Last night turned out to be far more fun than we expected, and perhaps even a little triumphant in its own modest way. Quiz Night is always a gamble. Some evenings we sit there scratching our heads, wondering how on earth anyone could know the answers. Other nights, like this one, something clicks. Somehow, our six-member team, the Bush Babies, pulled together and surprised even ourselves by finishing second.
The prize was small, Zar 55, which worked out to about US $3.31 each. Certainly nothing to write home about in terms of winnings, but that was never the point. What made it special was the sense of accomplishment. The questions were tough, and there were moments when we were completely stumped, exchanging puzzled looks and tossing out wild guesses. Yet, little by little, we found our footing. When the final scores were announced, and we realized we had placed second, we all broke into smiles and laughter. Our teammates told us this was the first time the Bush Babies had ever come in second, which made it feel even more meaningful. Now, of course, we are all determined to take it one step further and aim for first place in the future.
Adding to the novelty of the evening, Tom did something he had not done in decades. He ordered a pizza. I could hardly believe it when he said it. Over the years, restaurant pizza has never been something he gravitated toward, so this felt like a rare and unexpected treat. He enjoyed every bite and even brought the leftovers home, which he happily polished off this morning. As for me, I stayed with my usual Greek chicken salad, which is consistently good and exactly what I felt like. Between the food, the camaraderie, and the excitement of the game, it was one of those evenings that leaves you feeling content and grateful.
But as pleasant as the evening was, it stood in stark contrast to the experience we had earlier in the day. What we expected to be a routine dental appointment in Malelane turned out to be quite the opposite.
We had previously seen another dentist at this clinic when we could not get in to see Dr. Singh, who, without question, has always been excellent. His reputation makes him very busy, and with our limited time in South Africa, scheduling has sometimes been a challenge. Still, we thought this visit would be straightforward. We both went in for cleaning with this new dentist, and I needed to have a crown reattached that had come loose during our last cruise. I had saved it, knowing that, in most cases, it is a simple procedure to cement it back into place.
Unfortunately, this was anything but simple. The dentist struggled from the start. He could not get the crown to fit properly and proceeded to drill and adjust for what felt like an eternity. After 90 minutes of discomfort and growing concern, I had finally had enough. I told him to stop. There comes a point when you know something is not right, and this was one of those moments. I left the treatment room feeling shaken and frustrated. The crown still doesn’t fit properly.
When I found Tom in the reception area, I told him to go ahead with the cleaning only so we could leave. After 10 to 15 minutes in the chair, he, too, refused to continue when he saw the quality of the work. It was clear we were not in capable hands.
To make matters worse, the billing process became another ordeal. The receptionist, who was clearly doing her best, struggled with a new computer system and could not figure out how to generate the bill. We stood there for 35 minutes, already frustrated by the experience, only to be presented with a charge of Zar 2850, about US $171.55. It felt like a complete rip-off considering the outcome.
As soon as we left, we drove straight to Dr. Singh’s office. Fortunately, we were able to secure appointments for both of us on July 6. There is no question in our minds that we will stick with him going forward. His professionalism, skill, and attention to detail are exactly what we need, and this time we will be here long enough to see everything through properly.
After such a stressful morning and an unexpectedly delightful evening, today has been all about slowing down. We headed to the local SparMore store to pick up fresh salad ingredients and returned home to enjoy the quiet. The weather has warmed up nicely after a few cooler days, making it perfect for spending time on the veranda. There is something especially soothing about sitting outside, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds.
Tonight will be simple. A good meal, fresh air, and the comfort of being in a place that feels like home. And as always, we will carry on, taking the good with the bad, grateful for the balance that makes each day its own story.
We will be back tomorrow with more.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 24, 2016:
