By now most will know that I had to come to South Africa unexpectedly. After our trip to Scotland we were so excited to see Wendy and Owen who had come to visit us while Brendon was on a trip to Australia. Unfortunately they were only there for a day when we received the news that Wendy's Mom had been taken to hospital with a suspected stroke. There was a mad rushing around to get tickets so we could fly out to see her but as the UK school closed that same day for their Summer holidays we only managed to get tickets via Paris. The Friday afternoon traffic on the road to Heathrow was a nightmare but we managed to get there in time for our flight and then had it leave an hour late which meant a mad dash for 30 minutes to catch our connection at Charles de Gaul. We had to carry Owen as his buggy had been booked through to Joberg so between Wendy and I taking turns to drag the cabin trolleys and carry Owen, we were exhausted and praised the Lord that we had business class seats so could go to sleep straight away. Wendy had Owen on her lap but he eventually kicked her out of her seat and as I had a cramp in my leg and needed to do some walking, she used my seat. I then joined Owen and he slept on my tummy till morning.
We arrived in Joberg to discover that our luggage had not made the connection in Paris so it would be delivered the following day. What fun. We had a good flight to Durban and Owen slept so was no trouble at all. The biggest disaster was that we did not have his buggy because of the luggage not making the connection but Evelyn met us in Durban and she had brought Evangeline's buggy for us to use.
We found that Wendy's Mom had not had a stoke but rather that it was brain tumor that had to be surgically removed. To cut a long story short, we have been staying with Vera, Bradley and Rachel and they with Evelyn have been a wonderful support group when it came to hospital visits and meal preparations. We would not have managed without their help. We have had two trips to Eshowe and now are back in Durban for Lynne to start Radiation treatment next week. We may need to make another trip to Eshowe as Wendy has been very busy helping her Dad get things sorted for when her Mom can be home for good.
We have enjoyed two weeks with Brendon managing to come out and join us before he has to go to USA for another business trip. He leaves tomorrow.
Owen has enjoyed playing with his two cousins and I have had the joy of being with all 3 grandchildren which has not happened before. It has been great to see their development over the weeks we have been here. Owen had benefited from playing with Rachel and can now take his own jacket off without help as he has seen her do the same. Evangeline manages to hold her own even though she is younger and so when the others take something she is playing with she lets them know that she is not happy so much so that now Rachel knows to give her something else before trying to take away the thing she is playing with.
Poor Douglas is home alone but has been blessed by members of the congregation who have stepped in and helped him by giving him meals and driving him to services and meetings. He has been diagnosed with a hernia so sees a surgeon once I get beck as that was the earliest appointment he could get. This pain has been troubling him for a while so I am glad they have at last discovered what it is and so will be able to treat it.
Wendy, Owen and I will start our return journey on 5 September and have to go via Paris once more so hope we do not have to do the marathon again. I will go to Amsterdam and then on to Norwich instead of Heathrow as that is closer to where we are in Norfolk. I am so blessed to have been able to travel with Wendy and Owen and firmly believe that out of bad there is always good so despite the stress of the medical emergency we have been able to enjoy some good quality time together with the different extended family members.
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