memorablemeanders.blogspot.com

Friday, January 8, 2021

I'm still here!

 Good evening dear Blogger friends. Yes, I am still on planet earth; I've been hectically busy in the farm office and with accommodation. 

A happy and healthy 2021 to you all!

Re the Covid suspect: yes, the man's wife phoned me on Wednesday 23rd December saying he'd tested positive and they wouldn't be able come after all.  Thandi and I went up to The Bunker that morning to clean after guests who had just checked out. I had already announced on our Berg WhatsApp group that I now had a vacant unit. The Valley community of accommodation owners and hosts were incredible. As they were getting enquiries which they couldn't honor, they passed my number to the guests. A friend, who is a booking agent,  was on holiday in the Mpumalanga, 1000km from the Berg. Such is the world of technology today that it was she who managed to book The Bunker from 24th through 27th December, Another hostess in the Berg contacted her friends. They'd booked to go to the beach in the Eastern Cape, but... our president had closed all the beaches for the duration of the December holidays. So she convinced her friends come to the mountains and to book with me. They stayed from 28th through 1st January. Via the reservation agency, Booking.com I had guests from 2 January through 5th. A Pretoria couple contacted me on Monday and booked from Tuesday until Friday. And so we are back in business. 

On Saturday when Thandi and I cleaned between guests, I heard her cough - through the mask which we wear at all times. I asked her if she felt ill and she said she had a cough and was tired. By Sunday night her sister. Mavis phoned me to say Thandi was too ill to come to work the next day. I arranged with her to meet me with Thandi on the main road inside the township on Monday. I put a pillow and rug for Thandi to lie on the back seat; we loaded her (she was that weak) into the car and I set off to the clinic in town. 

The clinic hours are from 8.30 am until 13h00 every week day. I paid for her appointment and the Zulu receptionist told me I was No 11. I said I would wait in the car with Thandi as she was too ill to stand in the queue on the pavement. Ten minutes later this same lady came out to my car and said she'd spoken to the sister seeing the patients. And had permission to move us up to No 3! She called me within five minutes and Thandi and I waited outside the clinic sister's office. Within another five minutes, the sister came out, asked Thandi what her name was. Then she asked me if I had paid already. I handed over my till slip and she took us into the rooms. 

Thandi didn't have any of the Covid symptoms (although who knows with the new mutant strain rampant in South Africa!) Her temperature was normal; she didn't have a wet cough; she didn't have sniffles. But she had a bad dose of flu. My payment covered a course of antibiotics, pain pills, and a cough syrup. The sister also administered a Vitamin B injection while we were in the surgery. 

With Thandi lying on the back seat covered by the rug, I took her back to the township. I'd phoned ahead and Mavis met me on the road. I told her that Thandi is to go to bed and stay there until she was well again. Mavis phoned me every day, keeping me in the loop and last night Thandi phoned me. Her voice still sounded reedy so I told her to rest at home and return to work on Monday.

So yes, while it's always hard physical work to clean after the last, and prep before the next guests, I've always had Thandi with me. We each have our tasks up at The Bunker. This week I did it all. Back home I also had to wash and iron the linen (Naturally Thandi hasn't been in to iron since our Saturday guest departures and the new arrivals) and I only have three sets of king-sized linen.

Ergh. It was hard work but I believe it strengthened my character! It's definitely toughened my muscles. 

Apologies for the long  (wordy) explanation, but I had to tell you why I have been so errantly absent. 

The beauty of having to rise early (especially early this week !) is that I experienced several beautiful sunrises.  I share one here with you. 




Stay safe and have a great day

8 comments:

  1. No need to apologize Jo, you were doing what was important. It's nice knowing that people still care for their fellow humans. You showed compassion in helping your friend as most people would. Glad the people who had to cancel their stay passed along your contact and another guest ended up coming for a stay. It worked out well. Hope you friend is feeling better and you have a wonderful weekend.
    Beautiful sunrise photos, a nice beginning to your day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am glad that your vacancies were filled - but could not do the work you took on.
    Love those sunrises. Of course.
    Stay safe, stay well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like you have been extra busy. I hope Thandi is feeling better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my Jo, I was very anxious as I read the story about Thandi's illness and being taken to the doctor. Thank goodness she did not get the Covid. A bad flu as one gets older is plenty bad enough. It's good you were able to take care of her and get her to the doctor. I'm glad to hear the business is going well and that you've been able to get your bookings after all. Strength and blessings to you in the New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's a long time I haven't heard from you and now I saw that you published a post ! We are still in our second lockdown which started beginning November ! I am happy that we moved and I am here in this beautiful apartment. Otherwise I would get crazy, I feel already not being myself. We three meet again 5 times per week just chatting together. My son couldn't come for Christmas so it was very strannge becausse we did a video Christmas. Toby is now 10 and has got a smartphone so he can communicate with me. I am so fed up with this Coronavirus, I lost a year of my life, no travels, no cinema, no exhibition, no restaurant just nothing !

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello, Jo,
    Sending my prayers for Thandi, I hope she is recovering and will be back to normal soon. I can only imagine how busy you are keeping up the rental unit on your own. Love the beautiful sunrise images. Take care, enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know it was a lot of hard work for you, but isn't it better to be busy and accomplishing something rather than sitting around worrying and doing nothing, especially during these trying times? Hats off to you for all of your efforts, and hello to all of the Hedges critters.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are remarkable in every way.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo