Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors: Riverstill Guest Farm

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Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/10/20/still-driving-around-pittsburgh/

For those of you who read this post: https://roberta-writes.com/2022/10/19/authors-whose-prose-is-compelling-or-outstandingly-beautiful/, the books featured are War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, She, a history of adventure by H. Rider Haggard, and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

During our recent trip to Tau Game Reserve, we spent one night in the small town of Groot Marico. Our overnight residence was a cottage at Riverstill Guest Farm on the Marico River, about 7 kilometers away from the town. It was a beautiful and tranquil setting, but I could not relax because there were no locks on the external doors of the cottage. The permanent residents consider the area safe and locks unnecessary but I didn’t like it. I have to lock doors at night or I can’t sleep.

Gate to the guest farm
Doors to the kitchen and the main bedroom, none of them locked. The arch led to the door into the second bedroom.
First and second doors into the kitchen

The kitchen was old fashioned and still featured the old stone oven, pot hooks and kettle. There was an electric double plate set where the fire would have been. The kitchen had the original old glass window.

Some pictures of our walk along the Marico River.

Here is a short video of the small rapids on the river:

I am a little behind with blogging this week as my son, Michael, had major surgery on his sinuses again on Tuesday. The operation took three hours and involved a revision of the previous surgery (last year) and an expansion of what was done. Because of the risks involved, given Michael’s surgical history, he had a surgical navigator who plotted the surgery using the CT scan we had done the prior week. Michael was also hooked up to a machine that monitored his breathing and heart rate and how he was reacting to the anesthetic. This intervention was because he came out of the anesthetic last time and pulled the breathing tube out before he was ready to breath on his own. The tube was still inflated in his lungs so it was very dramatic and he stopped breathing and had to be put back under anesthetic to get the tube re-inserted. This unfortunate event caused a lot of pain and difficulty with his previous recovery.

This surgery was not drama free as he hemorrhaged again and the doctor had to insert a dissolvable sponge deep into his sinuses to stop the bleeding. Because of extensive scar tissue and damage from previous surgeries that hadn’t healed as well as they should have, they also had to fracture the bone in his nose to make space for tools to do the repair work. He stayed in hospital overnight as he needed oxygen and because his blood pressure dropped due to the bleeding and shock.

He came home on Wednesday afternoon and we were back at the hospital this morning because of a blockage. It was blood clots and other build ups called crusting which had to be suctioned out of the surgical site. It was pleasant and the poor chap was quite pale afterwards.

He has to go back on Wednesday next week to have the suctioning repeated. In the mean time we have to do a whole programme of steaming and douching. It is quite a process.

Hopefully, following Wednesday, he will be okay and nothing further will be required for some time. The surgery doesn’t fix his problems, it merely allows the antibiotics and other medications to enter the sinuses so they can do their job. Currently, there is no complete cure for his superbug, and biofilm, and chronic sinusitis, they can only control it. Hopefully some clever person will come up with something new in the future, but until then, this is the best we can do.

Have a lovely weekend.

Robbie

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

87 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors: Riverstill Guest Farm”

  6. Robbie, the photos are lovely. You certainly visit some interesting places (but like you, not having locks on the doors would disturb me).

    I had no idea all that Michael has gone through. I pray that this surgery brings him some relief. He has certainly endured a lot for someone so young.

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  7. I am thankful that Michael went through his surgery and is on the way to recovery. His courage and determination in the face of great challenges is remarkable and inspirational. Your photos were brilliant and your video sent calm waves out to me.

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  8. God Bless you All! I know that one day, there WILL BE a procedure that allows Michael to live without having to be pestered by the situations and circumstances that bring out so much discomfort. Thank you for sharing your remarkable adventures. Thank you, too, for allowing us to share our energy with you and your family to be uplifted in light and love. ❤

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  10. no locks eh……….you never did say how you solved that dilemma Robbie? Maybe you moved the furniture in front? Can’t have any random Lion walking in. Those hooks are a tad overkill.

    You must be beside yourself when Michael goes into the Hospital yet again! I hope his health improves! I’ve had sinusitis before and It ain’t pretty!

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  14. Bushwa! That’s so awful for Michael (and you) to have to endure. Your description of what was done was chilling. It sounds like a painful recovery period even after it’s all done… I’m so sorry.
    Thanks for sharing this tour. What a spectacular place. Hugs on the wing.

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  15. Oh Robbie, what an ordeal. I hope Michael is making good progress and, like you, I also hope they find a resolution to these health issues soon.
    I think the cottage you stayed in is very cute, but I wouldn’t like not being able to lock the doors either.

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  16. The Guest Farm seems like a wonderful place. I love the pictures you took. I don’t like to sleep anywhere without locks on the doors either. We put chairs and tables in front of doors in hotel rooms even though they’re locked. I am always worried about people with bad intentions breaking in like you say. I’ve never stayed anywhere with lions outside! I like theme you chose for your blog about unlocked doors.
    I’m so sorry that your son Michael had such trouble with his surgery. Hopefully things will go better from now on. It sounds like the treatments you do at home will help him.
    Prayers for Michael and you and your husband. 🙂

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  17. The doors and scenery are beautiful, Robbie. I’m with you on the locks, I’d be propping chairs up against those doors. The windows and the glass in that second door are also beautiful.

    I’m so sorry that Michael (and you and your husband) had to go through that operation. It sounds frightening, and quite the ordeal. It does sound like they learned from experience and had this well planned. I hope he recovers and is clear for a long while. I also hope they find a way to knock this bug out for good.

    Hopefully, you can all get some rest this weekend. Thank you for sharing the photos ant thanks for the update on Michael.

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  19. Hi Robbie, that is horrible what Michael has endured and you and your husband as parents. I can only imagine, recalling our own family’s experiences. But I’m glad he is okay now and I pray that what comes next is less painful for him. The doors are fabulous and I agree with you on locking them. I have to lock our doors, too, even though it’s a safe area. Hugs ❤️

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  20. Shoh Robbie reading about Michael’s sinus surgery. Third last para contains a typo – you say ‘was pleasant’ – NOT pleasant – Anyway I’m really sorry to hear all about this. I wish him well.
    Marico is lovely –

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      1. Now that is a lovely thing to read on any day, but today the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day topped off by your comments. Thank you once again!

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  26. My goodness, Robbie, what a time Robbie has had! Praying that all is now stabilized and things will be easier for him. He sounds like a trooper!! On a lighter note, the cottage looks so charming and I am with you on the lock thing. Sorry you couldn’t relax!! Lovely place, to gh.

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  28. Robbie, so sorry that Michael had to endure another sinus surgery. Hopefully, this is the last for a good long time. And it’s good that he is recovering well. I’m praying that you am get some rest to recover from all of this. Your photos are always magnificent. Take care. 🎶🥰 Christine

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  31. You are a warrior woman Robbie. The photos are amazing, and I’m with you on always locking doors – force of habit. I’m sorry for all your son has gone through and hope he is well on the mend. Hugs xx

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  34. Poor Michael! I hope next Wednesday things go much better, and I am with you. Let’s hope an answer is found soon because it must make life difficult for everybody. Sending you hugs and my best wishes to Michael and you all. ♥

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  35. First and formost – speedy and easy breathing for your son. I too hope someone can come up with a ‘cure’ rather than continual unconfortable proceedures. When one of our children was younger we had a difficult time figuring out that they were lactose intollerant because of previous illnesses. I actually figured it out. They are doing fine though and are able to take over the counter meds when consuming dairy products.

    Thank you for sharing your photos – Doors without locks… perhaps in another time, but for me, I too would rather have a lock. And I would have placed some heavy object infront of those doors! Though with all that glass… Anyway the saying is ‘locks are for honest people’.

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