Debbie’s One Word Sunday Challenge this week, is ‘Rock’. As some of my blog followers may remember, I am now in South Africa after a two and a half year absence. We started off in Johannesburg for a week with our daughter and son-in-law, then drove down to the coast to Umhlanga Rocks, the seaside town where we used to live. As its name suggests, there are many rocks along the shoreline.

Some of the rocks are rather large.

My favourite lighthouse has been warning ships off these rocks since 1954.

The sad news is that so far, I haven’t been able to walk along the promenade to see the lighthouse up close, as my left hip which has been giving me problems for quite some time now, has finally decided it needs replacing. Tuesday is the day when this will happen, so I may be absent for a little while. I’m very grateful to have found a highly recommended surgeon here to do the deed. See you all soon.
To join in Debbie’s ‘Rock’ challenge, just click the link.
That first shot is pretty nice! Digging the rocks ๐ I thought youโd also have a picture of Rocky ๐ ha! Hope youโre doing well.
Love those rocks! My best wishes for your surgery. Pain is such a brute.
Thanks, Cynthia. Yes, youโre not wrong about that, but Iโm bearing up well. ๐
Please delete my last comment on this particular post ๐
Thx
Love the rock photo and prayers for your surgery – โ๏ธ๐โ๏ธ
Oh my! Wishing you great results from the surgery. Sometimes living to a ripe old age isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but I keep telling myself it could be worse! I’m struggling with the eyes starting to let me down and because of Covid it’s getting difficult to schedule any needed surgery. Can you imagine ME without functioning eyes. I will just have to store all those images in my aging brain somehow…. ๐ฅบ๐ค๐ค
Again…. sending loads of good wishes!
Thanks so much, Gunta. Iโve also had more than my fair share of eye problems, but thankful for the technology available to repair my macular holes. My grandmother was blind by the time she reached my age. ๐ณMy post op hip is doing well and Iโm dutifully doing my physio exercises. My sister and her husband were amazed see how well I was getting around when they visited us yesterday. Iโm one determined gal. Nothingโs going to get me down. ๐ ๐ฏ
๐ Keep up the good work! I fractured an ankle very badly back in 2010. It needed surgery with metal pins inserted… I am amazed at how (thanks very much to physio) the ankle is as good as (or better) than before! Amazing technology indeed! ๐ค
Yes, weโre so fortunate to be living in times when everything can be fixed. ๐
I am late to this post and the hip surgery has taken place with great success. Lighthouses are my go-to symbol for compassion, strength, safety and solitude. Thank you for featuring the lighthouse.
Thanks, Rebecca. So glad you enjoyed seeing my special lighthouse. ๐
Hope the surgery goes well, Sylvia
Thanks, Sue. Just going in now.
Wishing you a swift recovery
Oh, Sylvia, I’m so sorry your long awaited visit is accompanied by this… however I am sure it’ll all be fine shortly, so here’s to your promenade to the lighthouse… soon!
Sending my very best wishes!
Thanks so much, dear Marina. ๐
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So many people I know have had hip replacements and they’re done just brilliantly. I do hope you don’t have to wait too long for your op. All I can say is that everyone is having to wait an excessively long time in the UK for anything medical, especially on the NHS. Others are going abroad to countries where its cheaper to go private than here. It sounds as if the surgeons have their act in order in Umhlanga. Wishing you all the best for your op and for a speedy recovery.
Well, my op is tomorrow, only ten days since my GP sent me for X-rays. The hospital is very new and they have been COVID free for 3 months. Iโm very lucky that we have good medical insurance here. Thanks for your good wishes, Sarah.
So sorry about your hip, Sylvia, are you having it done here in SA?
It’s a very successful operation.
oh and I love Umhlanga rocks. There used to be a caravan park there and we would holiday there when I was a child
Thanks, Ally. Yes, getting it done in Umhlanga. Some great surgeons here.
Yes, I have heard so. All the best wishes for a speedy recovery. xxxxx
So sorry to hear that you have to have a hip replacement Sylvia! All of the best and speedy recovery to you!
Thanks. Aletta. ๐
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I wish you well, Sylvia and can assure you from experience that hips are far easier than knees.
Thanks, Derrick. Thatโs very encouraging. ๐
X
Iโm very sorry to hear about your painful hip. All the very best for the surgery. Get well soon, Sylvia.
Thanks so much, Sue. ๐
Lovely photos Sylvia. Hope you are soon walking on the promenade and that hip replacement goes well.
Thanks so much for your good wishes. ๐
Good luck with the surgery and speedy recovery!
We’ll see you on the rebound.
Keep breathing.
Thanks, Nancy. ๐
Beautiful views and I can imagine how happy you are to see them again. My husband had a hip replacement some years ago and was so happy he did. Prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery.
janet
Thanks for the encouragement, Janet. ๐
Best wishes for a successful surgery and a quick recovery. You’ll be a new woman soon.
Thanks, Carol. ๐
Dear Sylvia. Wishing you an excellent surgery and the best possible outcome with minimal discomfort! Fingers crossed that you’ll be tripping the light fantastic in record time. โค Best, Babsje
Thanks so much, Babsje. ๐
I had hip a replacement 9 years ago (it was damaged during vehicle accident years earlier). It has been amazing ever since. No pain and as good as the original equipment! Too bad you have to do this while on holidays, but you will feel a lot better.
Thanks, Lynette. So happy your replacement was such a great success. ๐
I’m so sorry to hear that you will be having surgery instead of enjoying your family and friends back home. I hope everything goes well and that you will be as good as new soon.
Thanks so much, Karen.
Cheers to you being in the land you love. I thought that lighthouse looked familiar! Rocks by the sea is a wonderful way to fit the theme. Enjoy your visit and safe travels.
Thanks so much, Frank. Iโm hoping that before long, Iโll be able to walk down to the shoreline, albeit on crutches. ๐
Oh no …. Sorry to hear about the crutches. Then again, healing and progress is important.
Hi Sylvia!
A very fitting theme for where you currently are. I’m so happy for you that you finally managed to return to your home country and see family. These current times have been very challenging for that. Like you, I managed to return to Belgium for a visit this past summer. It had been three years since I saw my loved ones and friends!
Wishing you a smooth operation and speedy recovery on Tuesday!!
Thanks, Liesbet. Iโm sure it will all go well. ๐
Sylvia, wishing you the very best for your hip replacement and that it will be healing well. So you can walk along the beach to that lighthouse. Big hugs Ute xxx โฅ
Thanks so much, Ute. ๐
The shoreline is beautiful!
Yes, it really is. Thanks, Lavinia.
I wish you all the best for your hip replacement. For me it has been life changing and I hope it will be for you too. ๐
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. ๐
My best tip, which was given to me and I have passed on many times, is to do your exercises however hard they are to begin with. Also, for friends within reach, I buy them a kitchen timer! Remembering to move very 40 minutes is key to recovery. If you were closer I would be getting you one! All the best. xx
Thanks for the tips. My physio will be seeing me before I go home and Iโm sure Iโll get lots of good advice. If I was actually at home, I have two kitchen timers, but as weโre in a rented apartment here, Iโll rely on my smart watch to tell be when to get up. Iโm not one for sitting down for too long anyway. ๐
Oh, please take care and my best wish to you with your operation!
Thanks so much, YC.
Iโll be thinking of you as you get your hip replaced and can then start to heal. Your photos are lovely as always.
Thanks, Ruth. I really appreciate the good wishes and kind thoughts.๐
Can’t even imagine what a bummer it must be to need surgery on your vacation!
Hugs and firm wishes for well being to you Sylvia, Eddie
Thanks for the hugs and good wishes, dear Eddie. I’m sure I’ll be just fine. xx
You’ll be better than ever!
Sylvia, how lovely to be in South Africa after a two and a half year absence…I can’t help but envy you. ๐ Enjoy the visit, and I’ll stalk your blog to hear about news from home. Best! xx
Thanks so much, KR. I’m sure I’ll enjoy my time here, in spite of the surgery. ๐
Hope your surgery goes well. โค
Great post have a good time in Sud Africa and hope everything will be fine again
Thanks so much, Marylou. I’ll do an update after the operation. xx
Iโm sorry to hear about your hip, Sylvia. Iโll keep you in my prayers for a quick recovery. Iโm glad you have plenty of family to help you. Take care.โค๏ธโค๏ธ
Thanks, Jill. ๐ค๐
Pretty scenery, but sorry to hear about the needed surgery. Although, if one ie adding bionic parts that is one that they seem to have perfected. Here’s to a successful surgery and a complete and quick recovery. Take care.
Thanks so much, Judy. xxx
Hi Sylvia, how frustrating for you to have to deal with this when you are in South Africa to visit friends and family. Best wishes for the op. and I hope you will be walking along the sand…. towards the lighthouse, very soon.
Thanks, dear Gerrie. I’ve been in considerable pain for months now, so it will be a relief to get it sorted out. ๐
best wishes Sylvia, and I hope you will soon be on the mend.
Thanks, Gerrie. Iโm doing really well. Operation went perfectly and Iโm very cheerful. ๐ฏ
Wonderful news Sylvia.
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Hope the surgery goes well Sylvia and that you will be sprinting along that promenade before very long.
Thanks so much. Iโm sure Iโll be right as ninepence in no time at all. ๐
*Sigh* When I saw ‘Rock’ I was hoping for a least one video from AC/DC.
Wishing all the best for your hip replacement.
Will we be welcoming back the ‘Bionic Sylvia’?
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Thanks, Ark. I broke my femur 35 years ago and I think it’s come back to haunt me.
It’s a real pain in the backside to realise we are not quite as invincible as we once thought.
I damaged my left ankle quite badly in a bike accident many moons ago. Certain changes in the weather sometimes cause me to hop about like the accident was yesterday. Most annoying.
Is your surgeon down there or up here in Jo’burg?
Yes, weather can have an effect on past injuries. Apparently I have no cartilage left at all between the bones. No wonder itโs been so painful. If it werenโt for COVID, weโd have been back last year, as our medical aid is here. Anyway, we made it over as soon as we could. Not much of a holiday though. ๐