We have returned from Nelpruit…Tom’s surgery is done…Stopped at dentist to glue more teeth…

 

A quick note about photos: Sorry, we don’t have any new photos to share today. We’ve been so busy with appointments and all the back-and-forth driving that taking photos hasn’t been a priority. Once Colleen and Paulette arrive, we’ll get back into the groove, share the wonders of the African bush with them, and, of course, with all of you! We look forward to sharing more of our wildlife visitors and everyday life here in Marloth Park soon.

Gosh, it feels good to be back in the bush after our long, harrowing drive on the N4, with more traffic delays than I could ever have imagined. Although we have made this drive many times, it always seems like something makes the journey more challenging than expected. TIA! (This Is Africa!)

Apparently, the toll booth system went down, causing substantial delays in both directions. Since they couldn’t collect payments from travelers, they shut the system down entirely instead of letting vehicles pass without paying. As a result, traffic backed up and came to a standstill. Fortunately, by the time we reached the toll booths, everything was up and running again. We were relieved to get through without another delay!

However, we weren’t so lucky with the ongoing road construction. We sat at a standstill several times, waiting for traffic to move. While the delays were frustrating, we were glad to see the construction continuing. Hopefully, someday soon, this stretch of road will be completed, making our trips to and from Nelspruit a little less stressful. For now, we must accept it as part of living in this part of the world.

On our return drive, we stopped in Malelane at Dr. Singh’s dental office to see if he could squeeze me in to glue another temporary tooth back into place. Somehow, he fit me in, and once again, I left with all my temporary teeth in order. We’ll see how long they stay that way this time! I’m doing my best to be careful with what I eat, but these temporary teeth certainly have a mind of their own.

As for Tom’s surgery, he is doing well, with no pain, though he has considerable eye irritation and keeps it closed most of the time. He currently has little to no vision in that eye, but he has been reassured that his vision should improve over the next few weeks, if not months. We know this will be a waiting game, and we’ll have to be patient while his eye heals.

He is back to using eight eye drops daily for the next month and must sleep with an eye patch for the next five nights. His follow-up appointment in Nelspruit is scheduled for November 12. Unfortunately, this means more driving in the coming months, with additional dental and eye doctor appointments on our calendar.

Although Tom won’t know for months what his eventual vision will be like, we feel fortunate to be in a place where we can get the care he needs. We are in good hands with his medical team, and that is what matters most. Sure, the drive is annoying and can be dangerous, especially with the construction and heavy traffic, but it is what it is. We will keep doing what we need to do to get these issues resolved as best we can.

Once we returned to our bush home, we both got busy preparing our favorite mince, mushroom, onion, and cheese casseroles. We made enough for tonight and tomorrow night, and we also froze an extra pan to serve while Colleen and Paulette are visiting. They arrive in two days! Having that meal ready will make one night’s dinner much easier when we have company. After all, we want to enjoy their visit rather than spend every day preparing dinner!

Today is cool and sunny, with the temperature expected to reach only a comfortable 82°F (28°C). After the long drive and the early start, that sounds just about perfect. I am already looking forward to sitting on the veranda tonight, enjoying dinner in the fresh bush air. There is something especially comforting about returning to our familiar surroundings after a stressful day away.

Of course, I could use a little rest first. I have been awake since 3:20 AM after getting only about four hours of sleep. Knowing we had to leave early for Tom’s appointment, I simply couldn’t settle down and fall back asleep. My mind was too busy anticipating the long day ahead.

Now, we’re both heading to the bedroom to take a much-needed nap. After everything we’ve been through over the past several weeks, it feels wonderful to be back where we belong, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African bush.

Tonight, dinner on the veranda should be especially enjoyable on such a lovely evening.

We’ll be back again soon with more from Marloth Park!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 28, 2016: