Traffics Jams & Tomcats, Bali

Another week has flown by in beautiful Bali.
Richard arrived home after his whirlwind trip to Perth late on Wednesday night and crept into bed.

On Thursday morning, the 5th of July,  he discovered he had what looked like scratch marks on the inside of his legs and on one of his arms, he complained that they were burning.
As usual I ignored him! Not really, but the scratches did look weird... we brushed it to one side and headed out to lunch with one of Lee's best friends Aunty Betty, her sister Patti and Richard's Cousin Trish. The trio were in Bali for a few days and staying in Nusa Dua. It was also a perfect opportunity to have lunch at Warren Mead's new restaurant in Nusa Dua and to meet his new baby girl Florence.
The traffic on the way to Nusa Dua was horrendous and after arriving late, we enjoyed a beautiful Meads lunch....

Aunty Patti & Betty

Trish & Richard

We also got to have a cuddle with baby Florence,  and to have a chat to Warren's new bride Marnie. The last time I saw Marnie was at my birthday where she was heavily pregnant.

Marnie, baby Florence & Lee

Nina & baby Florence

After a beautiful lunch Ron decided to head back to the Villa with the kids, who between a long car trip and a long lunch, had had enough of sitting around.
Richard, Lee and I stayed on for another hour or so before we too began the trek back to Canggu.
The traffic on the way home was even more horrendous and after a 3 hour drive we finally arrived back at Villa Hai... only around 30 kilometres from Nusa Dua - amazing!! (bloody Bali traffic)

Thursday night was a quiet one after a big day at lunch and in traffic and Richard continued to complain about those scratches, which were beginning to look infected - not good... he went to bed after applying a cream which he had picked up from the chemist.

Friday morning the 6th of July... and I also woke up with the same kind of scratch on my stomach... shite, what is this???
Neither of us were feeling unwell, other than Richard complaining of a burning sensation, so we brushed it aside and Richard accompanied Lee & I to our power plate session. He didn't enjoy it much, complaining of his joints and of course there was the issue of those, what appeared to be scratches, which weren't getting any better and of course the one on my stomach... so it was something that was obviously contagious....yikes, the mystery was deepening!
We decided we'd head from the gym to BIMC or Bali International Medical Centre to get it checked out.
The doctor examined Richard and decided it was some kind of bite and prescribed a steroid cream, which we both have been using... we have since discovered that it's a venom from an ant-like beetle called a Tomcat. It's more predominant in the wet months but because we are living close to rice fields, which have been flooded we figured they must be breeding in them.
Richard recalls seeing something similar the night before he left for Perth and swatting it - big mistake!
It's venom is apparently more potent than a cobra snake.
The locals know about the Tomcat and the biggest mistake you can make is to squash them, instead, you are supposed to blow or flick them off you.
Their venom can also stay on your clothes and transfer, hence why it ended up on my stomach.  Mystery solved thank God, after worming tablets etc and my mind running away from me with the possibilities - it was beginning to do my head in.

One of Richard's legs, healing up well

After the doctor's visit we met the kids at Bali Galeria to buy the boys some soccer gear for their soccer school next week. Nina is doing Gym school.

Yesterday afternoon, Richard went for a hit of tennis at the Canggu Club while I met him there later with Pop, Huggie and the kids. The boys had a good kick of the footy with their new shoes and clothes on - while we all had a drink and a chat... it was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Ron at the Canggu Club

Richard and I at the Canggu Club

Nina & Harry on the roof of the Canggu Club

We then went out to dinner at Trattoria, a nearby Italian Restaurant before heading home to bed.