Week 16 – 2024 – Red Tape

I am slowly losing my patience with all the hoops we are forced to jump through on a daily basis, designed by people in power.

In South Africa when dealing with the various bureaucracies you resign yourself to a seemingly lack of interest and at times pure incompetence of the civil servants, make allowances and as we say ‘Gaan maar aan!’

When I arrived in the UK nearly 5 years ago I was amazed a the postal system (still am), especially living so remote and getting a parcel delivered within 1 day. The NHS sending me a letter within 2 week of my arrival inviting me to make an appointment for various medical tests as I was over a certain age. 🙂 The NHS however is now failing dismally. Post Covid, trying to see a doctor is well nigh impossible. You have to call and then make an appointment for a telephone call. Only once you have had the telephone call will the doctor decide if a physical appointment is necessary, otherwise they diagnose you over the phone. Mel had to get her foot x-rayed – it took them 3 weeks to send the results ??? I still haven’t had any feedback to what could be the cause the total lack of taste – been three years now – I know it is from the vaccine, but they will not acknowledge this. I will be seeing my friendly GP as soon as I get back.

I am also trying to sort out pension payouts from the private pension I have been contributing to since I have been here. To get a straight answer is impossible. They cannot advise me over the phone and I have to do it all online for verification purposes. I have queries about their regulations and I get a reply stating that they will get back to me in 5 working days!!!!!

Then there is the Council tax – I advised the Highland Council at the beginning of March that I was moving out and to please send me a bill of what might be owing. Still nothing but I got a letter this week, demanding payment, even though I have been paying regularly every month. Again communication on line and via email. Reply I got is that they are currently under staffed and are working through all their correspondence in date order and they will reply when it is my turn!!!!!

And don’t get me started on the electricity bill – I have steam spewing from my brain here!! Counting the days till I am back in the rainbow nation, where I just inherently know how to deal with the clumsy way of dealing with issues. A lot less rules, regulations and red tape.

Week 15 – 2024 – Not sure if I should be concerned?

Have to admit to having seriously selfish thoughts at the moment.

Obviously following the news about the horrific Israeli/Palestinian war and the atrocities being meted out by both sides and despair at humanity finding excuses for this behaviour and taking sides. It just needs to stop.

And now with Iran getting into the mix, and travel advisories from the UK advising against travel to the middle east. This morning I found myself googling Emirates flight paths.

I am due to fly home in three weeks, via Dubai. All my plans have been carefully made and I am literally counting the hours till I get home. What happens if the USA now get involved, what happens if this is the start of WWIII !!!!!!! I want to get home. Hoping that the wheels of war will be slow and take longer than the three weeks. Would Emirates cancel their flights? Can they afford to whilst still recouping their losses from Covid? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

And then I feel guilty about these selfish thoughts, when thousands of peoples lives have been destroyed by this ongoing devastating bloodshed. Stop the bombs. Stop the fighting. Just stop!!!

Week 14 – 2024 – Letting go……

It has been a long, hard, stressful week and one that has made me take a long hard look at myself and acknowledge that I have control issues.

I like to be in control of my life and the happenings that take place around me, and most times I can adjust to the changes and curve balls that life throws at me, but this past week I have found difficult.

I am counting the days till I head off back home and it is my decision to leave. The lodge is going to be handed over to new staff to run and that is what I am having trouble letting go of. Mel and I have worked so hard to make it what it is and are rightfully proud. The new staff arrived this week and I find myself biting my tongue and having to change my narrative from ‘This is how it is done’ to ‘This is how I do it’.

I know that change can be a good thing and just because it is different, doesn’t mean that it is wrong. At the same time I am still working here and in charge of managing the lodge, so change can take place once I leave, not during. Mel’s advice is ‘Mom, smile and wave’. We are both moving onto new beginnings and adventures and I have to allow myself to let go. But it is hard.