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  • We are thinking seriously of moving. Mr Wing has about three years to go for retirement. He had been retired (as they love chucking you out at a certain pre-retirement age now) but was lucky to get a half day job with a Chinese company that pays in dollars so we aren't going to starve, which was our biggest nightmare a little while ago.

    Now he wants to choose a place to retire to so we can get away from the big city and find some sort of peace from all that this entails.

    As we can't get to Devon in the UK, we were thinking of the Garden Route, but are now more or less fixed on The Sunshine Coast and the town of Port Alfred. We like the Oceanic climate and coolness and plentiful rain. Beautiful surroundings, rivers, game parks, indigenous forests ... :)

    The Sunshine Coast

  • We are thinking seriously of moving. Mr Wing has about three years to go for retirement. He had been retired (as they love chucking you out at a certain pre-retirement age now) but was lucky to get a half day job with a Chinese company that pays in dollars so we aren't going to starve, which was our biggest nightmare a little while ago.

    Now he wants to choose a place to retire to so we can get away from the big city and find some sort of peace from all that this entails.

    As we can't get to Devon in the UK, we were thinking of the Garden Route, but are now more or less fixed on The Sunshine Coast and the town of Port Alfred. We like the Oceanic climate and coolness and plentiful rain. Beautiful surroundings, rivers, game parks, indigenous forests ... :)

    The Sunshine Coast

    Port Alfred sounds great from the couple of reviews. I don't know why you'd wanna live in Devon anyway, because the west country gets the full brunt of the crappy Atlantic weather and the jet stream. The southeast is where it's at! 8)

  • Because Devon is beautiful. I did want to go back to my ancestral county of Norfolk and live near the Broads where my grandparents came from, but, as I said, this is impossible on account of the exchange rate, so we want to find something similar that isn't terribly hot and where it rains as we prefer cool, rainy climates to the one we presently live in.

  • Because Devon is beautiful. I did want to go back to my ancestral county of Norfolk and live near the Broads where my grandparents came from, but, as I said, this is impossible on account of the exchange rate, so we want to find something similar that isn't terribly hot and where it rains as we prefer cool, rainy climates to the one we presently live in.

    Every county in this green and pleasant land of yours and mine has it's attractions and beauty. I was stationed in Suffolk in the RAF for 2 years, and could never quite get over the 'big sky'. Shame that our culture has sunk so low though.

  • I wish you luck, wherever you move to, and hope you find a safe and suitable home for yourselves and your animals.

    Mark Twain — 'Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.'

  • Thanks so much, Fidget. I want to go where there are lots of trees and green vegetation and this place has that. It's not been commercialised and has a river as well as the sea. I want to take my brother and his wife with us. Quite nerve racking to get things organised but here's hoping ...

  • Nothing worthwhile comes easy, but your determination will see you through. I hope your brother and his wife go along with you. Having family nearby is always a bonus.

    Mark Twain — 'Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.'

  • My brother is 75 now and much older than me. I don't want to leave him and his wife behind on their own. Mr Wing seems determined to fly down to the coast and have a look, so he'll be able to tell if he likes the vibe of the place. I was born in Port Elizabeth, an hour or so's drive from Port Alfred. My brother was born in Cape Town but when my father was transferred inland when I was three and then my mother died when I was eight, we ended up inland permanently.

  • My brother is 75 now and much older than me. I don't want to leave him and his wife behind on their own. Mr Wing seems determined to fly down to the coast and have a look, so he'll be able to tell if he likes the vibe of the place. I was born in Port Elizabeth, an hour or so's drive from Port Alfred. My brother was born in Cape Town but when my father was transferred inland when I was three and then my mother died when I was eight, we ended up inland permanently.

    Oh, so in a way you are 'going home'; I've been under the impression you were born here and emigrated. Will you be back here posting again after you've settled in?

  • Excuse my ignorance - you are in South Africa? you want to move to England?

    The price of houses, rental or purchase, varies widely depending on location. Why pay xxxxxxxxx£s when you can pay xxx£s?? to have a nice place.

    We are looking to move to Norfolk but weighing up the massive difference in house prices as in ... above Lincolnshire???

    Each to their own, as they say.

  • Of course. The reason why I might be considered as going home to port Alfred is that it is an old British Settler town and has a lot of English people in it.

    But that is all in the future. Haven't got there yet. Have to survive where we are first. :rolleyes:

  • As we can't get to Devon in the UK, we were thinking of the Garden Route, but are now more or less fixed on The Sunshine Coast and the town of Port Alfred. We like the Oceanic climate and coolness and plentiful rain. Beautiful surroundings, rivers, game parks, indigenous forests ...

    Never heard of the Garden Route, but just checked and it looks stunning as does Port Alfred with its Californian-esqe temperatures. I'd say go for it, whichever place you choose.:)


    Because Devon is beautiful. I did want to go back to my ancestral county of Norfolk and live near the Broads where my grandparents came from, but, as I said, this is impossible on account of the exchange rate, so we want to find something similar that isn't terribly hot and where it rains as we prefer cool, rainy climates to the one we presently live in.

    You wouldn't like the Broads as a place to live now as its too commercial and tourists everywhere.

  • Never heard of the Garden Route, but just checked and it looks stunning as does Port Alfred with its Californian-esqe temperatures. I'd say go for it, whichever place you choose.:)


    You wouldn't like the Broads as a place to live now as its too commercial and tourists everywhere.

    I always fancied a holiday chugging around the Broads but it was so expensive

  • My last family holiday in 2012 was to Great Yarmouth to see the Olympic cycling in September and we visited the Broads and really enjoyed it. Had a little boat trip and it was fantastic to see all the millionaires houses right by the water front, but as a place to live, no thanks. One tourist boat after another, after another.

  • This is the problem. I have never been a fan of tourism as a major economic asset to any country. Ultimately it messes up the very things they want to benefit from. Even the Great Wall of China is being damaged now. They have stopped tourists going to Uluru in Australia because they are literally grinding the place to bits. The Himalayas are littered with junk. I hate the exploitation of tourism and mountaineers are not my favourite humans.

    Some parts of South Africa's beautiful coastlines have become tourist meccas and I avoid those like the plague. But the eastern Cape Sunshine coast isn't one of them and before it gets murdered, I think I'll go there to die. :)

    Mr Wing has booked a flight and is going at the end of the month to see what it's like. He has a cousin an hour and a half's drive away in Port Elizabeth. She gave good reviews of Port Alfred.

    This the town's official website. I think you'll like the gallery pics, Horizon 8)

    Port Alfred

  • I visited a place on a Greek Island many times then decided to put it on Trip Adviser when it was formed now the place is overrun with people. It is not the same. I dont use TA anymore except when service is real crap and the owner does not give a damn.

  • Tourists are fine if they don't just become a mob. Today, they are looking for selfie opportunities. Quite a lot seem to be falling off cliffs and balconies trying to take selfies 8)

  • My last family holiday in 2012 was to Great Yarmouth to see the Olympic cycling in September and we visited the Broads and really enjoyed it. Had a little boat trip and it was fantastic to see all the millionaires houses right by the water front, but as a place to live, no thanks. One tourist boat after another, after another.

    Holidaying near GT Yarmouth we took the children to the Ken Dodd show in the end of pier theatre, they wanted to see the Diddymen

    It was the matinee performance, theatre packed with children and Dodd came on full pelt. Dirty did not do it justice, he made Roy Chubby Brown look like a vicar

    In the interval I complained to a theatre worker who was surprised but admitted that he wasn't watching the show, so he rushed off to investigate

    He returned to give me Dpdd's apologies, he head forgotten it was the afternoon show and launched into his evening show

    As if !!!!!!!!!!

  • This the town's official website. I think you'll like the gallery pics, Horizon 8)

    The pictures look great, although in your earlier link I did see tourist boats, so it's just a case of how busy it gets. I guess you need to check it our in peak holiday season too, whenever that is for you, and see what it's like then. Personally, if the tourist numbers are tolerable, all the boats make everything more interesting and so it could be perfect for you. Being on the coast is nice, but it can get tedious seeing the same sea all the time, but constant boats and being surrounded by countryside and trees that change depending on the season, could be perfect.

    How safe is it, do you know? That could be a key factor, although I think the pictures give a clear indication that it looks a nice area.

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