Every Sunday morning, when I am in Durban, I drive to the beachfront. It only takes 14 minutes, provided most of the lights are green. I park next to the iconic Joe Cool’s bar and nightclub, and try to walk for 10 kilometres. The route is to the Point, which is at the harbour mouth. It is only an 8 km round trip, even if I walk down all the piers. I add on a bit by walking past the car towards the Suncoast Casino. This casino, a monument to Mammon and lost hopes, is a blot on the landscape. It was designed as a bit of Las Vegas on the beach. The less said about that the better.

I am always impressed by the range of activities at the beach. This Sunday was particularly busy. Today the main event was the Orient Islamic School walk. It wasn’t far, just 5 km, I think, because most of the kids were very young. All the females were wearing black and some had variations of hijabs. They must have looked like ants as they swarmed down the promenade in a wave, like something out of a movie. Seen from above they would have been impressive. They were clearly thoroughly enjoying themselves, and it is great to see the Muslim community so involved in the city.

The previous Sunday I went to the Durban India Shopping Festival, which was in huge tents on the site of the old Durban Drive In. I went specifically to get some Rajasthani block printed bed sheets, and am happy to report I was successful. I was the only white face at the event, something I only realised as I drove away. The festival, which moves from city to city in South Africa, is run by importers who come from the Indian subcontinent specifically for it. The stallholders where I bought my sheets were from Kashmir!

To get back to the beach walk. At the Point, the Durban Life Saving Clubs had gathered for some event or competition. There are four of these clubs on the beach front, from North to South: Thekweni Life Saving Club, Pirates Life Saving Club, Durban Life Saving Club and Marine Life Saving Club. I didn’t stay to watch it as I was well into the walk. Of course, it is always a bonus to see ships coming into port. One was a cruise liner. It was not a huge one, but it is good to see that Durban is back on the itinerary for cruises.

It was interesting to see the pilot boat going out a long way into the roadstead. Half an hour later the large ships came into port. Clearly there is more than one pilot available to guide the vessels. It must be such an exciting job. It is also interesting that the boat is being used rather than the helicopter. I wonder which is easier for the pilots.

Further up the beach there were two groups of exclusively black people carrying out karate practice and aerobics respectively. The aerobics were women under the tutelage of a fit looking man with a neat VanDyke beard. He was drilling them, and they were having a great time.

Our beach is well used and appreciated by the citizens. Sunday was very overcast and although I had my hat, I did not need it. It is, however, getting warmer and more humid by the day, I suspect the air conditioning will be needed in the flat before I leave.

Karate

Walkers

Soon after I got back to Durban, I became aware that all was not well in the area of my backside. I went to see a GP who suggested I consult a surgeon, which I did within a few days. His diagnosis was a fistula needing surgery. I am not going to add any more details to this, we all have access to Dr Google, so please feel free to use it if you really want the gory details. I will add one thing, I was determined to spend as little time in the hospital as possible and the surgeon was happy to accommodate me.

I was booked in for the surgery on Thursday, 16 October and, following a consultation with the anesthetist, everything went ahead. I’m very lucky in my friendship group in Durban, in as much as one person took me to the hospital, and a second picked me up and took me home.

The hospital is very close; I could walk there in under 20 minutes, though this was not recommended! I was admitted at 6 AM, was first on the slate in the theatre, and got home just before 1 o’clock. I feel as though I am nearly fully recovered, although a general anesthetic is never fun. Now the process of recovery and wound dressing continues. I suppose the key question is: why is this happening? The answer from all the professionals I have consulted is they don’t know.

The whole process was incredibly efficient and the staff kind and concerned. I have nothing but praise for them although I do acknowledge that not everyone has that experience. I also need to acknowledge that having ‘legacy’ medical aid here has been hugely beneficial. As part of the conditions of service when I was recruited back in 1983, we were given medical aid and, post-retirement, do not have to pay for it. And it is maintained at some level until we die. How incredibly fortunate I am to have that boomer benefit. It is definitely not something that most people enjoy.

The Jacaranda tree outside my window is still in full bloom. It is such a joy to sit here and watch the purple flowers gently nodding in the breeze. Although jacarandas are not indigenous, it does attract a considerable amount of birdlife. The menace in Glenwood are the monkeys. They have a ‘round’ and come past the flats every three or four days. In the past week I had a raid where they took and ate oranges and tangerines. They have to come right into the flat to get to the table where I keep my fruit. They never touch grapefruit! I don’t begrudge them fruit, but I do object to the mess.

I am still in mourning over the closure of Skype. It was a brilliant way of staying in touch with people, and indeed linking up with folk I had not spoken to or seen for a very long time. At the moment the platform of choice for official events seems to be Teams, but it is an indication of increasing ineptness that I battle with it at times. Of course, there is the post but in South Africa deliveries are infrequent. I only occasionally see an envelope in the bank of post boxes at the gate of the flats. Anyone posting things through the Post Office is doing it with hope, rather than expectation!

General communication is via WhatsApp, which is amazing. It is possible to have a family call, as we did on Sunday, with ease and virtually zero expense. This is a mixed blessing as, in theory, I can reach or be reached by anyone with a cellphone and WhatsApp account at any time, if my phone is on. The key is to limit screen time. It is great to be able to see people, especially the grandchild.

I said I would not go into my medical details, nor will I rave about the brilliance of the baby. He is obviously exceptional and well above average in every way! The most striking thing for me is how quickly he is developing into an inquisitive and responsive real person, and I shall look forward to being in the UK in a few months. Durban in summer is a real chore! I have no intention of being here beyond December, it is inhuman.