This week’s packed with flavour and connection: a South African food legend on Bake Off, the quirky UK tradition of Conkers (with a cheeky Saffa twist), plus a Life Hack that turns cashback into real wealth and a Resource that unlocks 1,000 free courses in the UK. Add in a braai hack you’ll actually use and two unmissable events to get you out and talking — it’s all below.

Scroll down, dive in — and let’s make the UK feel a little more like home.

Most people use cashback apps for small savings — but here’s a smarter way: stack your cashback with micro-investments and let compounding do the heavy lifting.

How it works:

Why it works for South Africans in the UK: we’re naturally budget-savvy, and by stacking small wins together, you can turn everyday spending into something that really matters.

In South Africa, 24 September is Heritage Day — a celebration of culture, stories, and the rainbow nation’s spirit. It’s also known as National Braai Day, because nothing brings people together quite like fire, flavour, and laughter around the grill.

And in London, no place does it better than Vivat Bacchus — a South African restaurant that celebrates the taste of South Africa. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a true slice of home.

🥩 Heritage Day Braai Feast — London, Wed 24 Sept, 18:30
Hosted at Vivat Bacchus, London Bridge, this is their flagship Heritage Day celebration: a sharing feast with biltong, sosaties, boerewors, rib-eye, malva pudding — the works. Tickets are £79.50 per person, and last year sold out fast.

It’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of night that fills you up in more ways than one. If there’s one event to circle in your diary this month, this is it.

Good news for all the Great British Bake Off fans out there — it’s back! And even better: one of our own, Prue Leith, is right there at the heart of it all.

Prue was born in Cape Town in 1940 and studied at St Mary’s School, Waverley, before heading to Paris to train at the Cordon Bleu.

She later made her mark in the UK, opening the Michelin-starred Leith’s restaurant in Notting Hill, founding the renowned Leith’s School of Food and Wine, and building a career as a food writer and broadcaster.

Today, she’s a Bake Off judge, bringing her trademark warmth, wit, and energy to every episode.

Sarah and I are definite foodies ourselves (we even run a sister magazine called Fatter Platter, celebrating food, life, and good hospitality). That’s why Prue’s story resonates so strongly — she reminds us how much joy, flavour, and fun South Africans continue to bring to the table… pun fully intended.

Back in South Africa, many of us played kleilatjies — scooping wet clay straight from the riverbank, sticking it onto the end of a whippy willow branch, and cracking it like a whip so the clay bullet went flying. Messy, chaotic, and if it hit you… sore as anything. Basically the forerunner to paintball.

Here in the UK, the tradition is far more civilised: Conkers. You thread a glossy horse chestnut onto string and smash it against your opponent’s. No mud, no bruises — just a shiny nut on a string.

The game dates back to the 1840s (kids originally used snail shells before chestnuts took over), and every October the World Conker Championships are still held in Northamptonshire. It’s even been banned in some schools — which is funny when you’ve survived kleilatjies.

👉 Pro tip for toughening your conker: drop it in boiling vinegar for a few minutes, then let it dry. Rock-hard!
⚠️ Personal warning from me: I once tried putting conkers in the air fryer to harden them. I don’t recommend it. They explode!

It’s braai season in the UK — and yes, the weather may be unpredictable, but that never stopped a South African.

One tool I’ve discovered (and now can’t do without) is a mini handheld air duster. They’re sold as gadgets for cleaning keyboards or even blowing snow off windscreens, but on the braai they’re magic.

Three settings, pocket-sized, and on the lowest power it gives just enough air to get your coals glowing without scattering ash everywhere.

We’ve added it to the SA Connect UK Shop so you can grab one for yourself — it’ll change the way you braai.

And while you’re stoking the fire, why not sharpen your mind too? The Open University’s OpenLearn platform offers nearly 1,000 free online courses — from digital skills and professional development to creative hobbies. It’s like finding a hidden self-help aisle right here in the UK.

At SA Connect UK, we believe the more people you know, the more doors open — and the more at home you’ll feel here. So get out, share a laugh, and keep those connections alive.

If you’ve got friends or family in the UK who might find this helpful, pass it along. The more of us who share tips, stories, and laughs, the stronger our community becomes.

Next week we’ll share two clever resources: one fiery tip that’ll change the way you braai in the UK, and one sunny secret that could transform how you get through winter. We won’t spoil it now — but trust us, you’ll want to see this.

Until then, take care, keep connecting, and we’ll catch you next Saturday.

Troy & Sarah