Two Accidents

Some of you are aware that I had an accident recently and have injured my leg. I was hit by a car and thrown over the bonnet. The driver did not stop but I am glad to say I had the foresight to smash his windscreen as I tumbled past. I am very fortunate that I have only minor injuries, and have not broken any bones. A number of people have helped me, both at the scene and afterwards, and I am profoundly grateful to them. I had a brief stay in hospital and now am convalescing in a hotel in Fajara where I sit all day with my leg elevated. I have crutches to get between my room and the pool and this 15-metre stretch is the only journey that my nurse has permitted me to make. I am by the pool now, surrounded by palm trees and towering bamboo. At my side, a sunbird darts into an attractive purple shrub. This is not such a bad place to be incarcerated. I do have a problem at the poolside, however; which do I apply first, suncream or arnica?

My scratches and bruises are healing well, but my more enduring injury is a significant tear in my right calf muscle. This is proving slow to heal and is restricting my ability to move around. It makes me feel old. Last Tuesday I was 37½ years old, halfway to seventy-five! As is fitting for a half-elderly person, my daily routine is now punctuated by popping a colourful selection of pills, as a result of my accident. I have an orange tablet four times per day. I take two large pink ones (sugar coated, like Smarties) three times per day. I take my antimalairal (capsule in a colour reminiscent of British Racing Green) after breakfast. There is a white one dissolved in water after lunch. Sometimes I have a liquid capsule, which is a pretty translucent red. And before bedtime I finish with a tiny blue one, which in contrast with prescription prices at home cost just 2 Dalasi each (four pence) at the pharmacy.

Unfortunately there was also a previous and more serious accident involving another new volunteer, Vicente from the Philippines. Vicente was knocked off his motorcycle in a collision with a gele-gele (minibus). He spent three days in hospital in Bansang before being airlifted to Dakar and then Johannesburg, where he is receiving treatment for back injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are constantly with Vicente and his family at the current time.