Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors & CFFC: Anything Large featuring Welgevonden Private Game Reserve and Vocal, a poem #Welgevondengamereserve #poetry #wildanimals

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A few days before we were due to fly to the UK for Christmas in December, we decided to cancel our trip. The weather was terrible and there were lots of strikes happening. The most crucial of those strike actions for us was the NHS as Michael had just recovered for three months of chronic illness and two operations. My mother is also 84 and I didn’t want to risk going somewhere where healthcare could be an issue in a crisis. Instead, we went to Welgevonden Private Game Reserve from 19 December to 22 December. It was all planned so I would be home in time to host Christmas Eve at our home.

I haven’t written about this trip, although it was amazing. The reason is that Terence started getting sick with headaches on 23 December, the day after we got home. His illness, which culminated in him being admitted into intensive care in hospital on 4 January with meningitis, put a huge shadow over this holiday. I just didn’t feel like revisiting anything in the lead up to that dreadful few weeks when he was in such a bad way in the hospital. The doctor says he’s made a full recovery and finally I am able to share a bit about this trip.

This post is for three challenges:

Thursday Doors hosted by Dan here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/04/20/running-around/

CFFC: Anything large hosted by Cee here: https://ceenphotography.com/2023/04/18/cffc-anything-large/

The link to my poem for a Vocal challenge is below.

Entrance to our room
View of Welgevonden from our bedroom
Bedroom showing the large doors

We saw some wonderful game at Welgevonden and I also wrote several new poems that are included in my new poetry collection, Lion Scream.

Here are a few of the large animals we saw.

Elephant
White lioness
Cape buffalo
A large insect called a corn cricket greeted us one night. It was waiting on the door step. They jump …
A large lizard sunning itself on a rock

My poem on Vocal: The Watcher

I wrote an epistolary poem for a Vocal challenge. It is a letter to a Game Ranger from The Leopard in the Tree. You can read it here: The Watcher

Image from Unsplash that accompanies my poem

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

85 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors & CFFC: Anything Large featuring Welgevonden Private Game Reserve and Vocal, a poem #Welgevondengamereserve #poetry #wildanimals”

  1. So glad
    Your spouse has recovered me that truly is a shadow over a trip to have him get sick right after (and days before Xmas) ugh
    The photos of wildlife are beautiful and it seems like the choice of vacation spots was the better – and good that you went with your instincts to cancel the other plans!

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    1. Hi Yvette, I think it was for the best we didn’t go to the UK. My mom has had a bad arthritis flare up which started in December and Terence was so sick. If these things had occurred while we were abroad it would have been dreadful. I’m glad you like the pictures 😊💗

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  2. The photos look wonderful, as they always do. What a terrible thing the farm next door sounded. How can people do that and then display what they kill as a prized trophy? Sometimes I’m ashamed to be human. I’m very pleased to know your husband has fully recovered. Sorry about the NHS disruption. I don’t think it inconveniences many people, but you obviously made the right decision.

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    1. Hi Danny, I think it was a tempest in a teapot but I preferred to be safe. It would have been very difficult if Terence had become ill in the UK, so far from home. I think it all turned out for the best. I agree that there is no honour at all in canned hunting. To me it’s like murder.

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  4. Wonderful Cheetah letter poem. I’ve never understood why people want to kill magnificent animals for trophies. Shoot them with your cameras. I love you animal photos. It’s great that you use your camera and words.

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  8. Shadows haunted you through out your proposed trip and actual trip. Maybe this year you can do that trip?
    I loved the poem! I didn’t realize they raised Lions and other game as shooting fodder for the rich and stupid! I say tie them all to posts and let the animals have a party!

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    2. Hopefully all the drama is now behind us, Wayne. I detest canned hunting. I don’t understand where there is any honour or achievement in shooting a trapped animal that has grown up among people. I see it as murder.

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  9. I’m so sorry you had such a rough start to this year, Robbie. I’m glad Terence recovered fully. Thanks for sharing this post with us at Thursday Doors.

    I really enjoyed your poem, and I am enjoying the latest anthology very much.

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  11. Oh Robbie – I am thrilled that your husband made a full recovery. Thank you for sharing these amazing photos which is a reminder to me that we make plans and then life happens and evolves in ways that are unexpected. Your wisdom and courage inspires me. Sending hugs!

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      1. Good grief. That’s amazing. It seems like they usually want to do every kind of test imaginable, and the more invasive the better. But meningitis is nothing to fool around with — you’d think a blood test would have been the obvious thing to do, and not that complicated . Sorry. Your comment just shocked me. Yes, so lucky he’s fine now.

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  14. Scary stuff, Robbie. It’s quite understandable Terence’s experience must have been hard on him and the rest of the family. Glad to hear that he’s made a full recovery.

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  20. Thanks for sharing this with us Robbie…unexpected illness is the last thing you want to try and deal with while traveling..a smart choice to change plans and how great it is that you have such an amazing location and wildlife so close…

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  21. Oh, Robbie, you have been through so much. Glad that your husband has recovered from the illness, but I can understand why you didn’t want to revisit this trip or share. Your poem on Vocal touched me deeply and is the perfect thing to read on Earth Day. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work!

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  22. I’m so glad you wrote about you and your husband’s nightmare. Having just been through it myself, I feel for you. This is a very cool post for both of these challenges. Great photos 😀

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  26. Although I live in a town in the US that manufactures ammunition for guns of all varieties, the term canned hunting is new to me. I abhore that way of thinking. I just do not understand having an animal trophy. Without awareness, we cannot move forward so I want to say thank you for educating with this medium. Also I’m glad your husband has recovered. A blessing!

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  27. The fact that Terence began to feel ill before Christmas certainly must make 2022 one of the most challenging years for the health of your family Robbie and so pleased he has made a full recovery. I hope you too are feeling a lifting of the burden as you as carer also underwent the stress of worry and care. Wonderful photographs and you certainly did the wildlife justice in your lovely collection ♥♥

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  28. Thanks for sharing your photos and a bit about your trip, Robbie. I can understand the need to get some distance first. And your poem was intense. Thanks for sharing it. I left a more detailed comment on Vocal. Hugs.

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  29. I read the poem.
    I’m sickened. I never heard the term “canned hunting”.
    How despicable!
    As an animal lover and vegetarian, I honestly do not understand.

    Learning to live with a broken heart.

    I’m almost finished “Lion Scream”.
    When finished, I will take a few days break. Then I am going to read it again, but this time I will visit each video as it comes up.

    I’m thinking a few videos should be part of my review.

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    1. HI Resa, I am sorry the poem upset you. I feel I have to share these things with the world so that people know about them. I despise canned hunting. Any hunting of wild animals makes me sick. I am so pleased you are appreciating Lion Scream. I hope you like the videos. They are informal but share a lot of lovely sightings.

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  30. I’m so sorry that your trip culminated in such an awful time. But I do love the photos. The room you had looks so inviting and the view! Perhaps you could all go back one day to erase the bad associations. -hugs-

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    1. HI Meeks, it is rather unfortunate that this lovely place is a bit tainted for me. I doubt I’ll go there again. We are going to the hippo and croc sanctuary in a different part of the country in July. I am off to Cape Town next week for a short break – so excited!

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  31. Hi Robbie – thank you for sharing these pictures from your Christmas trip. I understand why you didn’t want to share them before. I am so glad Terence has made a full recovery. Meningitis is a serious disease and I know how hard it was on your family. Hope you are all doing well.

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          1. Oh, I get it – I was mistaken and thought Terence was one of your sons, not your husband – sorry. You’ve had a tough time with illnesses. I’m glad everyone is better now.

            Liked by 1 person

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