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Best Property Apps to use when looking to rent in the UK

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Looking to rent a property in the UK and want to have all the right tools available on your smartphone or tablet? We recommend you try out these property apps.

  1. Rightmove
  2. Zoopla
  3. OnTheMarket
  4. Movebubble
  5. AroundMe
  6. Mitula
  7. Planner 5D
  8. Openrent

An informative site to visit while on your house hunt is www.streetcheck.co.uk which provides loads of information on different areas throughout the UK including local culture, crime, nearest schools, dentists, doctors and more.

For more advice on renting in the UK, read this article on where to live in the UK.

Want to connect with other South Africans? Join our SAUK Saffa Map.

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The importance of Interior Design

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Believe it not, Interior Design actually plays a very important role in our life and day to day living. Not only is Interiors about aesthetics, adding some style and elegance to your lifestyle, but it assists in the functionality of our lives! Enhancing our quality of life and uplifting our spirits, helping us to effectively maximize on the space available to make the best use of our home! Bonus factor: Adding value to your home!

4 Key factors on why Interior Design plays an important role in our lives:

Functionality:
This is one of the core aspects to interior design, working closely with the latest design and technology – Functional Beauty. The kitchen, one of your most important utility areas in a home, it must be beautiful yet functional. Everything from layout; flow; equipment; plug points; durable finishes gets taken into account when designing this space and it must work!

Maximize on Space:
A benefit of maximizing on your space available to you eliminates on any unnecessary congestion in a home. When working on the design layouts of a home it’s important to study the space, what the function of the room; who will occupy the space; the safety and the comfort that is required.

Adding Value:
Raising the value – Majority of buyers look for a well-designed home with minimal revamp work to be done, which means they don’t have to spend more money and time. The two most important rooms that will always add value to a home is the kitchen and the bathroom, design well!

Enhance your Quality of Life:
Carefully selected design elements as light; colour; fabrics and nature (bringing the outside in) attract our senses; effect our moods and add to our well-being. A home should not only be well designed, but it should have a sense of your personality and be your haven of relaxation and comfort. Happy space, Happy face!

Your home is your haven, and the appreciation of beauty and function will all play a part. Plan your home design ahead and carefully to ensure that you achieve your dream design efficiently!

Artisan Food & Craft Market has a New Home

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The Artisan Food & Craft Market previously held at the Wimbledon Rugby Club will now be operating from Raynes Park Vale Football Club for the December markets.

The organisers are thrilled that the Club have given this special group of traders the opportunity to continue providing customers with a COVID safe environment to enjoy food, beverages and arts and crafts stalls.

Saturday 9 am – 2 pm
Sunday 10 am – 3 pm
Parking is available onsite and is dog friendly.

The market was created by fellow South Africans to assist small business to trade throughout COVID and they have built up an amazing group of traders.

Get in touch with sam@53festivalroad.com if you need more information.

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Binary Botanical Give Away

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This competition has ended. Follow us on Facebook to keep updated.

If you’re interested in South African related content please Like and share our Facebook page to stay updated.

Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World from Constantia

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Groot Constantia Wine Estate’s Sauvignon Blanc 2019 recently won the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), this is the first time in ten years for a South African wine.

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) is accepted as the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential annual wine competition.

An IWC medal-winning wine is tasted by a minimum of 8 judges before being awarded. All wines are tasted blind with no pricing or producer information provided. 

The International Wine Challenge helps consumers discover great wine, and the medals displayed on winning bottles offer a trusted guarantee of quality.

Elgin Chardonnay 2018 from Boschendal Wines also scooped a trophy winning the South African White category.

Looking for your favourite South African Wine? Cape Wine and Food has a fabulous selection. Shop online at www.capewineandfood.com

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2021 UK Tour

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It’s confirmed Ladysmith Black Mambazo will tour the UK next year with their first show in York at the Grand Opera House on 15th May 2021. They will be on tour until the end of June 2021.

This world-renowned and highly uplifting all-male South African group, founded by the late Bhekizizwe Joseph Shabalala is influenced by the traditional music called Isicathamiya, which developed in the mines of South Africa.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been around since the 1970s, in the mid-80s they became known worldwide when they featured on Paul Simon’s 14 million-selling ‘Graceland’ album.

Tour Dates

May 15 2021 – York, Grand Opera House
May 16 2021 – Birmingham Town Hall
May 17 2021 – Milton Keynes Theatre
May 18 2021 – Guildford, G Live
May 20 2021 – St George’s Bristol
May 21 2021 – London, Alexandra Palace
May 22 2021 – Bexhill-on-Sea, De La Warr Pavilion
Jun 14 2021 – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
Jun 15 2021 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Jun 16 2021 – Richmond Theatre
Jun 17 2021 – Dublin, National Concert Hall
Jun 19 2021 – Saffron Walden, Saffron Hall
Jun 20 2021 – London, Meltdown @ Southbank Centre
Jun 21 2021 – Brighton, Theatre Royal

Visit mambazo.com for more.

COVID-19 screening service launches at Gatwick Airport

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Pre-departure and post arrival ExpressTest COVID-19 screening will be available for Gatwick passengers, staff and local residents with results available the next day as from Monday, 30th November.

Gatwick’s air passengers and on-airport staff will be charged a subsidised rate of £60 while the general public will pay £99. A group discount is also offered, with up to 30% off for groups of four or more.

Gatwick Airport and ExpressTest site is located within the airport’s Long Stay Car Park at the South Terminal and will offer a fast and accurate and lab-analysed PCR swab test.

“We are delighted to be Gatwick airport’s official screening partner. We launched ExpressTest to give people peace of mind, whether that’s enabling travel through our Fit to Fly certificates, or providing the reassurance needed to safely visit friends and family abroad or within the UK. In the next couple of months we aim to have more than 30 locations operating across the UK, with the ambition of giving the British public the confidence to go about their daily lives in these uncertain times.”  ExpressTest Founder, Nick Markham

Those who screen negative will be emailed a Fit to Fly certificate that is authorised by a doctor, along with their test result, however, passengers will be responsible for checking with their travel provider as to whether this document is accepted before booking the screening service.  

To book a test or for more information visit www.expresstest.co.uk

Source: mediacentre.gatwickairport.com

Gordon Ramsay Cookery School to Open in Woking

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Good news for Gordon Ramsay fans is the new cookery school set to open in Woking, Surrey next year.

It has been confirmed the former Tante Marie Culinary Academy in the town centre will be reopening as Ramsay’s academy in 2021. We have yet to find out the exact date.

This industry-leading facility will offer guests of all ages and cooking abilities the opportunity to enjoy fun, relaxed and informative cookery classes.

Having the Gordon Ramsay Academy in Woking is a sure ego boost for Woking and something exciting for Surrey locals to look forward to.

Where to live

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It is easy to find a house, it is not easy to find a home, which is why we came up with ‘ where to live ‘. Never has this been more accurate than moving to a foreign country. If you do not know the areas, it is difficult to make a choice. You can ask the Facebook groups; they are immensely helpful. However, people differ. The areas that some people find desirable may not be where you feel comfortable. Here are some guidelines that may help.

Distance
The further you move from London, the less expensive your rent will be. The properties also become larger. While this seems like the ideal solution, keep in mind that it could take you some time to commute to the office. Not all towns have direct transport links and you may have to change trains a few times before you get to your destination. Some people travel about 3 hours a day.

Price
If you are travelling from one of the commuter towns, you may be paying an astronomical amount of money to get to London. Some tickets are about £25 per day. It is cheaper if you buy a monthly or annual ticket, but it may outweigh the amount you are saving on accommodation. If you do not live within walking distance from the station you will have to take a bus to get there or you will need to drive. Leaving your car at the station could cost you about £7 per day.
For instance, a season ticket from Woking to London will cost you £86 per week or £330 per month.

Finding a rental
You may have to pay a large deposit on your rental if you do not have a UK credit record, keep this in mind and discuss this with your realtor. A popular site to visit is rightmove.co.uk, you can put in the area you work and set your search parameters. Zoopla.co.uk is also useful as is openrent.co.uk where you deal directly with the landlord. These sites will also give you the energy rating and tell you in which council tax band you fall. Council tax is largely dependent on the size of your property and the area in which it is located. It can be around £200 per month.

Another informative site to visit is www.streetcheck.co.uk which provides loads of information on different areas throughout the UK including local culture, crime, nearest schools, dentists, doctors and more.

Related.

I am an ex-teacher turned part time CV writer,  online educator, and blogger who moved to Ireland with my husband three years ago. We brought along 4 pets and too many books to count. After a year in Ireland we made the move to London. We love exploring new places and taking long hikes around Surrey where we live. All of which I exploit on my blog that mostly serves to amuse my mother and my best friends. 

Binary Botanical

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Have you ever been in a situation where you don’t quite fancy something as high in alcohol as a glass of wine and you’re not too fond of beer? The sweetness of cider isn’t too appealing and you’d like something a little more sophisticated than a fruit juice. So, what DO you have?

Binary Botanical was co-founded by two African females to provide a lighter, beer-like alternative to a glass of wine. This refreshing beverage is available with both 4% and 0.5% alcohol for consumers choosing to drink less or not at all.

Most beers are brewed using hop cones, however, Binary Botanical is infused with organic leaves, which normally go to waste, making Binary a pro-eco-choice as well as a health-conscious decision. The hop leaves give a tangy, not bitter, taste making it the perfect accompaniment for many dishes. Binary Botanical is lower in alcohol and calories than wine, vegan, and gluten and sugar free. Most recently it won the Global Beverage Innovation awards best botanical infusion drink.

Try it in a stemmed glass with cucumber and rosemary or with orange and fresh mint as a spritz alternative.

If you are curious and would like to try binary – its available in selected Sainsbury’s stores throughout the UK from early November, Ocado and www.binarybotanical.com

You could also enter the competition to win a 20 pack of Binary Botanical 4% or 0.5% and a Christmas gift.

Discount: 20% discount on online prices with code: SAUK