After the progress of yesterday, we’ve hit a brick wall today. We saw the surgeon this morning and he is unwilling to operate unless John has a CT scan – the nearest CT machine is 350km away in Dar es Salaam. Even if he was happy to go ahead with surgery, the equipment isn’t working.

As you might imagine, John is somewhat terrified. To him cancer means death as it often goes untreated here. I’ve tried explaining to him what cancer is and the different stages of cancer, but I don’t know how much sinks in.

The total cost of getting a diagnosis was only around £8 – that includes travel, dressings and hospital fees. Yet most people live a subsistance life where they grow their own food and have very little money – therefore even this tiny cost is beyond the reach of many. The treatment may be somewhat more expensive. Assuming we can get it.

As for last night – it was good fun. David ate prawns and then octopus and we had some South African wine – all things he has never tasted before. I don’t think he was too taken by the octopus. I did warn him it is something os a strange sensation, but he is glad he tried something new. We then hit the spirits so he could try new flavours. I ended up rather tipsy and this morning’s hospital trip was therefore not much fun!

On the lash

Some kids’ rendition of my house. The writing means ‘Tom’s house’

I was playing with the blind kids and at dinner, they invited me in. We had rice and beans. The dining hall erupted into laughter when they heard I was eating with them.

This bastard invaded my house. It doesnt look big, but it was massive. And fast. I managed to destroy it though.

Samson playing in my house. His brothers are called Jonah and Israel. Talk about religious!