Continental Drift - Our Journey

[Toitjie]

15 June

Today Lucy went to Keringa. That was really really hard. I didnt see that one coming...the moment I saw the cage where she is to spend the next 6 months I broke down a little. Its very hard for me in these situations because I will rather die than cry in front of a stranger, but he was so nice, and the more he says he knows how hard it is, the more my eyes keep stinging

the cage is like those you see at the SPCA, its only cement, with a place at the back under roof where their bedding is. In human standards not nice, but he did tell me that since quarantine intakes in winter is slow, she will get more attention from the other humans, and they do get out about 4 to 5 hours per day on the grass where she can run around and play.

It seems though that they take very good care of them. She will get a bath, she will get a good check-up, exercise every day and he reassured me that the animals are really well cared for.

Today is the first day in a long time that I felt I didn't/couldn't go through with this. I honestly felt this is going to be so rough and difficult...a lot of emotions went through my head as I left Keringa, but I know this is just the beginning, there are even harder times ahead, and the prospect of more pain and anxiety, even if the end justifies the means, is not nice.

But after a low like today, it can only go higher, and hopefully when we next visit her she will have settled in. My heart goes out to those who cannot visit their pets in quarantine. It must be really very difficult. I think what gets to me the most is the feelings of guilt, for almost abandoning an animal that doesn't understand what is happening and why.

Edited June 15, 2013 by Toitjie

[Skinierkie]

In regards to the post about your FIL, Its the good karma for all the nice things you do for other people...but sorry you had to go through all that in for the first place.

Poor dog

Edited June 15, 2013 by Skinierkie

[Lyn]

You almost had me crying there - bought back horrible memories of the day my fur balls new mother drove away with them.

Stay strong, visit Lucy and I pray the next 6 months move quickly.

Life is strange - in the late 80s we took in a Siamese whose owner immigrated - never thought someone would do the same for me.

I'm pleased to hear the news about your FIL - but messing with people's lives and health is not on - mistakes happen, but it seems the norm now in RSA.

[Kurkprop]

Lyn how about we put a bottle of nice red wine on standby for Toitjie until she gets here and then we take her out for a bit of food therapy at a nice restaurant when she gets here? I would love to catch up with you too and this seems like the perfect opportunity to do so. Anyone else keen?

[ACG]

Hi there, I would love to join if I may. Please let me know the arrangements if it happens.

[Toitjie]

you gals are the greatest!!

[Toitjie]

17 June

Got our quote from IOM today for 22 November 2013:

Cost: Johannesburg/ Sydney – ZAR8 900 per adult and ZAR7 700 per child

Total = R 33 200 (eish!)

[HadEnoughofJuju]

Man that's ridiculous.

[Toitjie]

19 June

My FIL went to see the specialist in Cape Town today, and he was completely cleared of cancer. The prof says he has no idea how the Steve Biko doctors could have diagnosed cancer in him. He does not have cancer, does not have a lesion in his lungs or a spot or anything.

The worst is, just before the kind family member who arranged all this, booked their flights, Steve Biko informed my FIL that his first session of chemo is scheduled for 29 June.

Its absolutely horrific, that this is allowed to happen. And to administer chemo therapy to a healthy person!!

To me this is the best example of how tertiary institutions are failing our country and its people by buckling under pressure not to fail any students but rather to lower the standards and the pass rate, just to get the students to pass with no regard to the danger they are to their patients.

I am just so stunned at the moment, and of course relieved. But Im angry as hell that these incompetent morons are getting away with this type of work.

[Skinierkie]

Hey Toitjie

Happy to hear that your FIL will be okay. Sorry you and your family had to go through it at all. Those people should not even be there let alone be doctors.

[Toitjie]

22 June

We visited Lucy (our Scotty) in Keringa this morning, the first visit after we left her there a week ago.

I have mixed feelings though....she is an intelligent dog and she acted as if we really abandoned her. She was more excited to see her handler than us. When we wanted to pet her, she shied away. She did relax after a while but I can see this is confusing as hell for her. I know Im probably more emotional than she is, but I am second guessing my decision to put her in quarantine every day. The only thing that keeps me from taking her out is that so many people say after the 7 months, their animals are fine.

The handler told me that she mourned for the first 2 days, but after that she got her groove back, sort of, and now plays and jumps whenever she sees them. Again, although good, its so sad because she had to replace her family, and she doesn't understand why we left her there.

I don't want to go on and on about this, I guess its just a little traumatic leaving one of your family members alone in a strange place. We will have to visit her regularly, I'm afraid she will forget us if we don't. She is still so young, she's not even 2 years old yet.

Now more than ever I wish the next 6 months to just get over with already!

[Lyn]

That must have been awful. So sorry you have to go thru this with your furry child. But look on the bright side, you will all be reunited in Aus. A friend bought her dog over 5 years ago, and she also felt her dog was forgetting her, but when they picked her up this side, a day or two later it was just like old times.

I'm gobsmacked to hear about your FIL - unbelievable. Glad to hear he's ok.

[Tebbutts]

We keep swinging between deciding to take our dog, or find somebody to take him and leave him behind. We cant get our heads around either one! I can totally understand your heartache, but I am starting to think that it might be worse to leave our babies behind, so stick with your decision, however hard it is at the moment - it will all be worth it in the end, I'm sure!

[Toitjie]

26 June

My IOM quote said the last day to pay is 27 June, so I waited until today, then went ahead and paid the R 33 200.00...*sigh*..it's such a lot of money to transfer in one click!

But it's done...finally. I was waiting for whatever feelings I would be feeling, as this is the point of no return, but all I felt was relief. Now we are committed, and I'm really excited.

Tumi confirmed our seats and that I would be receiving our electronic tickets soon...149 days to go....that sounds much better than 5 months! I cannot wait to get over there!

Tebutts - I have read a LOT of replies on FB wrt the pet issue and most confirmed that it was the right thing to do and the animals were ok. Only 1 person had a negative comment, but everyone else said they are ok.

[Toitjie]

28 June

We visited Lucy again today, and I feel much much better than the last time. She was more relaxed, not so frightened and bewildered like last time. We took a rugby ball as she absolutely love chasing one, and it was really great. I just have to share some pics of my little bear, with her coat not being trimmed and her huge paws she looks like a little bear

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83856082@N02/

I hope it works....

[Lyn]

Lucy is gorgeous and one very lucky dog.

I'm sure she will love all the walking paths around Canberra.

[Toitjie]

Thanx Lyn, I never thought I would love a dog like this little one. I always only had cats!

[Lyn]

I love my fur balls too, just not right now tho, I am sitting on my iPad fueling my addiction to the forum with a morning cuppa, and the fur ball leaps over the back of the coach and coffee everywhere.
I was more annoyed at having to close the iPad then the stained cushion.

I love cats over dogs, but if I had a larger property I would most definately have dogs too, and a pony, and some chooks and .....

Glad to hear things are coming together nicely for you now. Canberra is sunny today, magpies sounding lovely outside, a little chilly but no wind. Looks like a lovely winters day. Not too long now and you will be here to enjoy all the sites and sounds of your new home.

[Mara]

That is one cute puppy dog... do not worry, he will be 100% yours again, a couple of days after he gets "home"!

[Kurkprop]

Och, the wee lassie has gorgeous eyebrows!

She looks happy and comfortable in her surroundings.

[Toitjie]

8 July

I took a big decision today. Its really not a surprise but it feels a little disconcerting. I am registered with the HPCSA as a psychometrist, and to get to this point, I had to do at least an Honours degree in Psychology. If you do not pay your annual fees you are removed from the register and to get added again is next to impossible.

I forgot to pay in May and this morning received a reminder that I have until middle July to pay for the next year. I have decided not to do this and let my registration lapse.

In Australia there is no such thing as a psychometrist and in any case, even if I should stay registered in SA, I dont think they will accept or acknowledge it. And I am not planning on coming back....

So as of end July I will not be registered anymore and its a strange feeling....it feels almost as if Im naked. I have been registered for 16 years. But I honestly dont think I should keep on being paying if Im not even in the country. The only drawback is that if we ever should come back I will have a problem....so that makes it very final. Easy solution? Dont come back

[HadEnoughofJuju]

Let's hope you never have to go back to South Africa. There are so many things that end up being final. I think that's what makes this process so difficult.

[Toitjie]

you are right...I visited my best friend on their farm near Montagu in the Western Cape and as we drove back to the airport, through Montagu, Robertson and Worcester I thought by myself this is the last time I will ever see these little dorpies ever again. The last time I visited them was when I was in school in the Western Cape. But if we ever come to visit it will not be to those areas, obviously you will visit family in Gauteng, so its kind of sad...I looked at the beatiful beautiful mountains with their snow caps and smelled the fynbos...really going to miss it. Lots of "lasts" lying ahead.

[HadEnoughofJuju]

We had that very same feeling when we visited my wife's grandmother's farm for the last time before we left for Australia. Many tears and broken hearts but still I think it was worth it.

[Toitjie]

17 July

My eyes are killing me with this dust and dirt in the the air. I was thinking this morning I cant wait for the rain season to start..I hate this dry Pretoria air, I feel as if I can't breathe. That started me thinking about rainfall areas, Pretoria summer and Cape Town winter. Then I wondered when it rains in Canberra.

And it hit me that my kids will learn the different rainfall areas of Australia, but no-one (if not me) will teach them when it rains in Gauteng and the Western Cape; about the Hottentots-Holland Mountain range; what a "berg-wind" is; that the Orange river originates in the Drakensberg, or that the Orange river is the longest river in South Africa. (Geography was my favourite subject)

Its just sometimes in the smallest things that we realise the biggest truths..sometimes scary truths..and it's not that I don't want to leave, I just felt a pang of regret that history is changing.