What do, or would, you miss most about SA?

[Pints]

As it says on the tin, what is to be missed most about SA?

Family aside, and the Cape Town weather, I could kill for a meal at the Spur.

Things I could buy at a South African shop if I was bothered include Peppermint Crisp, Romany Creams and proper Fanta.

[bobskii]

Next time I fly to the UK I'm sure I could pick you up some bits and send them to you. A sort 'home from home' munchy box!

[Pints]

bobskii said:

Next time I fly to the UK I'm sure I could pick you up some bits and send them to you. A sort 'home from home' munchy box!

That's very kind of you but they don't take kindly to biltong passing through customs.

[AlleyCat]

Not sure where you are based in the UK at the moment, but if you are London way there is a Spur in the O2

[Pints]

AlleyCat said:

Not sure where you are based in the UK at the moment, but if you are London way there is a Spur in the O2

I'm in the South West - Swindon & Bristol - so a trip to the O2 is somewhat out of the way.

Wasn't there also one in Slough?

[green944]

I miss the reptiles especially the snakes, they were just a part of life I suppose and when I see a twig on the road my first thought is "snake". I miss Pick and Pay and ....ummmm not much else

[Pints]

green944 said:

I miss Pick and Pay and ....ummmm not much else

You miss P'n'P?
What do you miss about it? The pies?
They did make some pretty amazing pies.

[bobskii]

Pints said:

That's very kind of you but they don't take kindly to biltong passing through customs.

One of the local chappies brought me in some biltong his dad made on his farm the other day.

Bloody lovely.

Shame they don't like you importing such things into the EU.

[Pints]

Apparently there are places where it's available over here (if you're prepared to pay a bit more), but it never tastes quite the same.

[bobskii]

I've got a taste for Boerewors too, especially a Boerie roll.

The food is pretty great down here!

[green944]

Pints said:

You miss P'n'P?
What do you miss about it? The pies?
They did make some pretty amazing pies.

Liked the pies...a good variety too, that is what I miss...all the sauces,salad dressings, veges, fruit. What was your favourite pie?

[Pints]

green944 said:

Liked the pies...a good variety too, that is what I miss...all the sauces,salad dressings, veges, fruit. What was your favourite pie?

Pepper steak.

King Pies were pretty good too.

[green944]

Someone in my area is starting a business making and selling biltong, just having to go through the lengthy process to be able to sell it as it is not cooked. Hope it will not be too long.

[Alfanatic]

Biltong (we've got a biltong maker now).
Simba Smoked Beef crisps (sorry, I mean chips). Also O'Gradys and big korn bites.
Alfa Giuliettas - the '80s ones - and rust free, at least they were where I was based, which was behind the Boerewors Curtain
GTVs too.
Proper Fanta too.
Creme Soda
Wimpy (they're different to UK Wimpy)
Wide roads that don't have hedges and walls crammed right up to the shoulder. I miss the road holiday road trips from Boksburg (oops I said it) to the coast.
The Garden Route
Tsitsikamma and Storms River mouth
The weather. Perfectly mild. Lovely.
The wide open spaces
Well behaved children
Thunderstorms
Crickets
Friendly locals, at least the ones that aren't trying to take your stuff.
SA Car magazine. It's just... quaint. And it's still got Garageman's Casebook!
Oppikoppi. Actually, no, I don't miss that.
Christmas and new year being highlights in the long summer holidays.
No snow.
Clear night skies with lots of stars
Cheap meat, and braais
Warm oceans (not applicable in CT)
Bobotie

[Pints]

Alfanatic said:

.
Simba Smoked Beef crisps (sorry, I mean chips).

Many moons ago, as a student, I was actually Simba Lion for a few marketing events.

As a poor student the pay was pretty decent. Still have a Simba t-shirt knocking about.

[Alfanatic]

Nice! Did that get you in to any decent events, and if so, did you actually see anything through the suit?

[Pints]

Nothing especially exciting. Just a few events in East London.

You always have a "minder" with you who you have to pretend to whisper to. She then tells the crowd what I've alleged to have said.

Rule number one they drum into you: Simba may not speak.

Thumping rowdy kids who kick you in the shin is also a

[JimBaboon]

I miss car guards believe it or not. They're like human versions of pay and display meters except you decide how much to pay for parking depending on your mood, available change or whether you need the few rands you have to buy a loose cigarette with at the Engen garage on the way home.... You pay and they display...gratitude...sometimes. The ones down on Durban beachfront used to keep my keys while I went for a surf, still do now. Slipped the guy a bluey for his troubles at the end of my holiday.

After ten years I'm considering moving back. Each time I go I see the small positive changes taking affect. and YES! Pepper steak pies! my god, can't they make them here? Decent ones??

Anyone else considering the move back?

[Pints]

JimBaboon said:

Anyone else considering the move back?

No. Absolutely not.
My in-laws are forever asking for us to even go back for a holiday and I won't even do that. I don't feel I can take my daughters back there for even a short time.

[Alfanatic]

JimBaboon said:

Anyone else considering the move back?

Not yet. We've had a few holidays there but there are still too many new stories every time I talk to anyone who has been there recently for me to consider it a secure environment to raise my daughter in compared to Nanny State Britain. Plus I'm not yet convinced that the country is safe from the classic African dictatorship future.

But I do miss it. It's a beautiful country, with wonderful people having to live with a dark past.