This week feels like a pause between breaths.

Christmas has come and gone, but the year hasn’t quite begun.
The UK is still quiet. The light still short.
And for many of us, home feels both close and very far away at the same time.

So before anything else, from our hearts to yours — Merry Christmas.
And as the days gently tip toward a new calendar, we wish you a happy, blessed, and deeply good 2026.
May it bring steadiness, good health, kind people, and enough ease to breathe properly again.

No pressure to “start strong”.
No rush to reinvent yourself.
Just a gentle crossing into the new year, together.

And because we promised — and we keep our promises — this week also brings our fifth and final Christmas gift.

A FREE SPECIAL REPORT, made with care, covering everything you get for free in the UK when you turn 60 — and exactly how to claim it.

Whether it’s for you, a parent, or simply something to file away for later, we hope it feels useful, reassuring, and kind.

We’re glad you’re here. Truly.

This is one of those weeks where doing something small can make a big difference.

Across the UK, train services are still running reduced timetables with engineering works popping up in unexpected places. If you’re planning a visit to friends, an airport run, or a simple day out, it’s worth checking your route before you leave — just to save yourself an unnecessary cold-platform wait.

If travel feels like too much, this is also a lovely week for nearby comforts. Libraries, museums, quiet cafés, and winter walks tend to be calmer now that the Christmas rush has passed. There’s something soothing about being out in the world when nobody’s in a hurry.

And if you’ve been meaning to reconnect with people, keep an eye on local South African or expat groups. Post-Christmas meet-ups are often smaller, gentler affairs — fewer expectations, more real conversation.

Sometimes the best plans are the ones that don’t ask very much of you.

Some stories don’t need headlines or hashtags. They just remind you where you come from.

South Africa recently said goodbye to Lusanda Dumke, former Springbok Women captain, remembered for her leadership, warmth, and quiet strength through illness. Her story isn’t only about rugby — it’s about showing up with dignity, even when things are hard. Women’s rugby in South Africa is stronger because she was part of it.

The South African Music Awards have also been circulating again this month. Even a quick glance at the winners list feels like taking the temperature of home — what people are listening to, celebrating, dancing to while summer carries on without us.

This month also marked South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation, with gatherings and reflections focused on healing, unity, and what we pass on to the next generation. It wasn’t loud or showy — more the kind of moment that asks people to pause and think about how a country keeps stitching itself back together, year after year. For those of us living abroad, it’s a quiet reminder that home is still doing the work, even when we’re not there to see it.

It’s strange how connection works.
Sometimes it’s a big story.
Sometimes it’s just recognising a familiar shape, sound, or name — and feeling less far away for a moment.

January has a reputation for being loud and demanding.
It doesn’t have to be.

A few small, steady reminders that can quietly make life easier right now:

The UK energy price cap changes from 1 January. It’s not a dramatic jump, but it is a good moment to check that your direct debit hasn’t quietly crept up, and to remind yourself whether you’re on a fixed tariff or a standard variable one. Five minutes now can save irritation later.

If winter is starting to feel heavy — physically or emotionally — remember that warm spaces are widely available across the UK. Libraries, community centres, and church halls offer free, heated places to sit, read, and warm up. Sometimes there’s tea. Sometimes soup. Nobody asks questions. It’s practical, human, and quietly dignified.

And if money ever feels tight, it’s worth remembering that support in the UK is often local, not national. Councils run household support, winter help, and cost-of-living schemes that don’t always make the news. Searching your council website for “cost of living”, “warm spaces”, or “household support” is often the fastest way to find something genuinely useful.

None of this is about cutting back harder.
It’s about letting the systems that exist do a bit of the work for you.

This week doesn’t need fireworks.
It needs small things that quietly lift the day.

A song that takes you straight back to a car ride in South Africa, windows down, no destination in mind.
A voice note from someone who still uses your childhood nickname.
A cup of tea at exactly the right moment, when everything feels briefly manageable again.

If you’ve ever felt a bit strange living between seasons — summer memories and winter reality — that’s completely normal. When the calendar turns, the heart often lags behind. It runs on memory, not logic.

And that’s okay.

Joy doesn’t always announce itself.
Sometimes it just sits next to you, warm and familiar, waiting to be noticed.

Just two small things to keep on your radar — no urgency, no alarm bells.

If you’re travelling by train over the next few days, reduced services and engineering works are still common in this end-of-year window. It’s worth checking your route before you leave, especially for longer journeys or airport runs. A quick look can save a lot of unnecessary standing around in the cold.

And as the calendar flips, 1 January is a useful line-in-the-sand moment for energy admin. Submitting a meter reading, checking your direct debit, or reminding yourself which tariff you’re on can prevent small annoyances later. Not exciting — but quietly effective.

One more gentle reminder, because it matters to us:
this week we released our fifth and final Christmas gift.

FREE SPECIAL REPORT
What You Get for Free in the UK When You Turn 60 — And Exactly How to Claim It

No pressure. No rush.
It’s simply there if it’s useful — now or later.

Next week, we’ll stay exactly where we are — no rushing ahead.

We’ll share a few quiet ways to ease into January without panic or bravado.
A couple of practical supports that are easy to miss but genuinely helpful.
And one small, surprisingly effective homesickness remedy for long, dim evenings.

Nothing overwhelming.
Nothing performative.
Just steady ground to stand on as the year properly begins.

If you’re stepping into the new year feeling hopeful, we’re glad for you.

If you’re stepping into it tired, unsure, or quietly carrying more than you let on — we see you too.

You don’t have to become a new person in January.
You don’t have to have a plan yet.
You only have to keep going — one ordinary day at a time — and let the year meet you gently.

Thank you for being here with us.
Thank you for trusting us with a small part of your week.

From our home to yours —
wishing you a happy, blessed, steady 2026.

With care,
Troy & Sarah