What a frustrating week this has been! As at the beginning of the year our medical has been upgraded from a hospital plan to a full medical aid. When the upgrade was done, at the end of November, in the booklet was a part informing me that chronic medication needed to be registered with the medical aid if we wanted the facility and that only their medical service provider was allowed. There was no part on the form to put this down so with the application I sent a covering letter detailing all Hubby’s medication and duly got a reply – although only late December- that we had been upgraded. Last weekend, as Hubby’s medication was almost finished I told him he needed to get a new prescription ready to go to the new chemist. Monday morning he was in an otherwise mood and stomped off to work so I didn’t get a chance to remind him. By the time he came home he was in a better mood so I reminded him about it. Tuesday morning he got an appointment at the Dr to get a renewal and I phoned the Medical Aid to find out where their chemist was. I was annoyed to be told that sending Hubby’s prescription was the only way to get registered. Hallo! Why couldn’t they have let me know when they received my letter with his medication details? Worse still, was been informed that it was not a chemist they were affiliated to but a medication supplier and I was given the number for them. I got the fax number so that the Dr could send Hubby’s prescription straight to them to avoid any delays. After giving Hubby the number I phoned the medication supplier and was told to fax them the prescription and as soon as they had received it they would get authorisation from the medical aid. Dispatch time was 48hrs after this. Not good as Hubby would be out of medicine by then. There was nothing I could do but accept this and hope for the best. Anyway Hubby’s Dr couldn’t fax the prescription as the line was constantly busy so Hubby came home and I sent both faxes off from the computer – getting the reply that they had been received. Hubby finished his medication Wednesday and Thursday afternoon I phoned to see what time the stuff would be delivered to him. I was furious to be informed that Hubby wasn’t even registered on their system yet and the lady quickly put the details up while talking to me and said she would go and see what was happening with the delivery. The person I had spoken to on Tuesday phoned me back to say she had never received the fax and asked what number I had used to send it. She checked and came back saying she couldn’t find it. I asked her why she hadn’t registered Hubby’s details when I had spoken to her on Tuesday and was informed ‘I only take messages and pass them on’ By now my blood was boiling and I told her Hubby had no medicine left and he needed his stuff urgently. I was promised a speedy response and sent the prescription to her email. Friday I phoned her and asked when the delivery was happening and was informed despatch needed a day to get it ready before delivery and it would be delivered early Monday. Poor Hubby! By now the effect of no blood pressure medication was making itself felt. Monday lunchtime I phoned to see what time we could expect delivery. I was informed that the medication had only been sent across to deliveries that morning as there were no fridge facilities for the insulin and we would get the medication Tuesday morning. Did they suddenly get a fridge to keep it in for Monday night? This morning I received an sms telling me the stuff is in the delivery van and we should get it overnight. After complaining again I was put through to logistics who said they would contact the driver and tell him the delivery was urgent. I really can’t believe this and wonder what the medical aid was thinking when they came up with this wonderful way of dealing with medication needs. Logistics said they would come back to me as soon as they had spoken to the driver to tell me when to expect the delivery. That was half an hour ago and I am still waiting. TYPICAL!!! I just love the service delivery we are subjected to these days.
The rest of my time as been spent in the normal pursuits of cleaning and office work and my MUCH needed chill glass of wine in the evening and coffee every morning. What would I do without these survival aids?
Saturday Diane and I went to a client of her to pick up an item we had ordered and get some products for her to take pics of. We spent the afternoon there having a good catch-up chat over coffee. It was just after six when we finally left. Diane and I were just turning in to the road between Walkerville and Randvaal when the car cut out. Luckily it is a downhill and we coasted until the car came to a stop around the corner from the Walkerville road. I phoned Hubby and while we waited sat nervously with Taisers in hand. Hubby arrived and attached a tow rope between the cars. The one Major hang-up I have is being towed. I shake badly and expect to hit the back of the car towing me. Most of the way was downhill so this tow was even worse than usual. As we turned the corner into our road I shouted for Hubby to stop and asked him to take the rope off and let me coast down to the gate. He just laughed at me and continued towing me. Very inconsiderate! When we got home I had my VERY NECESSARY glass of wine to recover from the ordeal. Diane was just as bad as she also expected me to hit him and couldn’t even watch the road ahead. Sunday we spent the day chilling after the stressful week. Hubby towed the car in to the workshop this morning and I hope it is not too major a problem.
That’s it for now. Hope I have a better week.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Time with Family and Friends
It has been a week of overcast weather with intermittent spells of sun shining through from the cloud cover. Monday I managed to clear some washing and get it dried before we had a downpour which gave another 35mm of rain. The garden is such a pleasure at the moment as everywhere is lush again and full of birds. We are really enjoying chilling under the trees and watching all the birds. Hubby’s foot has healed beautifully and as long as he doesn’t walk too much he is fine. All the anaesthetic and medication is still having an effect on his body though as he is only able to manage half days at the workshop. He has been just going in and getting things ready for when the workshop re-opens next week. Diane and I have managed to cycle a couple of times when the weather hasn’t been too wet and have enjoyed the ride. Amber the cross Labrador/boerbull had a visit to the vet on Monday as her ear had got injured somehow and the underneath was a large blood blister. She has been sleeping in the sun lounge as she hasn’t felt too good and not been eating properly. It really was a battle getting her tablets down her as well. Eventually we found the easiest way was for Hubby to hold her mouth open while I dropped the tablets into the back of her throat. The only problem now is that she has decided sleeping there is wonderful and she is not interested in being a pleb outside with the other plebs. Her ear is not looking very pretty at the moment and I just hope it improves with time.
Thursday Hubby’s aunt and uncle came for a braai and luckily the weather stayed dry until we had cooked the meat. We did have to eat inside though due to the threat of rain and cool wind. It was good to spend time with them and to catch up on the latest family happenings. We really don’t get to see enough of family with our busy lives and daily routine.
Saturday was an old car get-together with about forty people meeting at The Harvard Cafe for breakfast. I was up early to have my chill coffee in the cottage looking out the lounge window as it was drizzling outside. While sitting there I spotted another bird not seen here before. It was a Paradise Fly-catcher which was flitting around between the wall and bushes outside the window. It’s longish tail and back are a brilliant orange. We really are getting a wide variety of birds at the moment. Everyone met about nine and had a great time over a breakfast buffet for the next few hours before leaving in convoy for Johann’s home to see his collection of cars. About half way to his place we rode into rain which stayed with us for the next couple of hours. This did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm with which everybody went around his cars. Johann has a collection of over forty cars all of which are fully licensed and on the road. Each car is washed weekly and kept in good running order. Luckily he also lives on a plot and has plenty of space to store all of them.
Sunday Ali and the boys came to visit for the day and we had a chill breakfast together after which we sat in the cottage lounge with tea and coffee while Ali gave me a much-needed pedicure. As we were sitting there the Paradise Fly-Catcher was flitting around outside the window again. Diane was kept busy straightening Ali’s hair while she was doing my feet and I was looking after Josh. Travis was running around playing with his toys in between watching what we were doing. Ali had finished with me and we put the kettle on for more coffee just as Pauline and Aeron arrived for a visit. It was great to see Aeron again and hard to believe she is now 16 years old already. Her and Michelle had been living in Jeffrey’s Bay for nearly six years but are now living in the Gauteng area again. We spent a great time together catching up on each other’s news. Ali gave Pauline a pedicure as well so she had rather a busy morning. It was overcast and drizzling so we had lunch inside but by the time we had coffee and cake the sun was out and we chilled under the trees while eating and drinking. Pauline and Aeron left mid-afternoon as she needed to take Aeron back to Michelle. Hubby and Ali took Travis for a walk around the plot as Josh was sleeping. They took him on the tyre swing and the only way we could get him off was telling him to come for apple pie and custard. He was dirty from the tyre and by the time he had finished eating he also had custard all down himself so we put both him and Josh in the bath before they left. Travis was so tired from running around that he fell asleep as soon as he was put into his car seat – Ali hadn’t even got in yet. Once they left I cleared up all his toys and gave the place a quick vacuum before chilling with my glass of wine. After our big breakfast and lunch we weren’t really hungry and just had salad for supper before watching TV.
Have a Great Week
Thursday Hubby’s aunt and uncle came for a braai and luckily the weather stayed dry until we had cooked the meat. We did have to eat inside though due to the threat of rain and cool wind. It was good to spend time with them and to catch up on the latest family happenings. We really don’t get to see enough of family with our busy lives and daily routine.
Saturday was an old car get-together with about forty people meeting at The Harvard Cafe for breakfast. I was up early to have my chill coffee in the cottage looking out the lounge window as it was drizzling outside. While sitting there I spotted another bird not seen here before. It was a Paradise Fly-catcher which was flitting around between the wall and bushes outside the window. It’s longish tail and back are a brilliant orange. We really are getting a wide variety of birds at the moment. Everyone met about nine and had a great time over a breakfast buffet for the next few hours before leaving in convoy for Johann’s home to see his collection of cars. About half way to his place we rode into rain which stayed with us for the next couple of hours. This did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm with which everybody went around his cars. Johann has a collection of over forty cars all of which are fully licensed and on the road. Each car is washed weekly and kept in good running order. Luckily he also lives on a plot and has plenty of space to store all of them.
Sunday Ali and the boys came to visit for the day and we had a chill breakfast together after which we sat in the cottage lounge with tea and coffee while Ali gave me a much-needed pedicure. As we were sitting there the Paradise Fly-Catcher was flitting around outside the window again. Diane was kept busy straightening Ali’s hair while she was doing my feet and I was looking after Josh. Travis was running around playing with his toys in between watching what we were doing. Ali had finished with me and we put the kettle on for more coffee just as Pauline and Aeron arrived for a visit. It was great to see Aeron again and hard to believe she is now 16 years old already. Her and Michelle had been living in Jeffrey’s Bay for nearly six years but are now living in the Gauteng area again. We spent a great time together catching up on each other’s news. Ali gave Pauline a pedicure as well so she had rather a busy morning. It was overcast and drizzling so we had lunch inside but by the time we had coffee and cake the sun was out and we chilled under the trees while eating and drinking. Pauline and Aeron left mid-afternoon as she needed to take Aeron back to Michelle. Hubby and Ali took Travis for a walk around the plot as Josh was sleeping. They took him on the tyre swing and the only way we could get him off was telling him to come for apple pie and custard. He was dirty from the tyre and by the time he had finished eating he also had custard all down himself so we put both him and Josh in the bath before they left. Travis was so tired from running around that he fell asleep as soon as he was put into his car seat – Ali hadn’t even got in yet. Once they left I cleared up all his toys and gave the place a quick vacuum before chilling with my glass of wine. After our big breakfast and lunch we weren’t really hungry and just had salad for supper before watching TV.
Have a Great Week
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Welcoming 2011
Tuesday morning we had our chill coffee under the trees watching the birds having their usual feeding frenzy. When Hubby first started putting the seed out it lasted about a week but now the greedy things finish it a day. All the birds in the area must have been informed of the free food and as soon as the feeders are filled they swarm in. It is lovely to chill and watch them and the variety in the garden now is amazing. We are getting birds we have never seen before such as the Pintailed Whydah bird which we have seen pecking on the floor under the feeders. There is still plenty of Quelea feeding as well. Once Hubby had left for the workshop I did a quick clear up in the kitchen and then Diane and I left for a day at Eastgate. We booked to see the latest` Focker’ movie before having lunch at Lattelicious. As we had walked past on the way to book the delicious smell of coffee had hit me from them and so decided that we would eat there for a change. It was a good choice as the coffee was perfect and the meal was excellent. We both had pasta dishes which we really enjoyed and finished off with a carrot juice to get our health kick in. After wandering around the shops we headed back for our movie which kept us in stitches. We both agreed that this was the best one so far. After the movie we did some more shopping before heading home for our glass of wine and, once supper was over, a good evening of TV viewing.
The rest of the week was spent doing computer work and the making sure the house looked good to welcome in the New Year. New Years Eve we chilled with wine and snacks watching the start of 2011 on TV.
New Years Day after a chill breakfast outside under the trees we got ourselves ready for a day on the Vaal. Arriving at StoneHaven was quite a surprise as the place was already rather packed with a lot of people having the same idea. Since our last visit there have been many additions and improvements to the place which is really looking good. The gardens were stunning after all the rain in the last few weeks. The lawns leading down to the river were covered in umbrellas, chairs and tables as well as a large marquee. After wandering around admiring the gardens and taking pics we found ourselves a table and ordered drinks while deciding on what to eat for lunch. Hubby had lamb shank while I settled for the prawns and Diane decided to have chips with a mushroom sauce. We all enjoyed the food which was excellent as usual. We chilled over lunch for several hours watching all the happenings around us. Considering the amount of people there the service and food was absolutely fantastic. It was mid afternoon by the time we were finished and we decided to go on the cruise down the river at half three. After booking the tickets we continued to relax on the lawn until time to board. By the time we found our seats on the top deck of ‘The Spirit of Jen’ the sun was blazing down uncomfortably so we moved to a table inside. The cruise took us downriver along ‘Millionaire’s Mile’ and back to StoneHaven. We sat thoroughly enjoying ourselves taking pics, enjoying the scenery and life along the river while nursing our savannah lites. The cruise was definitely a good end to a wonderful New Years Day spent relaxing in a beautiful setting with good company and great food. Once home we all had a nap before thinking about supper and an evening in front of the TV.
Sunday was another chill day relaxing under the trees. We tried to go onto the internet in the afternoon but had run out of airtime. Monday morning I quickly cleared some washing before going to get some airtime for the computer. By the time we got back there was so much thunder and lightning activity around that it was impossible to even think about putting the computer on. This lasted for the rest of the day though we only, eventually, had rain late evening. The storm was so bad we couldn’t even have the TV on. At least we were able to do lots of reading.
Have a Fantastic 2011 and May ALL your Hopes and Dreams come True.
The rest of the week was spent doing computer work and the making sure the house looked good to welcome in the New Year. New Years Eve we chilled with wine and snacks watching the start of 2011 on TV.
New Years Day after a chill breakfast outside under the trees we got ourselves ready for a day on the Vaal. Arriving at StoneHaven was quite a surprise as the place was already rather packed with a lot of people having the same idea. Since our last visit there have been many additions and improvements to the place which is really looking good. The gardens were stunning after all the rain in the last few weeks. The lawns leading down to the river were covered in umbrellas, chairs and tables as well as a large marquee. After wandering around admiring the gardens and taking pics we found ourselves a table and ordered drinks while deciding on what to eat for lunch. Hubby had lamb shank while I settled for the prawns and Diane decided to have chips with a mushroom sauce. We all enjoyed the food which was excellent as usual. We chilled over lunch for several hours watching all the happenings around us. Considering the amount of people there the service and food was absolutely fantastic. It was mid afternoon by the time we were finished and we decided to go on the cruise down the river at half three. After booking the tickets we continued to relax on the lawn until time to board. By the time we found our seats on the top deck of ‘The Spirit of Jen’ the sun was blazing down uncomfortably so we moved to a table inside. The cruise took us downriver along ‘Millionaire’s Mile’ and back to StoneHaven. We sat thoroughly enjoying ourselves taking pics, enjoying the scenery and life along the river while nursing our savannah lites. The cruise was definitely a good end to a wonderful New Years Day spent relaxing in a beautiful setting with good company and great food. Once home we all had a nap before thinking about supper and an evening in front of the TV.
Sunday was another chill day relaxing under the trees. We tried to go onto the internet in the afternoon but had run out of airtime. Monday morning I quickly cleared some washing before going to get some airtime for the computer. By the time we got back there was so much thunder and lightning activity around that it was impossible to even think about putting the computer on. This lasted for the rest of the day though we only, eventually, had rain late evening. The storm was so bad we couldn’t even have the TV on. At least we were able to do lots of reading.
Have a Fantastic 2011 and May ALL your Hopes and Dreams come True.
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