Anyone in cape town?

[ccgirr]

Hi all,
We have been in Jo'burg for 18 months and having found my feet and made friends we are now moving to the Cape. I am slightly worried as everyone says it is so much more cliquey. I have a 4 nearly 5 year old girl and a two year old boy. I have got my daughter into Reddam house so are looking to rent in Constantia/ Tokai. We are going to be there for the start of October. Hoping to find some friendly faces that I can meet for coffee or play dates if anyone is there?!?!

[wheresthepopcorn]

Think they are just jealous! Reddam House is an extremely popular school and there are lots of familes in Constantia and Tokai. I have no doubt you'll make lots of friends through the school or also through sports clubs/activities.

[Nigglenaggle]

Nope but wish I was! So beautiful :)

[Merlion]

ccgirr I can't give you any advice about Cape Town and don't want to hijack your thread but how have you found Jo'burg? We are currently in Singapore (and have been for 5+ years) and it is looking like we will probably have to move next year or 2014 and one of the possibilities is Jo'burg. Dh's main concern is safety - obviously we are very spoilt here and anywhere would feel less safe in comparison. What is it like with kids there? We have a nearly 4yo and a 13mo. What is schooling like etc? Is it easy to make friends and are there lots of playgroups/toddler activities? Would be interested to hear about housing too. PM me if that's easier and I'll try not to clog up your thread!

[ccgirr]

Have messaged you Merlin. Wheretherspopcorn- thanks hope so. Good to know it is a good school too x

[MummytoLeo]

Hi ccgir - I'm from the UK and have been in CT for nearly 2 years (husband is SA) living in Clovelly which is between Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay on the Southern Peninsula (15 mins from Tokai). My 4 yo son goes to Reddam (year younger than your lg as he's 3 just turned 4) and I am due number 2 in a month so will be off work between mid Aug and mid Jan. Would be happy to meet you for a coffee once you're down - there's a Tribeca in Tokai near Reddam that does fab coffee and the best flapjacks.....

However, don't fret, it takes a bit of time but you will meet people :-)

Message me if you want more details!

M2L x

[ccgirr]

Hi M2L
How nice to be be able to meet someone in the Reddam pre school too. I'd love to take you up on the idea of coffee. Good luck with the baby next month and I'll be in touch soon

[Meid]

Hi cgirr - I'm in the same position as you. From the UK, have been living in Joburg 3 years and very settled but we are now relocating to Cape Town. It was never in our plan but we are going for it. I've also heard that the people in Cape Town are cliquey, yet I have also heard they are very friendly! I'll wait until I am there and can judge for myself. We are moving down at the end of the year.
I too have heard good things about Reddam House schools, although we are probably not going for one of them.
Good luck with your move.

[kiboko78]

Hi there. We're also in Cape Town in the Southern Peninsula. My 6 year old start Reddam in January and I also have a two year old. It is very cliquey, much more than in the UK (where I was also a foreigner but made friends easily) but people are generally very friendly. I've been here for 5 years and have loads of acquaintances but few good friends. They say it takes 18 years or something to be considered a Capetonian! Quality of life is great thought, especially in the southern suburbs. Please feel free to contact me :)

[RillaBlythe]

Hello - I have a SA question & thought it might be easiest to ask on this thread where you are all captive, rather than starting a new thread!

It's about salary/lifestyle - what is the minimum salary in rand you would need to have a "nice" lifestyle? Would R20,000 monthly be too little for a family of 4 (not living in Joburg/CT)? How much is your grocery bill/car costs...?

Thank you

[ccgirr]

Hi all,
Meid I might see you down there then!!
Kiboko I guessed it would be pretty cliquey, maybe we can start a new clique???! Are your little ones girls, boys or one of each? Having a panic about finding a house now can't seem to get everything we want, always the way I guess. Let's have coffee when I get there.
Rilla I would say yes it is too little, rent alone can be that in good areas of jo'burg or cape. maybe it's cheaper elsewhere though I don't know?!?

[RillaBlythe]

ccgir - thank you for that - rent does seem to be a lot cheaper then, R8k seems to be expensive (small town!).

Would it be possible to get an idea of monthly spends for grocery, car, bills...? Maybe I should start another thread!

[RillaBlythe]

PS I lived in Cape Town before, earnt about 2k plus small commission, paid no rent & drank & smoked an awful lot! Finding it hard to get a sense of costs for family life in comparison!

[Salbertina]

Want the truth? Cities esp CT mega expensive, sorry! Starting rent for decent 4 bed w pool in good area around CT R2Ok plus, grocery bill & cost of buying car at least double Uk! School fees even for state school- c R25k per yr. Not at all a cheap place to live... Cheaper elements - petrol, child are/cleaners and eating out, everything else much more!

[RillaBlythe]

Thanks Salbertina. Yeah, I know cities are expensive. Finding it hard to get a sense of what costs are like in small rural towns, which is where we would be. Also finding it hard to get a sense of what dp's salary would be!

[Salbertina]

Hi, well I think certainly groceries much cheaper in rural areas, ditto rent do that wd help. How old r yr kids? I think there's a huge advantage to having preschoolers here- u can get good v affordable nannies whereas not so good at school age as u have school fees to pay whether gov or private school. R u in uk? If so I'd say it's going to cost u much more as a family to live here on average. Clothes, books also much more plus u pay for healthcare. Can yr dhs company cover some of this as part of a package?

[RillaBlythe]

Thanks salbertina, & sorry OP for hijacking the thread!

My kids would be around 5 & 2, I think. Not sure whether that means school age or not, would love clarification on that! Here in the UK the elder one will have been in school for a year.

We are in the UK, household income is about £24k. We don't run a car, have a small mortgage, don't buy much stuff etc!

It looks like the salary would actually be around R45,000 a month - it sounds like that would be do able then?

[FifromN12]

Hello ladies, Im really sorry to highjack this thread but its quite a nice read as positive.. compared to the horrors I've been reading about relocating in CT. People can be so negative. I currently live in London and going back to CT, (southern suburbs) with hubby (Capetonian) and little boy in 2 years max. Its quite scary and exciting. Would it be possible to talk in private about questions and doubts as don't want to bore anyone!
Merci! (Oh and Im french)
Fiona

[Salbertina]

Horrors?? Well no, unless someone's directly subject to armed robbery or something, doesn't apply.
I don't know of anyone hijacked here tho sadly armed robbery is getting more common, depending on exact area where u live. What to say? Good v good here, bad v bad...place of extremes, if you can get ur head round that happily will be fine.

[FifromN12]

Thanks!I think you are right and to be honest certain parts of London I wouldn't go to anymore. Quite sad but true and the press doesn't help. But seems to be quite a bit of violence here and not getting better. When I lived in CT for a year I did everything ok you drive everywhere but I must say I love that! MY tube journey to work is starting to get to me now. So I would rather be in my car;). I just need to convince my parents thats its the right choice for us but that's a total other story....

[Wheresmypopcorn]

Lived in Cape Town for 25 years. Wierdly, I have only ever been mugged in London.

[Amberbop]

Hello Capetonians! Thought I would wake this zombie to ask if anyone knows any baby groups / breastfeeding cafes etc in Cape Town. I'm flexible with location, just want to meet some people and fill my days having recently moved here with a baby. All recommendations welcome!

[ZamMummyInGabs]

Hey Amberbop I'm in Botswana but my friend with a 4mo just left CT to return to London; sure she knows places. PM me & I'll put you in touch