Walking in the normal way with heal coming down first sends shock-waves through ones body. Walking in other ways may appear funny, but who cares what others think. One should not run, not even on the beach behind a Frisbee. One should not throw a Frisbee, not even if it is the first relatively windless day of one’s time at the beach. And one should definitely not jump to catch it even if it is heading straight for someone’s head.

Deep breathing is uncomfortable, coughing is bad, sneezing is worse and being constipated is something to be avoided at all cost.

Sleeping on the injured side is impossible. Sleeping on one’s back is doable if one is tired enough. Sleeping on the unaffected side is OK until ones arm, shoulder, cheek, hip, etc falls asleep. At this point the choice between losing a limb due to lack of circulation and turning to ones back (and the resulting piercing screams and groans) presents itself. Getting up in the morning involves turning (ouch) on ones stomach, a slow push up, getting on ones knees (the best place to be in any painful situation) and then finally shuffling off the bed.

Driving is OK as long as you do not have to change gears or turn. Turning is something that one every so often have to do when going anywhere. Going across the whole of South Africa in a bus may be slightly better than driving unless it takes around 17 hours.
Picking up fully loaded suitcases is right in there with laughing. We have a regular habit of using every available kilogram of weight that the airlines allow plus rather heavy hand-luggage. I carry in my hand-luggage this time my laptop, camera, clarinet and running shoes. (quite a neat summary of my normal, unbroken bone activities.)

Bye South Africa. Hallo India.

Keep running

Stephan