From Naboomspruit to Norway — Scrap Art & Viking Axes with Martiens Bekker .- Ep 71

Martiens Bekker is a sculptor, blacksmith and multi-medium artist from Naboomspruit.  He served in the SA Police Force, studied forestry, and built a career making scrap metal sculptures and film props for Warner Brothers and DreamWorks.  In 2009 he moved to Cornwall, UK, where he ran a coffee shop, served on the Coast Guard rescue team, and sold art — including a piece to the drummer of Queen.  A chance invitation brought the family to rural Norway in 2014, where they've lived ever since. Martiens became a Norwegian citizen in 2024. ______________________________________________________________ Whatever taking your future global means for you, Sable International has the expertise to unlock what the world has to offer. With cross-border services spanning visas, second passports, tax, wealth planning, forex and studying abroad, they'll simplify the complexities so that you can focus on what matters most to you – building your future, beyond borders. Ready to take your future global? Connect with Sable International today: https://bit.ly/3R3g1sy Timestamps 00:44 — Introduction: calling in from the mountains of Telemark, Norway 03:16 — Growing up in Naboomspruit, a family of Springbok athletes, and losing his father at age four 03:68 — Police force, forestry, Israel — finding his path back in South Africa 04:35 — Meeting his wife outside Cape Town and deciding to leave in 2009 05:35 — Life in Cornwall: coffee shop, Coast Guard, exhibitions — and worrying about British youth culture 07:26 — How Norway happened: a sawmill invitation that fell through, and a school principal who convinced them to stay 09:17 — SA → UK (2009) → Norway (2014) — and a visa battle with the Home Office involving a court case 11:41 — Becoming a Norwegian citizen in 2024 and the language test 13:20 — Which move was harder? Why he'd tell South Africans: "Find somewhere they speak English first" 15:07 — What Norway gets right: unlocked doors, great healthcare, open-source tax transparency 17:24 — The scrap metal art: making props for Warner Brothers and DreamWorks from a Cape Town workshop 23:29 — The Falmouth market story: selling a fish made from pick handles to the drummer of Queen 27:49 — Living with narcolepsy, diagnosed after sepsis in 2016 29:30 — Winter income: copper jewelry, firewood for a traditional bakery, and a heritage market in Mjønøy 31:56 — The price of immigration: reuniting with his brother in California after 16 years apart 36:12 — Why they left: giving the boys a better chance — and what that cost in family connections 37:10 — Would he do it again? His son thanked him for getting him out of Cornwall 38:12 — What he lost: his heart is still in South Africa, but his mind can't align with what he sees there now 39:43 — Could he go back? A brother-in-law's farm and a nephew with Angelman syndrome 41:22 — Advice for young South Africans: understand passive income, tax, and build a foundation 43:28 — Final advice: don't set expectations too high — every country has its problems Quote of the Episode "The grass is greener on the other side — you know why? Because there's more sht there."* — Martiens Bekker Links & Resources • Martiens Bekker — Instagram: search MJ Bekker or Martiens Bekker • BBC Autumnwatch -   • Martiens Bekker Autumwatch Unsprung 2010 E...   • More conversations. More destinations. More stories of South Africans navigating life abroad. Explore the full episode library at http://therelocatedsouthafrican.com (http://therelocatedsouthafrican.com/) . _______________________________________________________________ Your documents should not slow down your new life.  Apostil obtains, processes, and couriers South African police clearances, apostille certificates, unabridged documents, and more, directly to your door, anywhere in the world. Fast, professional, and stress-free. Need your documents sorted?  Visit Apostil here -⁠https://tinyurl.com/apostilcoza⁠ Documents with convenience. _______________________________________________________________