Canada Capers - Catching Up At Last Part 1
I had an intense longing to see and be reunited with my children and grandchildren. While we were gallivanting all over Africa, we became grandparents again to the most adorable little girl, Lanae. We now have eight grandchildren, aged from 20 to Lenni who’ll be a year old tomorrow —the oldest at university and the youngest in nappies. Neither of them sleeps through the night.
My children were catching up with me in age; two of the boys already had salt-and-pepper hair, and one would be turning 40 while I visited. I was determined to be there to celebrate the milestone.
Six weeks before leaving, I discovered I needed a transit visa for the UK, which added stress to my travel plans and made me realise how complex travel can be.
All this costs an arm and a leg, on top of anything, and would only be valid until January 2026. Ridiculous.
This would be the first time Butch and I would be apart, and further than 2m away from each other, for four years! We were quite emotional. I didn't, like all good wives, leave him neat little meals in tin foil or Tupperware; he'd hate that, and I'm sure he was looking forward to doing his own thing for a while. A change is as good as a holiday.
I arrived at Regina Airport safely, despite my Toronto flight being cancelled.
My exhaustion after a 36-hour flight disappeared the moment I saw my boy and Maeva waiting for me, their arms waving in case I did not recognise them. Maeva had quadrupled in size, but I recognised her instantly.
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I'm giving a brief overview of my trip because our lives are moving at 220 km/h, and I want to share the highlights with you. This will primarily be a photographic walk through my first weeks in Canada.
Butch and I are moving on Thursday – yes, into our home – she’ll be christened, Mooinooi - and in February, Joe, Emily, and her family are visiting us for a month.
There’s work to be done, and I am starting to feel overwhelmed. I have learnt not to run on empty, to invest myself wholeheartedly into one project at a time and to follow my list. Right now, it’s getting my blogs up to date.
The nest of chairs I bought at a thrift store will have to wait again. We are delving deeper and deeper into online shopping, another headache as we tunnel down that rabbit hole.
I am determined to get back on track and up to date this year. Something that has not happened for a while. We are hoping for a quieter life starting in March 2026.
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It was decided that I would use Joe and Emily’s as my base, and from there I’d travel to stay with the rest of the family. That was a great idea. I hate living out of a suitcase.
Before all the children arrived, I managed to unpack my bags, shower, settle in, and refresh myself. Although excited, I’m sure I looked worn out, well-travelled, and grey! Yes, I’d gone grey. My last blonde look was when Lise did a touch-up four years ago!
Our reunion was a joyful moment, and hugging, kissing, and catching up made us feel as if no time had passed, underscoring the importance of family.
The first leg of my seven-week journey would kick off with a bang. Lise, Isla, and I were embarking on a seven-day road trip.
Lise participated in an annual night relay marathon in the Rockies. We planned to stay there for a few days so she could acclimatise at a higher altitude. Isla and I would bond and get to know each other a bit better.
We stayed in a charming little cottage with a hot tub, which is a prerequisite in these parts, I believe. The house was tastefully decorated exactly as I liked, and the wall art was intriguing and very photogenic, depicting life in the Rockies.
The race in Crowsnest Pass, where Lise started, went well, and she achieved her goals. Isla and her friends, with whom we shared the lovely cottage in a small village called Coleman.
My admiration for Lise and all the athletes grew tenfold; their determination, grit, and discipline are extraordinary. Imagine running along a mountain path in complete darkness with only a headlamp. Extraordinary.
Recuperation was a day at the Crowsnest glacial lake high up in the mountains. I had the opportunity to walk around the lake with the bluest aquamarine water and enjoyed the spectacular landscape, wildflowers, and the mountains that surrounded me.
Everywhere we went, there were flowers blooming, gardens were awash in colour, so were windowboxes, pot planters and wherever a seed could sprout, it did. Daisies everywhere. Nature rewards bountifully, and we were compensated handsomely. "You see, Mom, there are beautiful things to see in Canada!" Lise would tease me.
The five days we had remaining of our road trip were a delightful meander, and in Blairmore we spent a night especially to see the gingerbread houses.
In Sparwood, I was bowled over by the size of the tyres on a coal mining vehicle. I thought the Honey Badger’s wheels were something to write home about. Now I’m not so sure!
Fernie was a highlight. This Alpine Resort is famous for its significant snowfalls and extensive terrain, skiers can go from easy green runs to double blacks! We did the tourist thing: walked the village, window-shopped, and went for curry. The biggest surprise of all: the television was on, and a Springbok rugby match was being broadcast! Never in a million years did I think that could be possible! On the wall were Elk of a different ilk. Portions are huge, and Isla was determined to devour her wrap.
Golden is a small town situated just off the Trans-Canada Highway near Calgary. It is built at the confluence of the Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers and is surrounded by the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. Moreover, it offers an ideal location close to five national parks: Yoho, Banff, Jasper, Glacier, and Kootenay.
Golden’s history is tied to the Canadian Pacific Railway and the logging industry.
Who could resist the name Kicking Horse River? Not I. We turned off the highway and went exploring to see the views. The camper parked at the park's picnic spot was a knee-jerk experience. I'm sure the couple enjoying tea and snacks with the gorgeous view would agree; they were living their best life.
What is Glacial Meltwater?
The milky appearance of the Kicking Horse River is caused by glacial meltwater, which carries suspended sediment and silt from the surrounding mountains. This sediment, resulting from the riverbed's abrasion and erosion, gives the river its cloudy, milky colour. Additionally, glacial meltwater streams flowing down the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains influence the river’s distinctive features.
Isla and I share a love of flowers, stories and activity.
Lise and Isla were my guides, and off we went on a short walk through the woods to reach another glacial lake and waterfall, where we spent a wonderful few hours sunbathing, picking flowers, and boulder-hopping.
We returned to our log cabin in Golden,
The following morning, we set off on our journey through Yoho National Park, where there are designated overhead animal crossings! Similar to flyovers, these are corridors that allow deer, bears (I suppose), and other creatures to cross the highway safely. I was really impressed by that.
Back on the Trans Canada Highway, we went. The quickest and safest route, I believe.
We had lunch in Canmore before rushing to Calgary to keep a promise Lise had made to Isla that we would visit the Calgary Zoo.
Near Ralston, we travelled alongside one of Canada’s long trains. Once we were back on the Prairies, we passed a few trains transporting harvested crops and containers, of course.
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Calgary Zoo
Now I realise, most South Africans and many of the people I know would be horrified by this experience.
It was an eye-opener for me. I got to see and experience, albeit in a limited way, animals I will, most likely, never see in the wild, and the same applies to Isla and, probably, to Lise as well.
We spent the afternoon wandering through Africa, where we saw two lions. Isla had a rare chance to see the lioness prick her ears, her tail shoot up, and silently stalk and hunt a small creature (I know it is brutal, but in those circumstances, it was the best we could hope for).
Isla could learn about some of our African wildlife and see zebras, a hippopotamus, giraffes, lions, porcupines, and flamingos (her favourite) before she spotted the children’s playground!
I, in turn, was able to enjoy majestic polar bears, snow owls, and a variety of North American animals. At least now I can say I’ve seen them.
I have not been to a Zoo since Grd 9, when my parents took us for an outing to the Pretoria Zoo, and my only memory of that day was the cable car, which I was petrified of. In this zoo, I saw a replica of a dinosaur, probably one that lived here millions of years ago.
Living in Africa and having the opportunity to visit national parks in every province and country is a rare privilege. While I was there, the reality of my freedom only became more evident.
We checked into our hotel exhausted, ordered a takeaway, and had an early night in preparation for a long day back to Regina.
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On The Road Again
The journey took us through areas like Cluny, where wheat and canola carpeted the flat earth in green. By the time we got to Tilley, the colours of the crops were ripening.
In Canada, the major field crops grown are wheat, canola, mustard, barley, rye, oat, maize, soybean and pulse crops.
Isla was a star.
Medicine Hat, Walsh, Maple Creek (where we spotted a cyclist on a cycling safari), Piapot, and Tompkins — the train passed us again — were places I recognised from past road trips.
Gull Lake, Waldeck, Rush Lake, Morse, and Parkbeg were unfamiliar to me.
In Belle Plaine, the yellow Canola fields were lush and sunlit in egg yolk yellow.
When we passed Pense, Lise announced that we were almost home.
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Lise dropped me off at Joe and Emily’s doorstep. As you can see, I had a camera full of photographs, a heart brimming with gratitude and a memory bank full of joyful days to recall in the darkest nights when sleep evades me.
The next morning, Isla was seated between her two boy cousins, Neil and Danny, on her way to visit their farm. Her smile said it all. I think she was relieved and excited to be with her peers.
When I’m with Lise, I can honestly say home is wherever I’m with you. This road trip was, and will always be, one of my highlights. Not only did we laugh a lot, but I also got to know Isla a little better. What really pleased me was seeing you taking up your sport again. You thrive when you have a hill to climb.
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Vivax
At 2 am the following morning, I had to accept my fate; my attempt at self-medication for feeling unwell had failed. I did not have Travellers’ influenza, as Butch had suggested. I was experiencing the same symptoms I had six months earlier. I had malaria. Cold and hot fevers tore through my body and soaked my bedclothes and sheets before my teeth started chattering, and every cell in my body seemed frozen.
Joe took note, and as soon as we were up and dressed, he accompanied me to the ER at the Regina General Hospital.
Of course, the announcement that I had suspected Malaria sent shockwaves through the receptionist and along the corridors. I was seen immediately.
Blood tests confirmed I did have malaria. I was prodded and probed, my high temperature was monitored, and my eyes were checked for jaundice and a urinary tract infection. I am told I was delirious and my words garbled as a result of a very high temperature.The resident virologist, Dr Chang, took over, and with his students suggested I have extra blood tests done to determine whether I suffered the recurring Vivax strain of Malaria common in Uganda.
If so, he would prescribe a specific regimen of medications to eliminate the Plasmodium vivax, which is a protozoan parasite and a human pathogen, and therefore the most common and widely spread cause of recurring malaria.
Plasmodium vivax is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito; the males do not bite.
This piece of fascinating information made me sit up. “P. Vivax was used between 1917 and the 1940s for malariotherapy, to create very high fevers to combat certain diseases such as tertiary syphilis. In 1917, the inventor Julius Wagner-Jauregg received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries. However, the technique was dangerous, killing about 15% of patients, so it is no longer in use.” Wikipedia. Bizarre.
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Medication and slow days, lots of TLC, good food, one of the symptoms of malaria is a loss of appetite, with Joe, Emily, Maeva and Lenny soon brought me back up to speed. My morning coffees with Lenny tucked into bed with me could be prescribed as an instant healer.
Isla came to stay. The girls forced me to spend afternoons on the lawn enjoying their shenanigans. We had tea parties, cycling, walking and tall stories.
I decided to tell the story of my precious time with Isla in a short story I wrote for her, adding some photographs to enhance the experience.
This I added as a blog for posterity, hoping she might read the story one day, if not now. On my breaks I would take Lenni for walks in her stroler.
Dr Chang called one morning to confirm I had Vivax and said he would prescribe a 14-day course of Chloroquine tablets. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the tablets in North America. He mentioned that only one dose was available. Sadly, by the time we reached the pharmacy holding the tablets for me, the pharmacist had to tell me that another patient had taken them.
I assume the patient was also from Africa and had contracted malaria in East Africa.
This specific treatment, a “Section 1 medication”, has not yet been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), and may only be distributed for unmet medical needs, compassionate use in severe conditions or emergencies where no other registered therapeutic alternative exists. Fortunately, the Medi Clinic in Nelspruit had 32 tablets and would, with a South African doctor’s prescription, dispense them to me.
Upon my return to South Africa, I could start my treatment. Touch wood, I have not had another attack.
My gratitude goes to Dr Chang, who believed me, treated me, prescribed the Medications he did, and followed up with Joe and me regularly to know how I was doing and to ask whether I had received my prescription.
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As part of my recuperation, I was invited to spend a few days with Jaco and Erin, which was really special because Erin is an emergency 911 operator with the Regina Police Department and works primarily on night duty. Her days are our nights, and to sacrifice the few days she has off to pander to me was really heartwarming.
Erin was doing a stint of dog-sitting and cat-sitting, which introduced me to her “day job”. With extreme dedication and empathy, she took in a pregnant cat and, as one can with an animal, assisted with the delivery of her brood of five kittens.
On one of our walks, we rediscovered the little libraries on the pavements, where passersby can pick up a book from homeowners who donate their unwanted books.
Isla loved these adventures and discoveries, and she’d be delighted to take a book, read it, and then return it to one of these libraries for someone else to enjoy. Our walks became walks of discovery.
I would return to Jaco and Erin’s on a few occasions to stay. Jaco and I soon settled into a companionable routine; he ran his 22km each day, I walked, and we’d meet for coffee at his favourite coffeeshop on the corner, where we might have lunch.
I joined them as their 2plus-1 to one of Erin’s best friends’ and a colleague’s weddings, where I experienced how it’s done in Canada. But that’s it for now. Later, I’ll tell you all about my night out.
“Family: a little bit crazy, a little bit loud, and a whole lot of love.”
Sometimes I'd simply "watch" Lenni on a baby monitor.
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I would like to thank you for your kind words of encouragement and condolences at the sale of the Honey Badger. Your words mean the world to me. It's always easier when we face hardships to know there are people who have our back and can relate and empathise, isn’t it?
While I am writing, all thoughts of everyday life seem to fly out the window. It is time to stop for a while, get lunch on the go and have my coffee, which has been sitting next to me since elevenses. (Credit for the photograph below goes to the photographer.)
The devastating fires have been raging all around us. Smoke fills the air, and ash covers our patio, and even the kitchen counter requires constant wiping. It seems incredible that, after all these months of perpetual fires, there remains a blade of grass or a stick of wood to set it off again. The constant wind doesn’t help.
My heart goes out to the firefighters, helicopter pilots, and auxiliary workers who have been fighting these blazes nonstop. They are brave, resilient, and incredibly committed. We can all applaud them.
Here is a link to Isla's story, "The Wheelbarrow Girl"
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