In Betty’s bay/Rooi Els/Pringle Bay, every week, either the water, electricity or internet is off.
Every.
Week.
They fix constantly. For water, they use the opportunity to replace a section, not just what broke.
If electricity is out, good fucking luck with them finding where it broke, in less than half a day. If it’s up the mountain, it will be out for more than a day.
Internet is the least shitty. But, did I mention that if the power is out for more than 6 hours, the internet dies too. Then you’re literally in the dark, and you can’t call anyone either.
You should’ve just moved about 10km further east to Kleinmond. My parents stay there and they seldom have infrastructure disruptions. It’s obviously not as quiet and rural-feeling as Betty’s Bay, but you’re still wedged in between the mountains and the ocean with a view of both at all times. Those towns offer more retirement / holiday residences, IMHO. They are all beautiful and have their charm, but I can’t fathom living there at this stage of my life (early 40’s with a child that just started primary school).
This sounds just like Ballito! Its is great, but KwaDukuza is running the municipality into the ground! Water and power is out all the time. And never for maintenance, always to fight fires… sometimes literal fires. But the community is finally rising up and pushing back. Yet to see if it makes a difference.
I’ll hopefully be able to post a pic of our new pet soon. We’re getting a mini schnauzer pupper girl in 2 weeks. We’re having a quick weekend breakaway at Old Mac Daddy (“luxury trailer park” outside Grabouw with themed vintage Airstream caravans) with friends that weekend, then driving further along to Swellendam to pick her up on the Sunday.
“How far is the bicycle track?”, I ask at reception. “Not far at all. You’ll be fine.”, she says. Half hour later, me the and wife, pushing mountain bikes around the farm, over the road
Don’t forget a massage session, at the Spa. It’s life changing.
They have a spa? Sadly, we’ll need to entertain 3 kids as well over the weekend. Between us and the friends we have one boy and two girls, grades 1 and 4. So no real alone-time to relax at a spa.
So we got the new puppy yesterday! Her name is Athena and she has loads of energy. She’s doing quite well on potty training already and slept through the night. Having a little bell on her collar helps us to know where she is and what she’s doing - great initiative by the breeder.
Will have a look at that, thanks! She’s on a diet of chicken, rice and butternut, with some plain yoghurt on top. Breeder recommended that for life, and she can’t wait to eat when we’re preparing it.
The carrots tips was a lifesaver with Badger - he still enjoy one on occasion, two years later. The new pup is less bitey, and seems content with stinky cow hooves, but she’s enjoyed the occasional carrot as well.
You can always make frozen treats from the yogurt and butternut - cook the butternut, puree it, mix a bit of each into an ice cube and freeze - also the combo is great for upset tummies.
But we found that the frozen carrot trick worked best - the irony is my boy is now 9 and still wants his after dinner frozen carrot!
We have 2x mini schnauzers. The older one is 10 years old. We found a lump on her rear leg, and visited the vet. Turns out its a mast cell tumour
So, now we have options, none of which sounds like a pleasant experience:
do nothing, and over time it could grow, it could stay the same. If it grows it could spread to lymph nodes. If it stays the same we can treat it with anti-histamine.
do a proper biopsy, to determine if it will grow. But the biopsy procedure can aggravate the tumour making it spread. quicker.
try to remove it surgically, but due to the location it is very likely that it could mean the leg must be amputated.
try to kill the tumour with some necro injection thing, that will kill ALL cells, but it will be painful and much longer recovery.
We are going to see a specialist on Tuesday, as our vet is not comfortable to attempt surgery like this. It also helps to get another opinion. But, ideally we would have covered all options before we see him to know how to respond.
So, if anybody has been through something similar, and can give any advice, please share
Good luck with that! We only started with our mini schnauzer journey almost 3 months ago. So no advice from my side. They are apparently prone to pancreatitis, which we’re combating with a strict diet as prescribed by the breeder.
So, an update. We saw the veterinary surgeon, and after chats with my oldest daughter (Perri is technically hers, but we also agree she is part of the whole family ), we have decided to do nothing for now.
Perri is not in pain
the tumor is in a precarious position, and any prodding might just aggravate it
the tumor might be mature and stay like this without causing any danger
My oldest actually said she wants Perri to live a life with all 4 legs She also now realises how precious time can be, and at random told her mom that she loves and appreciates her
), we have decided to do nothing for now.
She also now realises how precious time can be, and at random told her mom that she loves and appreciates her 