Yesterday morning at 11:45, Louise and Danie picked us up, and we made the short drive outside Marloth Park to Ngwenya Lodge, where we had reservations for a Father’s Day lunch. It felt like a perfect late morning outing. We chose a table outdoors on the deck, which overlooks the Crocodile River, always a favorite spot for us. There is something so peaceful about sitting there with Louise and Danie, even on days when nature seems to be keeping a low profile.
The river itself was unusually low, exposing wide stretches of sand and rock, and much to our surprise, we didn’t see a single animal during our time there. Normally, we can count on spotting at least a few creatures wandering down for a drink. Still, the view was lovely, and the company made it special.
Speaking of water, Marloth Park has been without a municipal water supply for the past two days while repairs are being made. We have been incredibly fortunate in that regard. With our two large Jojo tanks, we barely noticed the outage at all. The only indication was hearing the pump kick in whenever we used water. It made us realize just how difficult this must be for residents without backup systems. Going without running water for days is no small inconvenience.
Then, as if on cue, this morning brought another hiccup when we woke to find the WiFi was down. I immediately reached out to the provider, who explained they had an outage due to a tower being down. Thankfully, they responded quickly, and within a few hours, service was restored, allowing me to get started on today’s post.
But back to our lunch at Ngwenya. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, many of which were served in sauces, which is quite typical here in South Africa. There were lamb skewers, a rich, hearty potjie filled with fatty cuts of meat, and a curry dish, which is also popular in this country. None of these appealed to Tom, who has very particular tastes and avoids spicy foods altogether. He opted for roasted chicken and tried the lamb skewers, although they didn’t win him over. The rest of us thoroughly enjoyed everything and appreciated the bold flavors.
When it came time for dessert, however, Tom was much more enthusiastic. They served malva pudding, a classic favorite, along with the irresistible peppermint crisp pudding. I still remember tasting that chocolate mint dessert about a year ago at one of their Thursday evening buffets and being completely taken by it. This time, I didn’t hold back. I went up for two generous servings, fully aware that I was stepping outside my usual way of eating.
Later in the evening, back at the house, we settled in to watch a few shows. Tom brought in a bag of caramel corn we had picked up at the Wild Butchery, and despite having already indulged, I found myself reaching for more sweetness. It seemed harmless enough at the time.
But during the night, I paid the price. My blood sugar soared, and I was awake for hours dealing with painful cramps in both of my shins. The charley horses came repeatedly, at least once every hour, and no matter what I tried, I couldn’t stop them. I honestly don’t think I slept more than a few hours. It has been years since I last experienced anything like that, and it was a stark reminder of how my body reacts to sugar now.
Lesson learned. As tempting as those desserts may be, it simply is not worth it. I know it will be much easier to pass them up in the future after this experience. Never again feels like a promise I intend to keep.
Today is another cool day, though the sun is still shining. We are spending the day doing laundry and hoping everything dries before evening. Otherwise, it will be a quiet day, followed by a simple carnivore dinner of meat and eggs. Another peaceful evening awaits us here in the bush, and after last night, that sounds just right.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 22, 2016:
