The Journey Inward

A man came to lay fibre at my house last week. He was a white South African, not an Afrikaner. He had me in stitches with his stories. He used to live near Cape Town and said CTers are so chill and laid back. No rush at all. He said Pretoria is next in line with being pretty laid back, but Joburg is always rushing, always busy, always impatient.

He told me that South Africans don’t follow dumb rules and stupid laws. Examples? If you’re at a red light and no one is around, proceed. If no one is around and you’re entering a roundabout that you have to go 3/4 of the way around, just go right 1/4. He said police rarely stop you for that and you can keep a R50 with your license to get away with most anything but drunk driving.

I’ve had several problems in my house…a stove/oven that doesn’t heat, a clothes washer that floods my kitchen and a broken garage door opener that has caused me to crawl under several times a day. Every time she sends Sergio. With no formal training or insurance or certifications, he is my plumber and electrician.

Yesterday I hiked a trail at a dairy farm. I had to pay to hike. Apparently, my zebra reserve is one of the few free places you can hike. My friends tell me that keeps crime off the trails and protects your cars.

While walking the trail, I saw humongous piles of animal dung, donor unknown. And luckily stayed that way. Although there were no animals outside of birds and the cows at the entrance, the plants and views were beautiful. It felt strange to walk amongst pine trees and on pine needles in parts.

These were my two favorite finds…

I have sworn I’ve heard ice cream truck music here, but I’ve never actually seen one. When I was leaving the park yesterday, I heard it again, but this time I found the source and it was indeed an ice cream truck!

Last evening I met with my writing group from back home on a Zoom call. I had been saying that I do really miss the Fall colors back home, as it’s Spring here. They showed up with identical Fall backgrounds! It was so funny! One friend came on late, not getting the memo and she was as surprised as I was!

Tonight I walked into my bathroom and a little lizard came scurrying out from behind the toilet and under the sink. “Hell, no!” I exclaimed, then went to shut the door, but he wiggled into my bedroom. “Oh hell, NO!” I exclaimed louder and went in search of something to capture him with. I chased him all around my bedroom, moving the bed, the side tables, and cords in an attempt to catch him. I was using a manilla folder and a ruler. Not the best tools, but ones that were handy. He was very pale and had the funniest movements, but I was not a fan of him being in my bedroom and am concerned I will not sleep well tonight! If I haven’t mentioned, the windows don’t have screens here. The only windows I had open were on the second floor, so YIKES!

According to AI, he is a hemidactylus, or House Gecko. Geckos in the house are generally good because they act as natural pest control by eating insects like mosquitoes, cockroaches, and spiders. They are harmless to humans, are not venomous, and pose no real threat. If you prefer to keep them out, you can seal cracks and gaps in your home’s foundation and around windows and doors.  

Benefits of having geckos in the house:

Environmental indicator: Their presence suggests a healthy ecosystem in your immediate surroundings. 

Natural pest control: Geckos eat a variety of household pests, so their presence means fewer bugs like mosquitoes, roaches, and spiders. 

Harmless to humans: Geckos are not venomous and have tiny teeth, so they won’t cause serious harm. They may bite if you aggressively grab them, but it would be a mild nip. 

I’ve been back to Plant Land two more times to help get this yard in shape. It’s my happy place there! Pictures to come soon.

Looking forward to a great week this week!