Submitted on 8 November 2012 | 08:30:57

Not sure if you **** my first reply but just to say the weather in New Zealand is siilamr to home but more sunshine. Great to meet the Welsh team after the Namibia game especially Sam Warburton who sent best wishes to Ethan's cousin Rhys. Looking forward to visiting a Maori village and the England/Scotland game. Simon Jones

Submitted on 6 November 2012 | 17:56:57

There is absolutely an insearce in positivity in this country, and an insearce in returnees. We have such a dynamic population mix here, such a depth of culture and humour, energy. I really think the World Cup did a lot for South Africans, emotionally.It is OK now to be positive, suddenly. It is OK to be proud of your country. And it is such a great feeling to be here, to be helping, to see results.I used to go to barbeques in Oz where I would spend my time defending SA, where the expat saffers painted South Africa in the worst possible light.Now I go to braais spend my time talking to people who have returned, or meeting Brits that have moved out here with there South African partner, and I swear not a single one of these people thinks that moving back was anything less than the best decision they have made.

Submitted on 25 June 2012 | 22:17:15

Aletta you make me so proud to be a South African that stayed !Just befroe the YES/NO vote we put our house on the market sold it to the first person who gave us an offer and started the reality check.I stood at my stove and cried my eyes out telling my husband that although we have a home in Spain [we did not have to sell here to buy there] I would stand at my stove in Spain and cry for South Africa every day of my life. My hubby is Spanish he has been in South Africa for 35 years he is more South African than a lot of ex pats. His love for his new country is wrought with as much passion as I who was born here. The thought of leaving our beloved Johannesburg tugged at his heart so intensely that everything was put on hold and we decided to stay. Fortunately for us the sale of our lovely home did not go through and were able to hold onto it. Like marriages it is far easier to get divorced than it is to stay and make it work. We stayed and made it work for us. In 1995 during the transition We opened up a very successful Mom and Pop business that took my husband out of his business. We now own of of Johannesburg's best kept secret destination stores and we are so grateful for everything this truly magnificent country has given us.Not unlike a lot of our friends we were also dragged down by all the negativity Hord tinned foods and water stock up on ammunition all the biggest load of hogwash that nearly brainwashed us. We did not need the tinned food we just needed a huge pair of Katonkas some initiative to start our own business and the love of our country to make it happen for us.We are welcoming many friends back to our shores a bit weather beaten, a few pounds richer and a million times happier than they have been in the last 15 years.