A Tale of Three Toes (with apologies to those that don't like bare feet)

Really we just wanted to post the following pics and thus the apology to all who might not be fans of bare feet. The more impressive shot is of Duncan who managed to slip one night while...well it's a long story – let's just say there have been some massive storms while we have been here – huge – which is typical for here but not for us – Anyway, I went out to check on our car, thought the thunder had set the car alarm off, managed to slip on a slippery spot and have those two toes somehow curl under my flip flop. I iced it a little, but couldn't tell what I had done. It wasn't until the next day when the vienna sausages turned into cherry tomatoes or purple grapes depending on your perspective. However though my toes look a little more dramatic, it is actually Andrea's toe that is of greater concern. Again, it's a bit of a long story but Andrea had had some problems with her big toe probably two months before we began this trip and had several treatments that didn't seem to solve anything. In anticipation of not wanting problems on this trip (exactly like she is having now) two weeks before we left she had part of her toe nail removed and some chemical put on it to stop it growing back. She loves that I am sharing this with the world! Unfortunately first there was a significant infection and now here we are two months later and it still hasn't healed in spite of pretty regular soakings in hydrogen peroxide and salt water. To make matters worse it had started to bleed and be quiet painful again. This brings us back to ACS Computers mentioned in the previous post. Ottilie suggested a certain church which we went to on Sunday, where we end up talking to various people including someone who just happened to be a doctor (ok never mind that he turned out to be an anesthesiologist) Bernd was still very helpful, listened to Andrea, looked at her toe etc. The next day at ACS, Leonie who just happens to also moonlight in several Doctor's offices was able to suggest a podiatrist whom we visited and had a very good reassuring visit. Again, he listened carefully and like Bernd was also somewhat savvy when it came to taking seriously the extra care that those with diabetes need to take with their feet. So again a huge thank you to those at ACS, Dr. Bernd Lenhard and Dr Hannes Fuhri. If you could pray for complete healing of this toe we would be most grateful. The other two two photos are of Andrea's feet, the first one being after our 10 mile hike at Sani Pass. Evidently Andrea's shoes 'breathe' well as that is dirt. The second one which we affectionately call 'hippo toes' was at the beach at Cape Vidal where even though the beach was beautiful white sand, in certain places there was a fine black dust that would stick to your skin – everywhere but your toe nails which would then stand out gleaming in the sunlight. Not sure why we called it hippo toes but there you have it. If you didn't think we were weird before... We sadly move on from our place of rest here at Old Vic on Monday (Dec 15), making our way back down the way we came, stopping for a couple nights at another game park called Hluhluwe, then onto Port Shepstone and Spot Backpackers right on the beach for three nights. After that we drive to East London for two nights before arriving at Plettenberg Bay for Christmas staying at Nothando's (a more 'upscale' backpackers – they have hairdryers in the rooms!) from the 22nd to the 26th. Then we move from the coast and beach inland a little to Oudtshoorn which is more desert like (and ostrich country) to stay at a place that looks nice called Amber Lagoon through new year's. Everyone heads to the beach and coast in this country for their holidays so we are hoping for a quieter time here. Not sure where we go then but we'll be closer to Capetown so we may end up there or ??? We're not sure what our internet contact will be like but for those who want to know, you know where we will be for a little bit! Duncan