Our inverter ran out of power after over two day outage…..Cooking up a storm!…

For the first time since we moved into this house on Ratel Street, we ran out of inverter power. It was bound to happen eventually, but that did not make it any less frustrating when it finally happened. Apparently, the rain contributed to power outages throughout Marloth Park and other surrounding areas. The fragile infrastructure in South Africa is often the cause of power and water outages, something we have experienced many times during the 13 years we have been coming here, off and on.

Of course, losing our inverter power was frustrating for both Di and Peter and us. We have become accustomed to having backup power available, especially when we are staying in this holiday rental. Still, there was nothing we could do about it, so we made the best of the situation.

During the day, Di and Peter headed out for a few hours while Tom and I stayed behind. We spent some time playing with our phones and chatting, all while hoping the electricity would return. Once the power came back, we needed enough time for the inverter to recharge so we could plug in our digital equipment and have enough electricity available for our evening plans.

Fortunately, we had plenty to keep us busy. After Di and Peter returned, we played cards until it was time to prepare dinner. We had planned a wonderful meal, and I was determined that the power situation would not interfere with our evening.

I made two whole chicken flatties, roasted root vegetables, rice, and coleslaw. Everything turned out well, and I was especially pleased to hear that Di and Peter really liked the meal. There is something especially satisfying about preparing dinner for guests and hearing that they loved what you made. We have savored many meals in this bush home, but sharing them with good friends makes them even more meaningful.

After dinner, we went right back to playing cards. It seems that cards have become one of many favorite ways to spend time together while Di and Peter are here. There is always plenty of conversation, laughter, and a little friendly competition. It is a simple way to spend an evening, and we are all having a great time.

Tonight, we are planning another meal at home. We will have grilled hake, along with a new batch of roasted vegetables, rice, and dessert. I made one of my favorite desserts, Keto Cheese Pie, with a buttery almond flour crust. It is one of those desserts that makes it much easier for me to stay with my low-carb way of eating while still enjoying something special after dinner.

Today, we had planned to go into Kruger National Park since the holiday crowds and the rain had ended. However, Peter read online that many of the roads in Kruger have been washed out. We certainly do not want to spend the day driving on muddy or damaged roads, especially when we can wait until next week. By then, hopefully, the dirt roads will have had enough time to dry out.

So, instead of Kruger today, we will have another quiet day in the bush. There is something nice about not having every day filled with activities. We can watch for wildlife, play cards, prepare a good meal, and spend time together.

Tonight will be another night in, which is perfectly fine with all of us. We will play cards again, have a nice dinner with some of my Keto Cheese Pie, and settle into another relaxing evening in Marloth Park. Sometimes the unexpected changes to our plans turn out to be just as pleasurable as the plans themselves.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 13, 2016: