Spider bites can turn out really nasty, right?
'Yes, I know,' I always said, nodding my head up and down in agreement, as if I knew all about it!
It's summertime, and our lush tropical garden is looking gorgeous, and the ideal habitat for the birds and the bees, pesky mosquitoes, spiders, and all kinds of slithery creatures as well. Thankfully the latter have stayed out of sight, likely courtesy of Mr. Poe, who thinks he's the king of the castle!
On a more serious note, 
Incy Wincy Spider...
I've been on the warpath ever since I felt an itch just above my ankle a week ago. At first, I thought it was a mosquito that went to town feasting on my blood, but when I looked the following day, the whole area was red, and five tiny blisters had formed. It became uglier as the days passed and the blisters got bigger. None of the photos to see if there was improvement will be leaked anywhere! Words like monkeypox, shingles, etc. popped into my head;)
Doctor's verdict - an allergic reaction to a spider bite, with bacteria spreading around it, so I needed a course of antibiotics. I tried keeping my leg elevated when sitting, impossible to do so when sitting at my desk, so I've only popped into Hive occasionally!
After this morning's inspection, it seems that the treatment is finally kicking in, so I'm holding thumbs!
Welcome to our garden
However, uninvited guests showed up a couple of weeks ago - the mozzies have arrived in droves!
I've been hanging bunches of Lavender and Jasmine in my windows, my oil diffuser's been doing double duty, bedroom sprayed with 'Peaceful Sleep (room spray)' when I'm busy cooking.
What I cannot understand is that there's always one escapee, just one, no more, that finds its way into my bedroom and comes buzzing around my head in the early hours of the morning!
Can you picture a half-asleep woman going beserk trying to swot a mozzie zooming around her head? It must be quite a sight! When I succeed and see blood spattering everywhere, I know it's mine!
I hate sleeping with closed windows, but when I'm too tired to chase mosquitos in the wee hours of the morning, I give in, and turn on the aircon which chases those die-hard mozzies!
Summertime's only now really started so there are still many months of mozzie warfare ahead!
BnB happenings
Christmas holidays are approaching, bookings have shot up, and will surely make up for the dismal October bookings!
Most of the bookings are for fairly long stays which makes life way easier. The nights of 31 December and 1 January are blocked out, don't need any New Year's revelry in my back garden for sure!
Of course, the requests that never stop are:
I'd like to book your cottage, we'll be two couples, but can we invite friends over for a braai (BBQ)...it's my wife's birthday...our anniversary...blah blah blah?
How many friends, ask I.
I think we'll only be about 18.
'Sorry sir, but we do not host functions and do not allow visitors.'
And another request that raises my hackles:
Do you guys do hourly bookings?
A very indignant reply from me. 'Definitely not!'
I usually hit the red button on my phone, but some of these pesky people are die-hards, almost like those mozzies!
Ok, then do you have a daily rate, we won't need to sleep over?
A quick retort from me. 'No, we don't!!!!'
Many still keep on trying.
What do you charge for one night?
My voice is icy by now! 'Our minimum stay is two nights!!!'
The real hard-up die-hard inquirer, or maybe someone trying to set up office here, asks:
How much?
I give those pesky callers an exorbitant rate, which quickly chases them!
I'm not alone in getting those kinds of requests, it's well-known in the hospitality industry.
Our wonderful guests
We still have business bookings for the beginning of December from regulars, and then the holiday guests. We have always been blessed with wonderful people coming to our Lily's Cottage, and I'm hoping that will be so this year again!
Travelling Solo
I'm getting used to being a solo traveller, but miss my man always. I'm not looking forward to Christmas. He was a big presence during special family celebrations and left a gaping hole in my heart.
This will be the second Christmas.
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