black and blue, but barrelling on

Hello all
I know you've just heard from me, but that missive was all jolliness (apart from our poor thief) ,and now I must vent about what living in Aahfrica is doing to my offspring.
Last week (naturally during my one night away at Mua) Ben and Buji were having a game of rough (why is it that boys play much, much rougher games when being looked after by their fathers?) in the kitchen and when Buj drew back his arm to punch some fellow, Ben ran into it at speed and was caught full in the eye by the elbow. He managed to stagger to Bush and then passed out for at least a few seconds. Apparently Bush was exemplary in the crisis and got his tongue out of the way and laid him down and checked his pupils and all the usuals and Ben then came to seemingly without further damage. Had I been there I would have wanted to rush him to the doctor, but men are of sterner (and I can't help feeling, more heartless) stuff and carried on regardless. Still, to their credit, it is a week later and he shows no signs of damage. The he rushed onto the jetty to swim and got a splinter about 2cm long in his heel that he refused to let me at with my needle and tweezers. But miraculously, it is already out after applications of traxa every night.
Then Eddie fell right off Liinu's landing with a splat, but after a good cry, was fine. Then yesterday he managed to take a slice of skin off his finger (no-one knows how) and soon after that disaster, saw a huge boat tie up at our jetty (the navy on some sort of junket with many well-dressed ladies and beers) and in his haste to see it raced for the stairs and straight into them, sending his teeth right into his upper lip. He now looks like a very mournful duck. Somehow there is even a wound outside his lip too and the inside looks cut and bruised. But he is undeterred and still eating and it didn't bleed for long so I listened to Jurie and Bush's advice and didn't rush him off to the clinic (I always feel kids are likely to pick up worse things there with all those ill people waiting around). But last night I did worry and kept getting up to silently apply unguents to him as he slept (almost impossible when he's awake.)
Then I went on my first paddle (we've been here over a month and you will remember it was my resolution to paddle every day! Can only say that I have been too busy, I really have!) and ended up with such a sore back which I then immobilised completely when I rushed ofter Ben and Buj in a panic as they jumped off the jetty in the dark after supper despite strict instructions that Ben was not allowed to (Jurie let Buj, so that rather did in my restriction). Of course as the bigger boys ran off down the jetty (panic already!) Eddie followed them and I raced after them all yelling blue murder and seized Ed only to find my back in a vice-like grip of muscle spasm the like of which I have never experienced. Left Bush to deal with any disaster and walked off to my bed like a bent-over automaton, trying not to weep. It was terrible. Couldn't turn all night, but Bush was a dear and sorted out the errant boys and bathed them and put them to bed while I lay like a very sorry for myself plank.
Still, all is well really - it's our day off and Bush has the hammock and New African magazine, the three boys are quietly doing puzzles and I am on the floor writing this with a cup of tea at my side. Java is away in the village being a local with Lioness.
All is peaceful, if a bit buckled and bent!