On the road again…A gorgeous drive to a smoky place…What is food costing us in Ireland?…

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It was thrilling to see white sandy beaches with little to no debris and few people.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“The Celtic cross and shamrock are
both associated with Ireland, but the national symbol is the harp.”

We’d come to a point where it was time to get out when finally there was an isolated sunny day. It’s tricky driving on the winding, hilly roads and the thought of driving more than three hours in a single day is daunting.

With the necessity of keeping my legs up when I am not walking in order to keep the swelling under control (swelling impeded healing), the idea of driving for more than a few hours doesn’t make sense at this juncture.

Could this be a mating pair of sheep?

The healing of my legs is going well, but visible only in tiny increments when we clean the wound, add the cream cream, add a new moistened gauze ending with bandages and clean compression socks every two days.

When we did this last night, I decided to wash and shave my legs in the tub in the upstairs bath with a sprayer. Being cautious with the open wound, I was able to shave around it.  

This has been the most extended period of my adult life when I hadn’t shaved my legs in over four months. In the past, I shaved each day. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  As soon as my legs dried, we began the usual bandaging process. This could continue for a few more months, based on how it’s looking now.

Sheep lined the road’s edges.  Tom drives extra carefully when there’s no fence protecting the animals.

Anyway, early yesterday afternoon, we decided to get out to a location that wouldn’t cause considerable swelling to my legs while sitting stationary in the car. 

The Connemara Smokehouse was the perfect selection. Not only would we enjoy a scenic drive along the open ocean, but we’d also have the opportunity to purchase smoked fish from this fine establishment, raved about by locals.

Once we entered the shop, we were surprised to see there was no official “fish case,” with a variety of freshly smoked fish on ice on display. There were several freezers filled with several types of fish, all frozen and professionally packaged.

Most roads are not tree-lined when the majority of the terrain is green rolling hills and mountains.

(Speaking of professionally, the SmokeHouse’s website is impressive, as shown here at this link).

Why was all the fish frozen? We all have a perception that the best fish is caught in the morning and sold unfrozen a few hours later. When we asked if they had any fresh, not frozen, smoked fish, their answer made all the sense in the world.

Particular with freshness and food safety, the smoking process proceeds as they’ve stated here on their site:

A short time into our drive, we encountered the open sea.

“The Smoking Process Smokehouse Ireland
The raw materials used to make Connemara Smokehouse Smoked Seafoods are subjected to meticulous scrutiny, where every step is of the utmost importance in producing a perfect end result. When the fish has reached the ideal weight for smoking, it is harvested from the sea, rapidly cooled, gutted, cleaned, hand filleted and boned.

To add to this assurance of quality, Graham fillets the fish by hand, which allows him to monitor every single fish that passes through our Smokehouse. The whole process is conducted quickly, hygienically, and under strict control to retain the fish’s fine taste, freshness, and natural color.

It is smoked in aromatic smoke from a slow-burning fire of beech wood shavings. Then salt is sprinkled by hand over the fillets. After 8 to 10 hours, it is rinsed off with fresh water and placed to smoke and dry for a further 16 to 20 hours.

For the first time since we arrived on May 12, we encountered sandy beaches.  However, the cool weather in Ireland is most likely to keep beachgoers and tourists away.

This adds an exquisite taste, gives a delicate color, and results in a mouth-watering experience. The recipe used and the timing of the process vary according to the size, desired taste, and fat content of the fish. The Connemara Smokehouse obtains its wild Salmon locally. All the fish used in our products are harvested from the pure, rugged Atlantic waters.” Packing:

Storing Your Products: all products are vacuum-packed and shipped by courier. Whatever the packaging or specification, The Connemara Smokehouse always guarantees the tastiest, best quality Irish Seafood.

Smoked Salmon will be kept in your fridge for two weeks in the unopened vacuum pack and up to 8 months in your freezer, also unopened. However, we recommend consumption within seven days or freeze for up to 8 months, as this is better for the quality. See more about storing your products here.”

The pristine beaches were unoccupied other than by a few bundled-up walkers with their children or dogs.

This made a lot of sense to us. Fish spoils quickly. This particular company refuses to run the risk of their carefully prepared products spoiling and possibly causing illness to less-than-careful purchasers. The smoked fish is vacuum-sealed and tastes best, as explained to us if eaten within three days of, defrosting (in the fridge) and opening the package, although it may keep as long as seven days in a very cold refrigerator.

Upon entering the shop, we were warmly greeted by the owner. There were several other shoppers in the store with us. We only waited for a minute for one of their friendly, knowledgeable staff to assist us with our order.

There were plastic laminated menus of products offered in English, French, and German. After perusing the menu and getting a few tastes from our rep, we decided on organic smoked Salmon, mackerel, tuna, and a tub of tuna pate.

Prices were comparable to smoked fish in the US, if not a little more. For all the fish, we spent Euro 76.59, US $86.07, enough fish to last us for several breakfasts when we’ll enjoy it the most.  

Also, lately we’ve been spending approximately Euro 40, US $44.95 a week for fresh-caught, unsmoked fish and seafood, plus all of our general groceries at SuperValu in Clifden.  

After arriving in Ireland one month ago, we’ve spent a total (including all fish) of Euro 1210.17, US $1359.93, which also includes wine and Tom’s Courvoisier.  Dining out, we’ve spent Euro 247.61 US $278.25.  Our grand total to eat in and dine out is Euro 1461.71, US $1628.17 averaging at Euro 48.59 US, $54.60 per day.  

Based on past records we’ve diligently maintained over this past many years, the cost to eat in and out is higher in Ireland than any other country we’ve visited. There’s no doubt that we purchase many organic vegetables and high-quality foods, but we only have a maximum of two meals a day and few, if any, snacks.

It’s the way it is.  As we all know, part of the fun of traveling is dining, whether cooking at a holiday home or dining out.  We admit we haven’t missed out on a morsel of fine food, most of which we’ve made at “home.”

In any case, we had a great time yesterday, driving for a little less than two hours with many stops along the way to take photos. Over the next several days, we’ll continue to share more new photos from our outing. Before we know it, we’ll head out on another sightseeing tour.

Be well. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, June 15, 2018:

      This is a “train” of the African Silk Worm grouping, which returned to our veranda after we moved them away. For more photos, please click here.

So many tasks…Whoever said traveling the world is freedom from responsibility?…

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Fishermen were heading out to collect cages.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“A native of Dublin designed the iconic statuette presented to Oscar winners.

Today’s comments are intended as an “observation” rather than a complaint.  Surely, others could easily list their daily obligations with the same enthusiasm.

There are some mornings I am so busy. I almost feel as if I have a job. I’m not necessarily referring to the prep of the daily posts as I am over other incidental tasks one must perform to stay on top of household tasks, let alone record-keeping for our world travels.

This morning I spent no less than an hour logging a pile of receipts accumulated over the past month we’ve been in Ireland for our various expenditures. 

Still on the move in not-so-good weather.

Thank goodness I’d completed a similar task before we left South Africa after 15 months in the country. I’ve yet to post our entire expenses here for that extended period but one day soon, I’ll get ambitious and get it done. When I do, you’ll see it here.

If I were to maintain an organized lifestyle, I could easily stay busy seven or eight hours a day plus, managing to get out to take photos for the posts for upcoming posts.  

Lately, my motivation has been lacking. We got an extension on our 2018 taxes, but I’ve promised to get everything ready and sent to the accountant in Nevada long before we leave here in two months. The extension is only valid until October 15, 2019. I’d better get the show on the road, eh?

Finally, they found the cages and were off.

Then, of course, there’s been a mountain of work to do, almost daily, regarding our frustrating health insurance situation.  It goes on and on with more and more “paperwork,” payments, and record-keeping required of me.

This morning I spent more time on the insurance in an attempt to get it out of the way before I began preparing the post so my mind would be free to relax and do the one task I enjoy the most, writing to each of you every day.

Then, of course, there’s an endless array of household tasks. Due to my restrictive way of eating, it takes more time to prep for meals. I can easily spend an hour a day cleaning and preparing the many vegetables I consume daily.  

Street scene in Clifden.

Many mornings lately, we’ve been having some sort of breakfast that requires prep and clean-up. The main course can be easy or time-consuming, depending on what we’re having for dinner. Thank goodness Tom handles every aspect of the clean-up for all meals, including cleaning up after me.

Daily, to speed the healing of my leg, I have a protein smoothie. Even this, too, is time-consuming and makes a mess in the kitchen. I don’t expect Tom to clean up after this particular mess I make.

A difficulty I’ve experienced in this house has been the under-counter tiny refrigerator in the kitchen.  (There is another small-sized fridge in the laundry room). Almost every day, I have to re-organize the shelves in this cumbersome kitchen fridge.  

To park on the street, it’s necessary to purchase a ticket averaging about Euro 1, US $1.13 for less than 30 minutes.

Bending over the low appliance is not easy for me or for anyone for that matter.  Lately, I’ve been pulling up a kitchen chair to more easily reach inside and get out what we need for various meals.

We have more laundry to do than most people since we have limited wardrobes. We can’t last for four or five days to wash our clothes. Also, with no dryer and cool, cloudy weather, the clothing, especially jeans, can take two to three days to dry on the indoor rack.  

I have two pairs of long jeans, one couple I wear more often than the other. When those are dirty, I have to plan, as does Tom with his jeans. What will we wear while they dry? It’s no wonder that we’re more than willing to pay for laundry service on cruises…we don’t have enough clothing to last more than a few days.  

We only park on the street when we go to any of these shops.  For food shopping, there is an accessible underground ramp at SuperValu.

The same goes for underwear, tee shirts, and pj’s for me. I have two pairs of warm pj’s, three bras, and six pairs of underwear. If I didn’t do laundry frequently, I’d be out in no time. The same issue exists with Tom’s limited supply of underwear and socks.

Sure, we don’t have to mow the lawn, paint the bedroom, change the oil on the car, or shovel snow. Nor do we have to do a lot of cleaning with Ann, the cleaner coming once a week. In the interim, we keep things tidy, make the bed and strive for a clutter-free household.

Then, of course, there’s the continuing research, most of which we enjoy, ongoing. We cannot allow much time to pass before we get back at it. Also, Tom does research for any sightseeing we hope to do or short road trips we take.  At this point, long road trips are out of the question with my legs yet to heal.

Houses (duplexes) along the highway near Clifden.

Last night, while we watched a show on Amazon Prime, I did my nails and a pedicure, the best I could do considering the compression stockings that come partway down my feet. By the time the show was over, I had gone to bed exhausted after another busy day.

Some may have the perception that as world travelers, our lives are simple and uncomplicated. But, the reality remains, if we lived in one place, we’d still have many of these tasks to perform, just like YOU.

Happy weekend!

Photo from one year ago today, June 14, 2018:

 
 This video will remain one of our favorites in years to come, clearly illustrating the intelligence of elephants during a human intervention in “their world.”  Watch, and you’ll see why.  For more information, please click here.

Figuring out where to stay in Apache Junction, Arizona…Visiting more family…How long will we be in the US?…

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We stopped by the pier on the last sunny day we’ve had in a week or more.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“The population of Ireland still has not bounced back from the famine it faced years
ago. During that time, the population was 8 million. Today, the population lingers
below 7 million.”

_________________________________________________



With our cruise from Southampton in October/November, after a transatlantic sailing ending in Fort Lauderdale, as mentioned, we’re planning to visit Minnesota first, then Nevada, and then on to visit Tom’s sisters at their winter homes in Apache Junction, Arizona.


In Nevada, we’ll be staying with son Richard at his home in Henderson for two to three weeks (yet to be determined).  The US holiday, Thanksgiving, transpires during this period which we’ll celebrate at his home.  He has the same diet as mine and thus, making Thanksgiving dinner, will be especially enjoyable.

“Fish cages are placed in lakes, bayous, ponds, rivers, or oceans to contain and protect fish until they can be harvested. The method is also called “off-shore cultivation” when the cages are placed in the sea.”

Our plan is to head to Apache Junction, Arizona in early December and spend Christmas with three of his six sisters.  Tom is the youngest in his family and every opportunity to spend with his siblings is precious and meaningful.  

His elder brother Jerome (24 years older than Tom) lives in the Minneapolis area along with his sister Patty whom we’ll see in Minnesota.  We hope to see his other sisters, but one, Rita, lives in Rapid City, South Dakota and his other sister, Sister Beth, is a nun living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.    

It will be a busy time in Minnesota for both of us.  Most likely on several occasions, as we did last time we were there in May and June 2017, we’ll each go separate ways.  

There are many types of fishing equipment located on the pier.

I’ll be with my son Greg and his family, while Tom visits with his family.  Of course, we’ll spend some time together with each other’s family members. Somehow, although time is shorter for this visit, we’ll work it all out.


But now, with Minnesota and Nevada arrangements set, we need only to figure out where we’ll stay in Apache Junction and for how long.  We’re hoping to find a caravan rental where his sisters live to escape the cold winter months in Minnesota.  We’ve inquired at the caravan park where his sisters are located and his sisters are also inquiring for us. 


If we’re unable to find a caravan we can rent we’ll have to either find a holiday home for rent or a nearby hotel.  We’ll see how it goes.  We still have six months until we’ll be there.

An array of fishing equipment is situated on the Glinsce Pier.

Slowly but surely we’re filling in the gaps in our itinerary.  Each night, during our hour-long Happy Hour, we discuss our options as to where in the world we’d like to travel.


I feel confident I’ll be able to continue on.  Tom, on the other hand, is feeling as if we should wait to book plans well into the future after our recent experiences with my open heart surgery and subsequent slow recovery.


I feel confident we’ll be able to make plans.  Tom’s concern is associated with my ability to do a lot of walking on uneven surfaces, which seem to be a substantial part of world travels.  

Old boat on the pier.  I wonder what stories it could tell.

Tom’s right, at this point…such walking is a challenge but it’s only been a little over two months since I had two surgeries on both of my legs.  Surely, in time as they continue to heal, I’ll be able to tackle the often strenuous walking associated with sightseeing.  


In the interim, I continue to walk up to 10,000 steps a day inside the house in an attempt to build up cardiac strength and endurance.  But, my legs aren’t strong and stable yet.  I get his point.  We’ll wait to start booking more venues for 2020 until I can do a little more.  


Currently, we have several cruises booked well into 2020.  After this first cruise (since the surgery), sailing on August 11th, we’ll have a better idea of how I’ll do on tours and living aboard a ship.

The side wall of the boat launch.

Today, another cool and cloudy day, we’re off to Clifden to shop  The hustle and bustle of the small town (population 1,600), often packed with tourists, is entertaining and energizing.


Have a fabulous day doing exactly that which you love to do!

______________________________________________________
Photo from one year ago today, June 13, 2018:
Check out the wear and tear on this old elephant’s right ear.  For more photos, please click here.

Booked trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota to visit family…

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We stopped at the Glinsce pier to check out the boats.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

The patron saint of Ireland is Saint Patrick, who was said to have rid the country of snakes.

There’s no doubt I’d love to be able to get out for more sightseeing. It’s been a month today since our arrival, and the clock seems to be clicking faster each day.
The cold, windy and rainy weather has been a massive factor in keeping us in.

Not only do I not want to take the risk of falling on wet slippery surfaces, but the cold seems to go right through us. While I’m not yet feeling 100%, the thought of shivering isn’t appealing. No matter how many layers I pile on, I can’t seem to warm up when we’re outdoors.

I suppose we can also attribute the feeling of being chilled so readily based on how long we spent in South Africa in mostly hot temperatures. I can’t imagine how cold we’ll feel when we visit Minnesota in the US this upcoming November.

Seafaring vessel.

As time seemed to pass so quickly, we knew it was time to book our plans for the two weeks we’ll spend in Minnesota beginning on November 8, ending on November 22, when we’ll fly to Nevada to visit more family where we’ll stay for a few more weeks.

As much as it seems logical to stay with family while we visit Minnesota, the reality is they either don’t have the room and have cats to which I am allergic. We have no choice other than to stay in a hotel.

Nor do we have any interest in imposing on Tom’s other family members or any of our friends, many of whom have offered. It’s daunting to host us as houseguests.  We have a lot of “stuff,” we require a huge data load on their WiFi service, and it creates a lot of stress for the host when trying to figure out meals with my way of eating.

Most likely, these three boats are used for fishing.

Bottom line, we stay in a hotel. We eat most of our meals in restaurants when not dining with our children and their families. We choose hotels that include breakfast.  

We chose a hotel conveniently located to our kids, within a 12-minute drive and within 25 minutes to most of our friends. Unfortunately, our grandchildren will be in school during the days, based on the time of year. Instead, we’ll see them in the evenings and over the two weekends in Minnesota.

After searching online a few days ago, we could book a hotel, airfare, and a car for the two weeks. Prices on hotels and car rentals are high in Minnesota. We spent hours in research, finally able to piece it all together. 

Boat on a dry dock next to fishing gear.

We chose TownePlace Suites by Marriott located in St. Louis Park, which proved to be centrally located, close to the busy thoroughfare, Highway 100, at the Cost of Euro 1352, US $1532 for the 14 nights.  

In addition, we booked a car through rentalcars.com, a Ford Fiesta, which we’d had in South Africa and found to be perfect for us, for a total of Euro 362, US $410.

The one-way airfare from Fort Lauderdale to Minneapolis is Euro 328, US $372 plus the additional Euro $88, US $100 for baggage for a total of Euro 416, US $472 (for both of us).

Dining and food expenses out should run about an average of Euro 1765, US $2000 considering we’ll spend some evenings dining at the homes of our children.

A short channel at the pier.  The boat launch is on the opposite side of this pier.

Thus our total Cost for 14 nights in Minneapolis will be as follows:
Hotel:  Euro 1352, US $1532
Rental Car:  Euro 362, US $410.
Airfare:  Euro 416, US $472
Food:  Euro 1765, US $2000
Miscellaneous including entertainment with grandkids, etc.: Euro 706, US $800
Total Cost for 14 nights: Euro 4601, US $5214

It’s easy to underestimate costs for such a trip. Including visiting Nevada and Arizona, which we’ll post as soon as we’ve booked hotels and cars, we can easily expect to spend another Euro 8827, US $10,000.

All of these expenses are of particular relevance to us now more than ever, as our health insurance company fails to pay medical bills for the recent four surgeries.  We continue to be proactive at handling this but, at this point, have no option other than to pay large sums out-of-pocket.

We’ll be back with more tomorrow as we continue to contemplate plans for the future. Have a fantastic day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 12, 2018:
An elephant was scratching her right eye. For more photos, please click here.

Macronutrients…What am I doing in an attempt to avoid future heart issues?…

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A calf on a hill overlooking the sea.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
Over 80% of Ireland’s people are Roman Catholic.”
         
Last night was one of those magical occasions when I slept through the night without awakening until 6:00 am. Tom didn’t do quite as well. But, we bolted out of bed, showered and dressed for the day, and made ourselves scrambled eggs with sauteed onion, grated cheddar cheese, and bacon.

I only had one piece of bacon and one tablespoon of cheese with my eggs adding one of those tiny cans of tuna on the side. This will hold me until I have my required protein smoothie sometime this afternoon.

An old abandoned building facing the bay.
Lately, with all the confusion and lack of good research on how much fat a heart patient can eat, I’ve been keeping track of everything I consume in the free app, Cron-O-Meter, found at this link.
 
I’m attempting to keep my fat consumption under 70 grams per day, protein at 120 grams (As recommended by the plastic surgeon. I’ll lower this after my legs fully heal), and carbs under 50 grams per day (all sourced from vegetables and fruits as mentioned below: avo and tomatoes).  
An occasional sunny day gets us out to take photos.

Note:  Carbohydrates provide four calories per gram, protein provides 4 calories per gram, and fat provides 9 calories per gram.

Thus, my macronutrients are as follows:
Carbs:  4 x 50 + 200
Protein: 4 x 120 = 480
Fat:   9 x 70 = 630

Total calories:  1310
This amount leaves room for a little red wine and an occasional snack after dinner, all of which will increase the above totals bringing it up to a maximum of 1500 calories per day.

Wildflowers are surrounding our holiday home.

Using this app enables me to keep easy track of the above macronutrients and adjust my diet during the day if I end up grabbing something unplanned. I continue to avoid all starches, grains, fruit, and sugar. Although I continue to enjoy tomatoes and avocados, both of which are the only fruits I consume.

My caloric consumption is an ample amount and yet will keep me from gaining weight. Not that I necessarily pay much attention to calories but based on my age, activity level, and current weight this caloric amount is sufficient.

Exciting rocks and seashells line the outdoor ledge of the window.
Perhaps this method won’t have a positive impact on my cardiovascular health in the long run. But add in, walking 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, not sitting in one position too long, attempting to sleep well, and currently taking vitamins recommended by the doctors:  Vitamin C, CoQ10, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, and Vitamin D3. (Please see your nutritionist, dietician or doctor for vitamin doses).

I don’t know what else I can do other than keeping stress at a minimum which is more of a contributor to failing arteries than from diet based on what I’ve researched thus far. 
(These comments are not intended as medical advice.  Please see your doctor for recommendations befitting your medical health).
Stunning view of the bay from our garden.

The only stress I am experiencing now is the ongoing issues with the health insurance company and their refusal to pay, claiming I had a pre-existing heart condition (which I did not).  

Each time I get an email from any of the parties involved, I can feel my heart beating faster with frustration and anger over this unbelievable situation. I can’t wait until this is finally resolved. Each time I think this way, I get up, walk around the house and take lots of deep breaths.
As for today, we’re busy online planning our upcoming trip to the US in less than five months. The time goes quickly, and this has become a priority. Soon, we’ll report back with plans we’ve booked for November.
 
Have a stress-free and pleasant day!
Photo from one year ago today, June 11, 2018:
The rhino’s skin looks a little too large for their bodies. From this site: “Members of the rhinoceros family are some of the largest remaining megafaunas, with all species able to reach or exceed one tonne in weight. They have a herbivorous diet, small brains (400–600 g) for mammals of their size, one or two horns, and a thick (1.5–5 cm) protective skin formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure.” For more details, please click here.

Tricky situation…

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Happy on a hill.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“Guinness
Beer is widely popular in Ireland. It first originated in the country and can be found in Pubs and grocery stores.”
     
It’s challenging to decide on how to begin describing this dilemma. We encounter such challenges in our world travels and usually can figure out a solution. But, the situation we describe here today is challenging.

Picture this…we purchase SIM cards in each country we visit, resulting in our getting a new phone number each time we move to new lands. For us, this works well, avoiding the cost of paying for a US contract we’d never use nor want to use, based on international roaming.

Wildflowers in the garden.

As described in yesterday’s post here, based on the fact our international health insurance isn’t paying my medical bills, we are delivering the outstanding bills out-of-pocket, hoping to get reimbursed at some point which is highly unlikely.

We’ve been able to pay the outstanding bills using credit cards, for which we call the payee and provided credit card information over the phone, except for one.  Thus, this is the dilemma we describe.  

Pretty pink flower in the side garden of our holiday home.

The only way this particular provider will accept payment is through a bank transfer. This is well and good under normal circumstances. However, this morning our bank informed me they require verification of the wire transfer through a verifiable US phone number.  

We don’t have such a number, nor can we receive texts through Messenger on Facebook or locally on our Irish SIM card. For friends and family worldwide, this has worked perfectly. We do have a Skype number but cannot receive texts via this means.

Excuse the tilted photo taken while the car was moving.

When we arrived in the US, we’ve decided to purchase two Google phones. These phones can have a US number and be used at affordable rates for calling and texting worldwide. If we had those phones now, it wouldn’t be an issue.

However, we didn’t want to order the phones to be shipped to us to avoid the possibility of theft and high customs fees. While in the US, this won’t be an issue. We’ll order the phones to be delivered before arrival in the US to be shipped to our hotel in Minneapolis.  

Overcast day view of the Twelve Bens (mountains).

Upon receipt of the Google phones, we won’t ever need to purchase a SIM card again. One weird factor of these phones is that it is expensive for us to call one another. Subsequently, we can use Whatsapp at little cost using the included data plan we’ll select with Google, which may be around Euro 26.53, US $30 a month.

While living in the US before traveling in 2012, our Verizon phone bill with unlimited data, text, and calling was approximately Euro 199, US $225 per month.  If we had a US contract these days, we’d spend more than we can imagine.

Unusual markings on this cow who looks pregnant.

Another benefit of using Google phones is that as soon as we land in a new country, we can call Uber instead of grabbing an expensive taxi waiting outside the pier or airport. Plus, we’ll always have the availability of MAPS the moment we drive off in the rental car.

However, the above is a moot point. For now, we can’t receive a text, nor will our bank accept a phone number belonging to a family member. They will only accept a phone number in our name in the US.  

Her calf is suckling.

How will we pay this bill? I have contacted the payee’s billing department, asking them to suggest an option such as PayPal or, can we mail them a check? Our bank doesn’t handle BillPay payments outside the USA. But we can send a check to our mailing service and have them snail mail the payment, which seems to be our best option.  

We’ll see how this rolls out. We’ll report back.

Have a happy, healthy day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 10, 2018:
Mongooses stay close to one another, often seen grooming and cuddling one another. For more photos, please click here.

The health insurance debacle…Not everything is as it seems…

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What a face!

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
The Irish famine in the 1840s led to a population decline of two million people because of immigration and starvation.”

When we purchased our annual international health insurance policy from a company in the UK almost seven years ago, we’d hoped we’d never have to make a claim. The policy was issued for “major medical” only, meaning it covered hospital stays, surgeries with in-hospital treatment, and medication but not routine doctor appointments, urgent care facilities, or prescription drugs.

The co-pay for the hospitalization is Euro 1763, US $2000, per hospital admission. Since February this year, I’ve had three hospital admissions and four surgeries (two leg surgeries in one five-day hospital admission).  

At the time of the first admission, we paid out-of-pocket, the sum of ZAR 80000, US $5348, Euro 4715, for the estimated cost of the first visit to “theatre” for the angiogram including one overnight stay. At the time, the hospital’s billing department was diligently attempting to get our insurance company to pay, to no avail.

During the subsequent surgery, the cardiac bypass, the insurance company hedged for days but finally got their funding subsidiary to pay a portion of the hospital bill excluding all the doctor bills.  

Our insurance company was attempting to claim I had a pre-existing heart condition I hadn’t disclosed at the time of the application in 2012. This is simply not true.  

Sheep grazing on a hillside.

Sure I took a low dose hypertensive drug for a mild case of heredity high blood pressure, but I had disclosed this at the time of the application.  My blood pressure has been totally under control for the past 20 years, usually running around 110/68, certainly not a concern.

Besides, would we be traveling the world, often embarking on strenuous activities, if I had a known heart condition?  Hardly. We had no idea. We’d have taken immediate action rather than risk my having a life-threatening cardiac event had we known.

Then, on March 29, 2019, we visited the cardiothoracic surgeon for a routine post-cardiac bypass surgery exam at which point when he examined the condition of my legs, he immediately arranged an appointment with a plastic surgeon with excellent “wound care” experience.  

Within hours, I was immediately admitted to the hospital, having the first of two leg surgeries a few days apart.  But, before admission, we spent two very stressful hours, trying to get the insurance company to pay the required ZAR 130000, US $8690, Euro 7662. Here again, we had to pay out of pocket when the insurance company wouldn’t come through.

I spent hours on my phone attempting to get the insurance company to pay. Once again, they used all the excuses in the world to avoid paying. They said we should go ahead and pay out of pocket and later file claims, which we’ve done, again to no response.

Since we’d already paid the plastic surgeon’s bill out-of-pocket, in the above ZAR 130000, we had no outstanding bill with her. Plus, we’d paid the ZAR 80000 out-of-pocket for the first hospital admission to the cardiologist.

Two adult Connemara ponies and a youngster.

Remaining have been the bills for the anesthesiologist, surgical technicians, and most importantly, the cardiothoracic surgeon who’d performed the bypass surgery.

Need I say, dealing with the insurance company and their representatives to get these outstanding bills paid has been an outrageously stressful situation. When I was dealing with this, I could feel my heart pounding in dire frustration.

Why didn’t Tom handle this? We all have our specific skills. Negotiating and handling the endless flow of paperwork was simply not Tom’s forte, and it hardly felt like mine during recovery.

I recall being on the phone with the insurance company while I was in ICU for eight days and immediately upon returning to Marloth Park after the surgery when I was in rough shape for many weeks.

So, where are we now? With their refusal to pay they have claimed they are awaiting my medical records for the past 20 years which I have since verified are in their hands.

Now, bit by bit, bill by bill, we are negotiating with doctors requesting they accept a discounted payment from us. This is standard practice in the medical business when companies often deal with reduced fees for services, especially in the US for Medicare and Medicaid and national health insurance (NHS) as provided to citizens of the country of South Africa.

A beautiful sunset from the garden.

We’re almost done paying with one outstanding payment to negotiate, which we’ll hopefully resolve by tomorrow. At that point, we’ll submit a few more claims and wait and wait and wait…to see if the insurance company will ever reimburse us.

In the meantime, we’ve had no choice but to keep the policy in effect, although they doubled the premium after the surgery. No company will insure me other than Medicare in the US which I may have no choice but to re-instate once all of this is resolved.  

It is ill-advised to cancel the policy now until all of the claims are resolved or, we give up hoping to be reimbursed. While in the US in November, we’re considering signing me up for Medicare which doesn’t pay for any medical treatment outside the US but if I need non-emergency treatment, we can always fly back to the US for such treatment. If it’s an emergency outside the US…we’re in big trouble.

Many may say, “stop traveling and return to live in the US.” We have no interest in doing this. We have a lot of the world left to see and are not forfeiting the joy and happiness we continue to experience in our travels.  

If and when the time comes, we can no longer travel due to medical issues, we’ll decide at that time.  We now realize the delicate balance of life itself, more than ever, and how and why we should live it to the fullest.  

Many don’t get this decision but, we do, and in the long run, that’s all that matters. We’ll continue to update the progress on this frustrating situation as we continue. Right now, our focus is on healing, recovery, and putting all this stress behind us.

Have a pleasant day and evening wherever you may be.

Photo from one year ago today, June 9, 2018:

Water spouted out of his mouth after he took a big gulp of water. For more photos, please click here.

Our friends have left Connemara…A challenge handled…Tom’s stunning photos.

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Rainbow view #1 from our window.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
The country has had a high birthrate for the last 50 years. Subsequently, Ireland has one of the youngest populations in the world.”
           

Lisa, Barry, and Chuck spent the day and evening with us. With my left leg and foot very swollen from sitting too much over the past few days, I’d decided to stay behind while they drove to Clifden for lunch in a pub/restaurant.

It was the first time in a long time I was alone for several hours. The time went quickly while I sat with my feet up, made a salad for dinner, and even managed to take a nap after a fitful prior night’s sleep.

Rainbow view #2 from our window.

Before too long, Lisa called to let me know they were on their way. The plan was to play a fantastic card game, Five Crowns, we’d played with them while on the cruise we met.

But, once we all sat down together in the living room to catch up on the day, we never got to the card game until 1900 hours, 7:00 pm. Since the three of them had a late lunch in Clifden, they were in no hurry to eat. For me, it didn’t matter.

Rainbow view #3 from our window.

Tom had purchased three roasted chickens for the meal to keep the work minimal for me. He cooked a big pot of rice as a side dish.  Later, when we finally dined at 2100 hours, 9:00 pm, all I had to do was butter the buns and grill them in a pan on the stove, heat the chicken in the microwave, and cook the broccoli.  

We were ready to eat. We all sat at the dining table, and everyone went back for seconds. We were done with dinner in less than 15 minutes, hoping to get back to the game. It was an easy meal, perhaps not as exciting as meals we’d made for guests in the past, but it was ideal for us to make at this point in my recovery.

Tom wasn’t quite sure what this animal was at first sight until they turned around.

After dinner at almost 2200 hours, 10:00 pm, we continued playing the card game. Something was amiss with my bad left leg and foot. I took off my sock to discover my ankle, foot and toes were grossly swollen. The efforts I made all day were of little consequence in reducing the swelling.

Also, there was a lot of moisture on the compression sock. I knew I couldn’t sit comfortably and play cards, plus it was getting late, and our guests needed to head back to their hotel in Carna on the winding roads, riskier than usual on a Friday night. It was nearly 2300 hours, 11:00 pm, and it was still light outside.

This morning, Tom took these photos through the glass of the kitchen window to avoid scaring off the hare.

After warm hugs and heartfelt goodbyes, they left. It had been a fantastic two days. We plan to meet up shortly. With Barry, an airline pilot, they travel a lot and can easily meet us anywhere in the world. We’re all looking forward to seeing one another again.

Tom and I cleaned up the glasses (Tom had done the dishes earlier), and we headed upstairs to remove the compression socks and bandages to see how the wound was doing. Much to our surprise, it looked a little better than the previous day. He did the usual every other day treatment, and we called it a night.

Cute hare in the garden.

This morning, the swelling was reduced by 50%. Today, I’ll walk but avoid sitting with my feet on the floor or spending any time standing. Tonight, we’ll have leftovers and spend a quiet Saturday evening, perhaps watching a movie. Again, it’s raining off and on and cool and windy.  

This morning the temperature was 8.33C, 47F, but with the winds, it’s not appealing to go out sightseeing, nor does it make sense to be sitting in the car with my feet on the floor for a few hours.  

And so it goes, the recovery continues, albeit not at a pace we’d like to see, but it’s moving forward nonetheless. However, we’re cheerful, grateful for the fun two days we had with our beautiful friends, and look forward to another good day in Connemara, Ireland.

May you have a great day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 8, 2018:

A leisurely drive in Marloth Park resulted in spotting these giraffes. For more photos, please click here.

A day to remember with friends…Lunch in, dinner out…More fun today but limited activity for me…

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Lisa took this selfie of all five of us at the bar/restaurant in Carna, Tigh Mheaic. After drinks, we moved to a comfy booth and enjoyed lively chatter and dinner. At the bar, Lisa, me, Tom, Barry and their friend Chuck.The boys drank Guinness and Lisa and I enjoyed part of a bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
A peace agreement between Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Britain was signed in 1998. Ireland gave up control of Northern Island to the United Kingdom as part of this agreement.”
                  
It was quite a wonderful day. Lisa, Barry, and their friend Chuck arrived at noon.  Ann, our housekeeper was finishing cleaning the upstairs and the house was spotless and organized.

I set the table with what we had on hand.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have any linen napkins but we did have a placemat with Irish ocean scenes and wine glasses. I folded oversized sturdy paper towels to resemble cloth napkins.

I’d already made the side dishes and all we had left to do was cook the Rueben sandwiches in a big skillet, based on everyone’s preferences such as; Barry doesn’t care for sauerkraut and Lisa doesn’t eat bread, sugar, or starch due to a medical condition that has tremendously improved after changing to her way of eating.

As a result, I made two regular Ruebens with corned beef, sauerkraut, smoked swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing, and a third with the same but leaving out the sauerkraut. Lisa and I used lettuce to wrap our sandwiches which proved to be so delicious we didn’t miss the dark rye bread.

Yesterday morning, I baked lemon cake topped with powdered. None for Lisa and me due to our wheat and sugar-free way of eating.

After lunch, we moved into the living room with exquisite views of the sea and chatted and laughed for hours. We got so wrapped up in conversation, we failed to get out the door for dinner in Carna until after 1830 hours, 6:30 pm.

It was pouring rain when we left and continued raining throughout the evening.  They didn’t want to impose upon us and chose to stay in a hotel in Carna not far from the pub/restaurant, Tigh Mheaic, where Tom and I dined a few weeks ago where the pub is superb, the food excellent and the service beyond reproach.

My photo of the four of them at the bar in the pub.

We sat at the bar until 2030 hours, 8:30 pm, when we finally moved to a cozy booth with a banquette. Shortly thereafter our dinners arrived. The food was hot, fresh, and overall very good. The animated conversations and laughter continued.

With their hotel in Carna where we were headed for dinner, we drove separately.  Tom and I had decided to leave the pub before darkness fell. Here in Ireland, this time of year, it stays light until around 2230, 10:30 pm. We wanted to head back before it was dark.
Tom’s chicken dinner.  He was thrilled to have both mashed and roasted potatoes. Most Irish restaurants serve two types of potatoes with each meal. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal.

The narrow winding roads are dangerous during daylight hours and even more so in the dark. When one thinks of who may be driving after dark in this remote location, the risk of accidents is substantially increased.

Last night, before heading to bed, after sitting so much all day, I noticed my left leg had become very swollen. During the night, I tossed and turned, well aware I’d obviously caused the swelling by sitting with my legs down all afternoon, sitting on a barstool in the pub, and then again at the dinner table.
Chuck ordered the scallops which we’d had last time we were there.  The little dark round on the right of his plate is blood pudding. Delicious!

Lisa picked up on my discomfort after dinner, although I hadn’t said a word, and insisted I put my legs on her lap while we were seated at the banquette. It felt comfortable to do so allowing us to stay longer than expected.

Alas, the entire day resulted in my awakening this morning with a very swollen left foot and leg. As I write here now, my feet are on top of a little table with a small cushion.

Barry ordered pizza which we all know isn’t always the best when ordered in a regular restaurant as opposed to a pizza restaurant.  Barry agreed it wasn’t ideal.

However, it appears I won’t be able to go to lunch in Clifden today. I’ve insisted Tom go with Lisa, Barry, and Chuck while I’ll stay behind continuing to rest my legs and walk around the house which seems to help. Sitting with my legs down is definitely a huge deterrent to the healing process.

In any case, they’ll go to town, have lunch and return here for dinner and to play cards. Tom will pick up some roasted chickens at SuperValue and make rice as an accompaniment while I make salad and vegetables for tonight’s dinner. I’m fine with this plan knowing how important it is for me to get the swelling down.
Lisa and I each ordered the smoked salmon salad and shared a side dish of blood pudding described as follows: “While black pudding has some positive nutritional traits, it’s not something we should be eating in abundance. Black pudding does have some benefits. It’s high in protein, which can keep you feeling fuller for longer. It can also be rich in zinc and iron as it contains blood.”  We both loved the four little rounds of blood pudding we shared.

Later, while we dine and play cards, we’ll arrange my chair with the little table and pillow nearby to allow me to keep my feet up. There’s no way I’m going to miss the evening’s activities and the last evening with our friends.

We are so fortunate to have friends from all over the world, a huge benefit of our almost seven years of world travel which began on October 31, 2012. Seeing Lisa and Barry after meeting them on a cruise in November 2017 makes us grateful, so very grateful. Our heartfelt thanks and love to them and Chuck for coming all this way!

Be well, dear readers.
Photo from one year ago today, June 7, 2018:
A stunning scene of the Crocodile River from our visit to Wild & Free Rehabilitation in Hectorspruit.  For more details, please click here.

Cows in the yard…Today’s the day…Questioning medical science once again

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This appears to be an angry bull who doesn’t want us looking at him.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“The story of Dracula is said to have been inspired by the Irish legend of Abhartach. Bram Stoker was Irish born and raised and learned the legend of Abhartach when he was young.”

We’re so excited!  Our friends, Lisa and Barry, will be here in a few hours.  This morning I made a lemon cake, crab salad made with fresh crab brought to us by John, the fish guy, and have everything ready for the Rueben sandwiches we’ll be making for lunch.

We have Irish-made potato chips, dill pickles, carrot slices, and pre-strung (by me) sugar snap peas to go along with the sandwiches. We have plenty of red wine, Pelligrino sparkling water, bottled still water, and soda.  

We don’t have placemats or linen napkins this time, and I forgot to purchase paper napkins. We’ll have to use the solid large-sized paper towels I’ll fold nicely and we’ll be good to go.

As we drive down the shared driveway between us and the owner’s house, we now have cattle on both sides.

Standing on my feet for any length of time preparing food or other tasks is still a challenge. My legs tire easily, although I can walk each day, now up to 8000 or 9000 steps daily. A dear friend and reader sent me an article she spotted regarding my goal of accomplishing 10,000 steps a day. It reads as follows from this site:

“I-Min Lee, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health and the lead author of a new study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, began looking into the step rule because she was curious about where it came from. “It turns out the original basis for this 10,000-step guideline was a marketing strategy,” she explains. “In 1965, a Japanese company was selling pedometers, and they gave it a name that, in Japanese, means ‘the 10,000-step meter.'”

Based on conversations she’s had with Japanese researchers, Lee believes that name was chosen for the product because the character for “10,000” looks sort of like a man walking. As far as she knows, the actual health merits of that number have never been validated by research.

Cows are intelligent and curious. “According to research, cows are generally quite intelligent animals who can remember things for a long time. Animal behaviorists have found that they interact in socially complex ways, developing friendships over time and sometimes holding grudges against other cows who mistreat them.”
Scientific or not, this bit of branding ingenuity transmogrified into a pearl of wisdom that traveled around the globe over the next half-century, and eventually found its way onto the wrists and into the pockets of millions of Americans. In her research, Lee put it to the test by observing the step totals and mortality rates of more than 16,000 elderly American women. The study’s results paint a more nuanced picture of the value of physical activity.

“The basic finding was that at 4,400 steps per day, these women had significantly lower mortality rates compared to the least active women,” Lee explains. If they did more, their mortality rates continued to drop until they reached about 7,500 steps, at which point the rates leveled out. Ultimately, increasing daily physical activity by as little as 2,000 steps—less than a mile of walking—was associated with positive health outcomes for elderly women.”

Please click on the link for the balance of this article.
From this site: “If an animal is left on its own in a pasture, it will spend a third of its time gathering food, a third of its time eating, and a third of it sleeping. If they’re lying down, it probably doesn’t signal much beyond the fact that it’s sleeping time.”

I deliberated over this study carefully, wondering if I should lower the number of steps I’m striving to accomplish each day. The reason I chose to continue with the goal of 10,000 steps daily is in regard to the recovery of my heart and arteries after the recent cardiac bypass surgery. But even there, the science isn’t precisely how much exercise protects the heart and arteries from future problems.

The question and answers remain ambiguous, such as: 
  • How much exercise should a cardiac patient do post-surgery? Is it the 10,000 steps?  Are they to be done consecutively, or are small spurts better?  No one seems to know, nor is there consistent evidence on the 10,000 steps shown in the above article. “They,” say 30-minutes a day but is that enough?
  • How much fat in the diet is suggested after bypass surgery?  We know the obvious foods to avoid. Transfats, fried foods, and chemical-laden foods. But as a low-carb dieter, how can I make this fit into my way of eating?  Eating a low carb, low-fat diet is unhealthy, according to several studies. No one, including my four doctors, a cardiologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, a plastic surgeon, and a family practitioner, has a definitive answer. 
  • Is drinking red wine beneficial? Or, is avoiding alcohol altogether better over the long run? There are no definitive answers here either.
Thus, I trudge along, striving for as many steps a day as I can do.  I consume a high protein diet (recommended by the plastic surgeon particularly while the wounds are still healing), still avoiding excess “carbage,” and eating fish, chicken, seafood, and tons of a variety of colorful fresh organic vegetables each day. Now I am drinking a glass and a half of quality red wine each day. It’s quite a treat.
From this site: “Cattle can experience “Eureka” moments. In research published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, researchers observed cattle given a reward after completing a task and gave the same reward to other cattle which had no control over their rewards. By measuring heart rate, they determined that the cattle who could control their fate got more excited than those rewarded passively. This could be interpreted as cattle having an emotional reaction to finishing a puzzle, not just getting food.”
Each day I prepare the protein smoothie recommended by the plastic surgeon. I add organic unsweetened cocoa powder and a scoop of high-quality protein powder with water and ice for a tasty smoothie drink. (Tom used to make it for me each day, but now I can do this myself.

As for what I can and can’t do at this point…I can walk, but I get extremely tired in the grocery store.  I have trouble bending to the ground to pick something up (due to my chest hurting) and have difficulty getting up from the low-slung sofas and chairs.  

Why do I have trouble getting up from a low sofa or stuffed chair?  Usually, a person uses their legs to provide the traction needed to arise from low furniture. It’s only been two months since I had two separate surgeries on both of my legs. I realized this could take a while to recover.  

Also, my arms are still painful when used to support my body upon arising. This is due to the trauma to my chest and surrounding nerves and muscles. The scar on my chest is still painful, and now the skin is stretching and itchy.  I am doing some arm exercises, using bottles of Pellegrino as weights, and performing some lunges at the kitchen sink every other day.

As for the healing of the severe wound on my left leg, which many have inquired about, it is slowly improving, although it’s still open.  Every other day, Tom removes the compression socks and bandages, cleans the wound with a special antibacterial liquid, covers it with a special cream Dr. Theo provided, and then with “Jelonet,” a sterile moist wound gauze. He then bandages it all once again.  

After this process, he helps me put on a clean pair of compression stockings that are tough to put on while I still wear them day and night.  Again, there was no definitive answer as to how long compression stocking should be modeled after leg surgery and infection. We decided I’d wear them until the wound completely closes, hopefully in the next 60 days.

So there is our story for today, dear readers. Thank you for your love and ongoing support and concern. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of all of you and smile.

We hope you’ll have an enjoyable day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 6, 2018:
This is a Bovine Tuberculosis infected kudu we spotted only the day after being educated on this dreadful disease impacting mainly kudus in Marloth Park. For more photos and information on Bovine TB, please click here.