Hi there — and welcome to your weekly slice of home!

This isn’t just another email. This week’s edition is packed with real help, smart savings, and South African heart, including:

Every Saturday, we bring you practical tips, joyful moments, and stories that remind you that you’re not alone in this big British adventure.

Let’s dive in. There’s a lot to love this week.

If you travel now and then with your partner, friend, or even a favourite colleague, the Two Together Railcard could save you a fortune. It gives 1/3 off most UK train fares for two named adults travelling together, and it’s available to anyone over 16 — no age limits, no student status required.

💷 Cost: £30 for a year — which usually pays for itself in just one or two trips.
🚆 Where it works: Most UK train routes (except weekday peak times before 9:30am).
🧳 How to use it: Apply online or at a station, and show the digital card when booking or travelling.

Whether you're heading to Edinburgh Fringe, exploring the seaside, or popping down to London for a show — it’s one of the easiest ways to make the most of your weekends without emptying your wallet.

Finsbury Park is throwing a massive party as Wireless turns 20, with Drake headlining all three days. Expect a global mix of talent — Burna Boy, Nicki Minaj, Summer Walker, and more.

The Springboks return to Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for their second test against Italy after a convincing win in Pretoria last weekend.

This one’s not this week, but trust us — you’ll want to get ahead of the rush. The Hundred is a fast, high-energy cricket tournament with short matches, loud music, fireworks, and plenty of South African talent like Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada.

If you’ve ever needed proof that South African creativity travels well — look no further than Jeremy Loops, who lit up the Glastonbury 2025 Acoustic Stage last weekend with a set full of heart, rhythm, and loop-pedal wizardry.

Born in Cape Town and raised on the waves and mountain trails of Kommetjie, Jeremy’s music fuses folk, funk, reggae, and soul — layered live in real time using a loop pedal and that unmistakable SA energy.

He had the Glasto crowd swaying, stomping, and smiling with songs like "Down South" and his new single "Go Again." After the show, he shared:

But Jeremy’s not just a crowd-pleaser — he’s a changemaker too. He co-founded Greenpop, a tree-planting initiative that’s helped reforest areas across southern Africa, proving that art and impact can grow side by side.

🎧 If you haven’t heard him yet, start with:

Whether you’re cooking, cleaning, road-tripping or just missing home — Jeremy Loops is the kind of SA export that hits the heart.

There are some important updates brewing around UK immigration rules, travel rights, and visa pathways for South Africans — and we’ve pulled together everything you need to know in a special report.

📰 We’ve published a FREE SPECIAL REPORT:

Long before air fryers, before electricity, before gas stoves… there was the flame. Humans have been cooking over fire for hundreds of thousands of years — staring into the coals like a kind of candle meditation. It’s not just cooking. It’s ceremony. It’s connection. It’s something deep and primal — a flickering link between now and then, between people and stories and the smell of something sizzling on the grill.

And for South Africans, that magic never left. Whether it’s a half-drum on the lawn or a single chop on a balcony, there’s something sacred about braaiing. It brings people together. It slows time. It reminds us who we are.

So let’s not let the UK’s drizzle, postage-stamp gardens, or nosey neighbours hold us back. The braai belongs here too.

You’ve got options — from tiny disposables you can pick up at Tesco for a fiver (great for parks or camping), to baby-sized cast iron hibachis that sit neatly on a balcony. For small households or weeknight treats, these compact grills do the trick with barely a handful of charcoal.

Feeling a little more serious? Look at portable kettle braais or tabletop grills — still affordable, still space-friendly. Then there’s the Webers — that classic kettle design that’s become a bit of a status symbol in UK gardens. Great for holding heat, even better for slow-cooked ribs or a juicy whole chicken.

And if you really want to go full primal meets modern luxury, there’s the new wave of ceramic braais — kamado-style grills that lock in flavour and retain heat like a boss. Think of them as the pizza oven of the barbecue world — versatile, durable, and yes, a little pricey, but built to last.

Whether you’ve got a sprawling garden or a shoebox-sized balcony, there’s a braai option for you.

Because fire, flavour, and a bit of fresh air shouldn’t be a luxury — they’re a birthright.

🪵 So go on. Light it up. Keep the tradition burning, wherever you are.

🍬 You can’t have a juicy braai without a sweet treat…
And trust us — this one’s worth saving room for.

Here’s Sarah’s favourite Peppermint Crisp Tart recipe — creamy, minty, nostalgic, and oh-so South African. Link below:

It’s the perfect cool-down after a sizzling braai.

Scenic, creative, and full of coastal cool — Folkestone has quietly become one of the UK’s best-kept secrets. Actually, scratch that. Time Out just named it the top UK destination for 2025 — so the secret’s officially out.

Why go? It’s the kind of place where you can stroll past public artworks on the Harbour Arm, dip your toes in the sea at Sunny Sands, rummage through vintage shops, grab epic chips by the pier, and still have change left for an ice cream.

Add in a buzzing Creative Quarter, colourful streets, and a growing food scene — and it’s got just enough funk to feel like somewhere between Kalk Bay and Brighton.

🚆 Easy to get to from London (just under an hour by train)
🎨 Budget tip: Look out for the Folkestone Triennial (running July–October) — a free public art festival with quirky installations all over town.

Whether you’re after a relaxed beach day or something a little more arty and offbeat, Folkestone’s got you covered — without draining your wallet.

Want to save money and do something good? The Too Good To Go app lets you grab surprise bags of food from local shops, bakeries, and restaurants — all at a fraction of the price. It’s food that would’ve gone to waste, but now you get it for £2–£5.

🥐 You might score a bag of pastries from Greggs
🥗 A surprise lunch box from a nearby café
🥘 Or even groceries from your local Co-op or Morrisons

It’s a lucky packet — but with snacks. Perfect for topping up your braai sides, saving on lunches, or stocking your fridge without blowing the budget.

🔍 Just download the app, set your location, and see what’s available nearby. Book early — the good ones go fast.

Hidden perks, clever hacks & the world’s best vetkoek — coming your way next week.

You might walk past it every week — but it could be saving you a fortune, keeping you entertained, and unlocking free access to a world of ideas.

It’s free, powerful, and surprisingly underused. We’ll show you how to tap into it — whether you’re upskilling or just curious.

Golden, fluffy, and stuffed with spiced curried mince — this is South African comfort food at its finest. We’ll share a foolproof recipe and show you how to make it right in your UK kitchen.

That’s it for this week!

As always, thank you for being here — for reading, sharing, and being part of something that’s growing week by week.

If this newsletter made you smile, gave you a good idea, or made you miss the taste of vetkoek — send it to a friend. There’s real strength in numbers, especially when we’re far from home.

None of us knows what tomorrow might bring, but having a network — having each other — makes all the difference. The more South Africans we connect across the UK, the more we can share, support, and thrive together.

Take care,
Troy & Sarah
And the SA Connect UK team ☀️🇿🇦🇬🇧