Another break in transmission. My apologies.
After the operation, it took me a while to get back on my feet again (both literally and figuratively). Gradually, the trauma of it sunk in, and I struggled emotionally for a week or so. Physically, it also took some time for me to heal and to get back to doing normal things like climbing bikes (as Nigerian English would have it) and drinking (once I’d finished taking the drugs)!
I got the all clear from the doctor at my final check up 2 weeks ago – the operation had been a success. Then shortly after that, I had a week of a very dodgy tummy and an ear infection. Having just recovered from that, I had to go back to the doctor today to check on what I thought was an infection at the operation scar. According to him, it wasn’t and all is fine. But it’s just the last of a long line of ailments – it seems I can’t go for more than a fortnight without contracting something new. It’s frustrating, depressing and a little bit scary.
Meanwhile, though, Mum and Dad have arrived for a three and a half week visit, which is great. We went down to Abuja to meet them from the airport, stayed overnight and then brought them up to Kaduna on public transport. Since then we’ve been very busy – letting them try the different forms of transport (including okadas!), different types of food and, of course, our very finest bars. And so far they’re loving it. It’s great to see Nigeria through someone else’s eyes and to remember which of the day-to-day things in our lives now were once magical and strange.
On Saturday we fly to Lagos, and from there we have a week of adventure, travelling by road to the various treasures of the South West (including the bronze casters of Benin City, the ancient town of Ife and the sacred forest of Oshogbo), before coming back to Kaduna for one more week of fun. All good stuff.
