We had a slow start this morning. We’d left the bathroom door open down the hall, which made it look as though a light had been left on as we finally had some sun. We had a leisurely breakfast at the restaurant, where Isaac made a new friend who was only a month older than him. After a quick pack, we were back in the car and heading towards Johannesburg.

Some of the back streets were lined with people and vendors, with oranges and nuts for sale at the four-way stops. Once we were on the motorway we passed a fire burning, but we didn’t see anyone stopping or coming to put it out as we went past.

We stopped at Mall of Africa for lunch at Spur, with Karl having a play while we were there. Chris and Dan had visited Mall of America years ago, so there was a bit of comparison to be made. This one was smaller! After lunch we continued on and checked into our last hotel in South Africa, then later walked across the road to Eastgate Mall for pizza for dinner.

Chris went to order the pizza while Dan sat at a table with Isaac in the pushchair on one side and Karl in a chair on the other. Both boys were banging their hands on the table. Dan turned to get Isaac out of the pushchair while Karl carried on, and we think his chair slipped and launched his face into the edge of the table. Dan didn’t see exactly what happened, but turned back to find his face against the table. When she pulled him back there was a lot of blood. Chris returned to find both boys screaming and Karl bleeding, but we didn’t realise quite how big the cut was until Karl opened his mouth. It was an impressive-looking gash.

We managed to get the bleeding under control and console Karl until he was no longer crying. After a quick consultation with ChatGPT, we decided that because of where the cut was, it needed to be looked at by a doctor. We hurried back towards our accommodation, which you wouldn’t think would be too difficult when it was just across the road.

Finding our way out of the mall turned out to be another matter. It certainly seemed to be a mall designed for people arriving by car, and we had to ask several people for directions before we managed to get out. It felt as though it took half an hour, although it was probably closer to ten minutes. Once we were back at the hotel, Chris and Karl jumped in the rental car and went straight to a nearby hospital.

The doctor was concerned about the location of the cut and that it crossed the border of Karl’s lip. The doctor took some detailed photographs and sent them to a plastic surgeon to review. The surgeon recommended surgery the following day to repair the cut and help reduce the risk of lasting disfigurement.

Chris and Karl then came back to the accommodation, where Karl managed a little yoghurt for dinner before going to sleep for the night. Chris got started on the laborious process of lodging yet another travel insurance claim and going through all the hoops.

This trip sure has thrown a lot of trials at us. We are pretty nervous having Karl have surgery in another country. Compounding things Chris will be supporting Karl solo as the hospital is some distance from our Hotel and Dan will be staying behind with Isaac. Wish us luck for the surgery ahead (We think around midday Friday, South Africa time)

Chris, Dan, Karl and Isaac