I’ll be honest with you: I hate winter.
But I love October, November, December.

These are the best three months of the year.
Halloween, Guy Fawkes, Christmas — all crammed together.

Back home we never did Halloween.
Here, the kids are out in costumes and the streets come alive.

Back home Guy Fawkes wasn’t even a thing.
Here, it’s bonfires, fireworks, and proper spectacle.

And Christmas?
In South Africa it’s swimming pools and braais.
Here it’s roasts, puddings, cold outside but hearts warmed indoors.

So yes, the countdown is on.
Halloween in weeks, Guy Fawkes in six, Christmas in twelve.

This week we’ve packed in the hacks, the fun, and a Saffa star to get October started right.

Scroll on — there’s free money, a supermoon, and even a horror fest waiting…

Paying rent feels like throwing money into a bottomless pit.
But if you’re in a council place, you could flip that into equity.

Here’s the trick: stay put 3+ years, and you can buy your home at up to 70% off market value.
Yes, seventy.

One Saffa in Manchester grabbed a £150k flat for £75k.
Sold a few years later — profit north of £200k.

It’s still alive, still working, and still hidden in plain sight.
Most tenants never ask.
You will.

👉 Check Eligibility Here (Gov.uk)

From pub platters piled high to hidden gems serving flavours worth the trip, we hunt down the UK’s tastiest experiences.

Bold, indulgent, unforgettable — if you’re hungry for more than the ordinary, you’ll feel right at home here.

👉 Get the good stuff, free to your inbox.

Halloween hits early this year with Shocktober Fest.
Think haunted houses, live actors, and more jump-scares than a Springbok game in extra time.

It’s running through October with multiple scare zones, street food, and late-night laughs.
Perfect for a group of mates who don’t mind screaming together.

👉 See Shocktober Fest Dates & Tickets

If jump-scares aren’t your thing, head north instead.
The Lake District goes dark from 3–12 October — literally — to show off its starlit skies.

Expect guided night walks, astronomy talks, even wild swims under the constellations.
Crisp air, bright stars, and no city glow — pure autumn magic.

👉 Explore Dark Skies Festival

You know her face, even if you don’t know her name.

Embeth Davidtz grew up in South Africa, broke through in Schindler’s List, terrified kids in Matilda, and even swung through Spider-Man.

She’s always been brilliant at playing the outsider — tough, brittle, unforgettable.

And now, at 60, she’s stepped behind the camera for the very first time.

Her debut film is Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, adapted from Alexandra Fuller’s memoir of growing up in Rhodesia in the 1980s.

It’s raw, personal, and set against the chaos of a country becoming Zimbabwe.

The fuss?
It’s not just another movie.
It’s a story close to home — farms, families, and fault-lines many South Africans still recognise.

Early reviews call it brave and beautiful.
The Guardian says it’s “explosive.”
And it’s already tipped as one of the big films at the BFI London Film Festival.

For us, it’s simple: she’s one of ours.
A South African who’s made good — and she deserves a cheer from this side of the world.

👉 Read the Guardian Profile

Saffas love the outdoors, and this weekend the outdoors gives us a show.
On Saturday 4 October the Harvest Supermoon rises — big, golden, and rare.

It’s the first time since 1987 that this supermoon has fallen in October.
That makes it a once-in-a-generation sight for UK skies.

So pack a flask, grab a blanket, and step outside just after sunset.
From a hilltop or a quiet park, you’ll see the moon look closer than ever.

Snap a pic, share it, and remember — millions of us are looking up together.

👉 Harvest Moon Viewing Tips

There’s nothing that says “Saffa comfort” like a handful of biltong.
And yes, you can make it right here in the UK.

All you need is decent beef, vinegar, spices, and a way to dry it (an airer, box, or dehydrator).
Slice the meat, soak it, spice it, hang it.
A few days later — magic.

Your kitchen smells like home.
Your friends suddenly pop round.
And you’ll never look at a supermarket snack pack the same way again.

👉 Get the Full Biltong Recipe Here

Save a little, get a lot back.
That’s the whole scheme in two lines.

If you’re on Universal Credit or Tax Credits, you can stash up to £50 a month.

After a year, the government drops in a 50% bonus.

So £600 saved = £900 in your pocket.
Do it two years running and it doubles again.

Almost no one signs up.
Which is mad.
It’s literally free money.

👉 Start Help to Save (Gov.uk)

Some things just belong in a Saffa kitchen:

All the tastes of home, one click away — delivered to your door in the UK.
👉 Browse the SA Connect UK Shop

Autumn in the UK is made for little adventures.
Next week we’ll take you to the pumpkin patches and pick-your-own farms that turn October into pure magic.

And just over the horizon?

Bonfire Night and Apple Day are coming fast — and if you keep your eyes open, you’ll spot boxes of “windfall apples” left on driveways with a little sign: help yourself for free.

We might even sneak in something delicious with those apples (think strudel or crumble).

Troy & Sarah