or Africa at all. But I miss home anyway.   So what is it exactly that I miss?   It’s hard to describe really, and what I feel has been called homesickness I suppose but I don’t think that I’m really pining for the city I left behind.   What I miss is familiarity. Quirky traditions and behaviours that I know and understand. A collective understanding that makes you feel like you belong in a place.  Like you've always been there. I miss knowing every brand, and which ones I prefer in the supermarket.   When you first arrive it takes hours to do your shopping because you are browsing so much, and then it takes weeks to work out which washing soap you like the most because you have to try them all.   It’s tedious and makes you feel a bit like an oaf.   I miss knowing the chains – reading on a local FB community

Beach huts on Bournemouth beach Getting settled in the country means wanting to see more of it, travel a bit and explore, especially if you have an adventurous spirit like we do. But money is always the big hurdle, travelling is expensive and it can cripple your plans to get out and have a blast.   So how did we manage to enjoy a 3 day bank holiday weekend on just £200?   I’ll share a few of our tips, if you share your stories with us! Firstly, not included in this sum of money is accommodation and a National Trust family membership.   For accommodation, we booked early, and by that I mean we booked in the dead of winter when not a soul is even dreaming of sunny weekend breaks.   I start searching for self-catering accommodation in November and eventually settle on a privately rented mobile home in a resort park.   I negotiated with the owner to pay our booking off over a few months and managed to secure the brilliant rate of just £80 a night for a 6 sleeper.   I can also