How is it possible for something as tiny as an ant to kill a giant tree?
Aren't us humans the same in letting small things get the better of us and cause us sleepless nights and extreme distress?
Food glorious Food
The week started off pretty normal and quite slow as I was down to only having one guest requiring meals, whereas just two weeks ago it was seven at one time plus the family and staff making it twelve hungry mouths.
Individual Cottage Pie with Veggies
Guests and Pimps
Besides the usual boring admin stuff that goes with running a BnB and the enquiries which I am really thankful for; I had one guest asking at least a dozen questions about something so trivial that it's just not funny!
I sent extra photos and reassured the guest that they will NOT be sharing the bathroom with strangers!
I mean, this is not a caravan resort with shared ablutions!
But the WhatsApp questions continued till I lost my cool; and I must add it takes a lot for that to happen as I am VERY tolerant!
I told the guest they're welcome to cancel free of charge as they don't seem to be happy with the facilities and we want our guests to be 100% happy when they book with us.
Suddenly the questions stopped and the guest responded that they are very happy with what they've seen and read online and certainly do not want to cancel!
That wasted at least half an hour while my bread was proving and waiting to be baked!
The smell of that bread baking calmed my frayed nerves and we had a gorgeous loaf of hot homemade bread in time for lunch!
The other REALLY irritating request that I've become accustomed to, are those enquiring about hourly rates; and a comment about this very same issue by my friend @dandays, gave me the correct response to that! I give them a high hourly rate and tell them the minimum stay is 24 hours, so the cost ends up quite exorbitant and they hang up at the speed of lightning, never to bother me again!
Of course it's highly unlikely, but if they still wish to book, we will ALWAYS be full for those!
This is happening to guesthouses all over as the pimps or madams try to grow business in the suburbs!
Breakfast for our young guest the next morning was Sausages with Poached Eggs and lightly spiced Baked Beans; the plating made it look like a funny bearded face, but the guest has a good sense of humour!
Cooking in our house is quite complex these days, as Mom Lily doesn't eat meat, the son is trying to shed a couple of pounds, and some guests have all kinds of quirks, but this week's guest fortunately eats anything and everything, and was very appreciative of his meals.
Lemon & Herb Roast Chicken, Parmesan Potato Wedges, Butternut Mash & Baby Marrows.
The cottage guests who hail from India, have been living in our country for a while and the reason for their stay was to sort out their passport at the Indian Embassy, a lovely family who enjoyed the tranquility of Lily's Cottage with just the sound of birds and the occasional dog barking in the distance.
A Fright in the Middle of the Night
We woke up in the middle of the night with one loud bang somewhere outside, but then silence and thought something must have happened in the neighbour's property as they had been doing renovations. We duly fell asleep again.
The guests in the meanwhile were awakened with a loud bang on the cottage roof and assumed it was the monkeys we had been telling them about; but of course we know they don't move around at night.
Thankfully they don't know that so were not really alarmed and also fell asleep again!
As soon as the sun came up, we discovered what had happened.
The papaya tree had fallen over and hit the side of the cottage roof, fortunately not causing too much damage.
We were all shocked to see this, but it could have been much worse!
The guests said they can never find any green papayas in the Eastern Cape where they now live, so they managed to take a nice big haul of green papayas home which they will use to make a curry.
A delicious Green Papaya Curry I made a while back for #fruitsandveggiesmonday.
End of our Papayas
Sadly we have now lost both our giant Papaya Trees; only the male tree which doesn't bear any fruit is still alive, and I really think it's time we cut him down before he also falls over and causes bigger damage.
As my fellow South African @joanstewart said, do not put off what needs to be done as you never know what tomorrow brings!
Friday was totally hectic as the tree had to be removed by our able and skilled gardener who usually helps out as it's all hands on deck when we have two changeovers in one day; sanitizing on top of normal cleaning really takes time and effort!
Hubby had to go to work, yep, working on a two month engineering contract at such a ripe old age so he was also out of the equation!
Calling this Friday an exhausting day, is an understatement!
Ants the Root Cause
On inspection we discovered the reason for the demise of this massive tree that still looked so strong and healthy on the outside; ants had been eating away at the base of the stump and the continuous rain which softened the ground was the final blow for our tree.
Sadly the birds and the monkeys no longer have a supply of Papayas, with some birds acting quite strangely throughout the day; these two little doves on the roof were most perturbed, looked like they were having a discussion about what could have happened to their tree!
No more of this:
This is all we're left with!
So guys and dolls, don't let the small things eat away at you, rather deal with it and bury it forever as you don't want to fall like this beautiful Papaya Tree!
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Ugh Lizelle, the ants were so busy during the dry months looking for moisture the papaya was the targeted tree, poor birds will be confused. Now to screen windows/doors for monkeys clambering to get indoors, they try their luck with fruit/food left out on the table...
Last year we had a palm frond fall damaging shed roof with these strong winds, no one knows when what nature will throw at us.
As for harassing people in business, we have them as well, in time you learn to almost 'feel out' the conversation before telling them to get lost. Oh do get recordings on your cellphone, when big companies tell me I am recording the call I respond with, I do too! What is good for the goose is good for the gander!
End of the day delay tactics just don't work, keep going one step in front of the other and hugs to Mom.
I must get into the habit or recording cell phone conversations, another thing I'm putting off as well!
We had our first bilker this year too, and such a charming young man who's been here before, but is living the high life, this time only paid a deposit and then produced fraudulent eft's! We had to claim from insurance and sent his details plus photo to Durban West Tourism so now all registered guesthouses in that region have been warned!
I won't be sad to say goodbye to 2020!
Keep well Joan and enjoy the week.
With meals and breakfast like that i am putting Lily's Cottage on my bucket list if i am even out that way my mouth is still watering looking at them dishes 😋
Sorry to see your Papaya tree come to a sad ending like that but i am sure it had down it duties well while it was alive and sure you will have another one upcoming 👍
It would be such an honor hosting you! That papaya certainly had done its duty and we should have removed her sooner but the tree was still looking healthy, as straight as an arrow, full of fruit but getting way too tall!
We have 2 tiny babies from the same tree but will take quite a while to start bearing fruit again!
Thanks for the visit @kohsamui99:)
You just never know if i am ever out that way i will certainly call in to see you most definitely 😊
Papaya fruit is just so good for you in many ways and i am happy that you have 2 tiny baby trees from the big fallen papaya tree and before you know it they will start bearing fruit 👍
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@lizelle, Ants are Mysterious Creatures. Stay blessed.
That they certainly are, blessings to you as well @chireerocks.
A well known local author wrote a book called The Soul of the White Ant many years ago, I've always wanted to get the book, now you've made me even more curious!
Thank you so much for your kind response. Good to know about the Book. Have a pleasant time ahead.
And then what happens when they're willing to pay the high nightly every night and you're the proud host of a brothel?
They won't but I will always be fully booked for those in any case dear @dandays, they'll never ever trouble me again;);)
You guys are the type of hosts we look for. Hosts who have what they advertise and respond on WhatsApp.
If they take longer than 24 hours to respond to us, we don't book.
Hope you had a nice weekend Lizelle.
LOL, you certainly know how to make an old gal chuckle Mr. D and D, but I did an edit to my post just in case people get the wrong idea;)
Oh I had a wonderful weekend, actually went to a live show for the first time this year! They're allowing theatres to open with smaller audiences and checks beforehand, almost like going to the doctor except this was an instant cure for the soul!
Nice
Oooh... sorry that papaya had to end like that!
Darn these ants!
We were really upset, it produced the sweetest fruit! Those ants can be pesky indeed.
And it had so many fruits when it did! You could plant another one if you had to, can't you? 🥰🌺🤙
!ENGAGE
ENGAGEtokens.It’s really beautiful.