Roaming Alone - Africa

I have just started my first trip abroad alone.  Not that I haven't travelled solo before, but I've always been met the other end or had some companionship planned.  These next 3 weeks are very different as, apart from a friend in Windhoek, and a business meeting mid Jan, I don't have a scheduled rendezvous with anyone.  A bit scary for an extrovert who thrives on company.

So, anyway, I packed the essentials - a new book from my brother (oh how apt is that!)

and a 'pick me up' book from Riona. The Little Book of Mindfulness.

And painted my nails ready for Africa.

I set off on a chilly, damp Wednesday and soaked myself (not literally) with views of flooded Devon and Somerset.

It was a long journey.  Flight London to Paris and 5 hours at Charles de Gaulle airport; where I treated myself to lounge access.  Then an overnight flight to Johannesburg and I made my way to a local Protea hotel.  I had decided not to fly directly to Namibia that day as I had time to pace myself.

Well, after my tiring journey this was a welcome site: my room number sign.  It's an aeronautical chart of the Johannesburg area.

And this is similar, chart symbols on their hall carpet.  I have carpet lust!

It was hot so I sat in the shade by the pool and read Pygmalion - now I want to see it on stage.  The hotel appeared to be full of couples which, as a solo traveller, I don't yet find easy (I'm hope I will one day).

Look, a BA view from my seat.

It was a pleasant dinner.  But I'm hoping that I don't have each meal time alone!

Diary of a Black Eye

I came off my bike late on Friday 01 December landing on my shoulder and face.  I ended up in A&E with concussion and a suspected broken shoulder.  Not my finest hour.

Roger kindly came and scooped me up in the middle of the night and I stayed with him for a couple of days whilst the worse of the concussion passed.  Meanwhile, my black eye grew into a thing of beauty.   This is me the morning after the night before.  Not my most preened look.

And this a few hours later.

By the Saturday evening its true colours were emerging.

Awesome!

My first ever black eye - a rite of passage I suppose.  Sunday morning.

Sunday evening.

I received many empathetic comments from others who had been in this state. Monday morning.

Tuesday morning.

And the side of my face, as well as my eye, turned a delicate shade of yellow. Wednesday morning.

A week after it was certainly fading.  Saturday 09 December.

Sunday 10 December.

Thursday 14 December.

Sunday 17 December.

Pretty much gone now. Friday 22 December.

And healed for Christmas ;-)

My shoulder isn't fairing so well. This is it after my accident.

Basically I have 'disrupted' the ligaments between my clavicle and scapula.  My clavicle is elevated around 5 mm (it should be between 1/2 mm from the scapula) and it's also pushed back.   Very painful and pretty impossible to move.

The long and the short of it is that it will probably take between 6/12 months to fully heal.  I have limited mobility but I cannot put any weight on it.  It's mucked up my training regime somewhat.  I had the option of keyhole surgery last week but declined (on medical advice of course) as the doctors believe it could heal naturally.  The fact that I'm doing far more with it after 3 weeks than most people do gives them hope.  If it's still significantly disrupted in a few months time they may still need to operate.  We'll see.

And in the meantime I have to try and behave.  Not over use it - which is a little tricky as I'm left handed.  So I have have to be patient and gentle to myself.  Wish me luck!