No word on Covid test results yet…Who were we kidding about compensation for delayed bags?…Ourselves!…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Spikey’s horns have grown since we were away! It was beautiful to see him again.

Today, we heard that a bad virus, not Covid, was going through the area like wildfire with symptoms similar to Covid. As yet, I haven’t heard about my test results, but I am assuming it will be negative. I have this awful bug. The dinner party we missed at Kathy and Don’s house last night was canceled when Gerhard got sick. I hadn’t been sitting near him at Jabula last Friday night when we all got together, but at that point, I was feeling fine.

The reason for today’s late post, it’s now nearly 3:00 pm, is because we spent the entire morning trying to process the claims with United Airlines for our missing bags on the way to the US and then again on the return. We’d read about how great they are in compensating passengers for missing bags, even after being found and returned.  We decided we were delusional in thinking we’d be compensated for the gross inconvenience and having to pay for the most recent bag’s delivery to us.

Peter, Paul, and Mary are back again!

I won’t bore you with the tedious details other than to say, when all was said and done, we got a promise from United Airlines for a credit of US $225, ZAR 3240, toward a future flight or for overweight baggage, and reimbursement for the clothes we had to buy Tom when his entire bag was missing for three days when we arrived in Minnesota. He had nothing but the clothes on his back which he’d already worn for two nights and three days while traveling.

I suppose, in reality, perhaps that is all we were entitled to receive. We did finally get the bags. But, based on how their reps talked on the phone, it might be more. We have mixed feelings about using United again, but we may have to at some point. Besides, they don’t care if we don’t fly with them or not.

Today, after all the commotion on the phone almost all morning, I must admit, I’m not highly motivated to spend another moment on my laptop if I can help it. So today’s post will be minimal and certainly lacking in any creativity or fascinating photos. I apologize for the shortfall.

The Imposter, a smaller version of Tiny, who’s yet to appear, is ingratiating himself with us, showing up several times a day.

I am feeling a lot better today and am looking forward to getting out soon. If I continue on this path today and again tomorrow, we may head to Jabula for dinner tomorrow night. With Covid restrictions continuing, the restaurant won’t be open beyond 8:30 pm, especially when the curfew is at 9:00 pm, 2100 hrs when all residents must be back in their homes for the night. The curfew is lifted at 4:00 am, allowing time for workers to get to early morning jobs.

It’s a beautiful day today, sunny and warm with highs in the 80s, 27C range over the next week. Now, we see flowers blooming in the bush, a good indicator of spring on the horizon. Could it be that winter, which ends on September 22nd, is genuinely almost over?

That’s all we’ve got today, dear readers. Thanks for hanging in there with us through these quiet and uneventful times, of which there have been many with limitations imposed by Covid-19.

Be safe. Be happy and have a good day.

Photo from one year ago today, August 5, 2020:

From the year-ago photo while in lockdown in Mumbai, India, on day #135. The Arc de Triomphe was a busy location filled with cars and tourists. For more photos, please click here.

Had to get a Covid test this morning…Results tomorrow…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Oh, oh…roadblock!
Little, patiently waiting in the garden for the next round of pellets.  

Tom is recovering nicely from his two tooth extractions and had turned the corner on his bad virus/cough/cold, whatever it was. Last night I was awake until 3:00 am, sneezing, blowing my nose, coughing, having difficulty breathing, along with a bad headache. I never get a headache.

I then decided I needed to get a Covid test, not that I needed to know. Whatever I had was running its course. But, it was important for us to see if we need to quarantine for the next two weeks, if I did, have a breakthrough case of Covid-19, although we had the one-shot J & J vaccine in the US on July 1st at the airport in Minnesota upon our arrival.

Hornbill, eating Frank’s seeds.

My big concern was not so much that I could do or take anything to improve the symptoms, but more so, to avoid infecting others in days to come. If the test results are positive tomorrow, both of us will begin to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days since several days have passed since the onset of symptoms.

However, we both could have had the seasonal flu or picked up some bug on our long journey back to South Africa from the US. Fifteen hours on a plane could certainly attribute to “catching” something in such tight quarters. Plus, we spent many hours waiting for our flights in various airports. We’ve only been back nine days as of today. We could even have picked something up here after returning, at the market or out and about.

It was nice to see that One Tusk returned to our garden.

More and more discussions in the news about cases of “break-through Covid,” which ultimately have scared away from receiving the vaccine. Many are assuming that the vaccine is useless if the vaccinated are getting the virus. But, it appears that having had the vaccine may significantly reduce the severity of a break-through case.

Again, each person has to decide what course they choose regarding vaccination for themselves and their loved one. In any case, it’s sad to hear about many people dying in hospitals after refusing the jab, compared to only a small number of vaccinated people succumbing to the disease.

Closeup of One Tusk.

This morning we drove to the medical clinic here in Marloth Park. I didn’t see a need to go to Dr. Theo in Komatipoort when all I felt I needed was the test. Nor did I have an appointment or care to visit with any doctors at the clinic here in the bush. As bad as the cough is, I am turning the corner on day #5 since the onset of symptoms.

Yesterday afternoon, we set up the new camera. Although I didn’t feel like learning the latest features from my similar old camera, I took a few photos, which I’m posting here today. None of the few photos were especially interesting or outstanding, but I will become more enthusiastic about using the camera and learning its features in time.

Broken Horn stops by at least once a day.

Based on the above concerns, we had to turn down Kathy and Don’s invitation to dinner at their lovely riverfront bush home tonight. But, surely once we’re back on track, we will see them again, along with Rita and Gerhard and our other friends.

Hopefully, all of our readers are staying healthy and safe. Be well. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, August 4, 2020:

This was a year ago photo posted on this date while in lockdown in Mumbai, India, on day #134. The second of two replicas, the Paris Statue of Liberty, is much more miniature than in New York Harbor, USA. For more photos, please click here.