Just passed the 30 mark

income 300 a month as I took of for a year from work.

Own a shack with no electricity and one working tap(source fed) that I am doing up currently in France.

No debts

had about 100 k when my year off started(after purchase off house) not sure where I am now hope 2012 brings me electricty, heating and a bathroom. Probably end up with a house and a no or small debt then.

Working offshore and so related so virtually no expenses when I work.

Its all about what you spend excpet for my ten bikes some 50 quid others 3K and the occasional holiday I can’t be arsed on any luxuries

Just check te website UK15 free for all 15 off

Don’t waste your time and money

as said paperwork, fuel, bribes

An once you get there if you make it a small part will break and they can’t source it or can’t find which one it is or can’t fit it. So your machine will go idle very soon. Thats if they don’t sell it for scrap before.

Having lived in africa i wouldn’t bother seen so many nice machines neglected or idle for a missing bearin(governement grader for months for ex.)

sadly in dutch but file on here is worth the download

http://www.solosride.be/frameset%20nieuws.html

Try German A I rode one of their prototypes a couple of weeks ago where you could drop the travel you could actually do it in any increment so drop 10mm or even almost all the travel if keen, was easy to pack the bike in my tiny car

Spekkie,

If I where you I’d stay there for now( though I am not to keen on GP even Zuma admits it stands for Gangsta Paradise). Though use the good financial time to save up. Keep as many funds outside of the country(RSA that is) as you can so that you can split easily if you want too(Malema times).

Worked mortagage example at 4.5% for uk 8% for RSA quite realistic I think.

Cost of living my five cents:
UK more expensive
Shopping say RSA times 1,4 ish
Going out to eat say times 2 or 2.5 so thats gonna suffer a bit.
Housing browse online but keep savings as explained earlier in mind is more expensive but not as horrible as on first sight.
The Maid, the gardenes euhm times 10 they will become distant memories
Bike parts here you will save a lot although RSA has improve +UK is still al lot cheaper and Chain reactions is a lot faster to your door.

I left Durban two weeks ago so comparison is quite recent have been spending my last year inbetween UK and RSA.

Ernie,

If both have that income it does cost of living is so much less you get wonderfull houses for 100K GBP or 150KGBP in the more expensive area’s.

About the 1.25 USD that’s not the reality for a working minmal wage is higher it will get to 100 GBP a month or so. My experience lots of those who don’t work just don’t wanna work or have not many skills. Also many on low wages have (very)low productivity just hang around and don’t work too much IMO you need to put out to earn.

Have you ever lived in Southern Africa? Its an eye opener, I used too sometimes feel sorry I definitely don’t anymore and aid money is only making it worse.

What income bracket are you in South Africa? If you are close to the better income bracket say 15K rand after tax there is no way you are going to afford a better life in the UK

Say bye bye to sunshine bye to gardener bye to maid and it does suck to do it yourself if you haven’t done it for year, eating out so much more expensive holiday in B&B also so much more expensive.

Also important mortage? Are you mortagage free in RSA then it tops for RSA easily finacially. Though if you are quite deep into your mortgage Realize that 100K is not 100k interest in South Africa is a lot higher so for full mortage your repayment on 135K UK will be same as 100K in RSA on 20 years if longer even more if economy picks up and the prime rate goes up in RSA it will also become an even bigger difference.

Though the crime sucks it depends where you are in RSA. What keeps me away is to have to cycle in groups for safety stay away in so many places and IMO its only getting worse. Here in the Lakes i just sit my bum down in a field in RSA I first have to check the safety perimeter and keep pepper spray nearby though depends on the area.

Have lived in Stellenbosch and Durban temporarily, visited S-A many times and nearby Mozambique now temporary resident of UK(although more north then you.

Other item do you have any? Where do you wan’t to see them grow up I personally wouldn’t want to have a teenage daughter in the RSA of today and definitely not in the RSA of Julius Malema.

In short wanna be pampered pick RSA want freedom choose UK country side.

Have a look to Move2nz.com

Toyed with the idea years ago, only been there on holiday though.

Its a lovely country though wages are quite a bit lower and interest rates quite a bit higher so if you have no cash house loan will be a big budget burden. Though If you have cash say 150K £ you can just buy a house outright and it ai’nt an issue anymore.

Their point system is quite strict if you aren’t on a special jobs list you basically often need a job offer to make it.

Loved the place my first choice would be CHC though not at the moment let them first rebuild and have their job market settle down.

Lowey

Would be interested in your better routes around grizedale or other as I recently moved to Barrow not to far away

Got a peugeot 307 SW that takes the Mountainbike easily after the arches.

Do miss my 406 estate that took three road bikes and 4 wheelsets and two sportsbags and a tent.

When you do part with your DUC drop me a mail might be interested

There is plenty,

La roche is a good starting point.

try this ride its in dutch b ut GPS track supplied apparently quite hardcore.

Are you there now? There is a nice ride more to the north this weekend “herdersmarathon” and a good marathon second week of june “Theux”