(Text by Corinne) Unfortunately, it doesn't stay with the rib. The night from Thursday to Friday is not the most restful: Oliver has terrible pain in both eyes, they are badly inflamed, swollen and the tears are running down his cheeks, maybe there is still sand under the eyelids. He can neither open nor close his eyes, so we spend half the night trying out some granny tricks: Wash out his eyes with lukewarm water, cover his eyes with wet, cooling cotton balls, wash out his eyes again, don't touch his eyes at all, cover his eyes with black tea bags due to chamomile tea absence (in the morning at half past two I desperately and unsuccessfully search the common kitchen of our accommodation for chamomile tea bags...). It does not get better despite grandma and at some point we are overcome by sleep.

Oliver is not really better on Friday morning, he is now sitting in the darkened room with dark sunglasses and is only called "Stevie" by me. Before he can complain about the new nickname, we are already sitting in my dad's car on the way back to Durbanville, where we make a detour to the eye doctor. The doctor looks at Oliver's eyes and just says "Oh my god, what did you put in your eyes?" After a thorough 2-minute examination, Sherlok Holmes is sure: Oliver has an allergy. And he's allergic to the sea. Not to any sea, but obviously to the Langenbaan Sea (that is, to something in it: bacteria, algae, animals, we don't really know...). Well, with a few medicines more and a few Rand less (in South Africa you always pay the doctor on the spot) we finally go back home in Durbanville, where we treat ourselves to a toast and melons. Oliver and I are completely exhausted: He because of the strong medication, I because I haven't slept half the night, so we lie down for 3 hours. After that, Oliver doesn't look quite like Kermit the Frog anymore, the medication has already started to take effect. He is also fit enough to participate in our legendary aperitif in the early evening. (Unfortunately no Savannah, but delicious white wine.)In the evening, not much more happens, Oliver goes to bed early after dinner (Ghackets mit Hörnli, hihi) and I watch an extremely exciting thriller on ARD...

Stivie's final comment: Not a nice experience! I'm feeling better now though. It was bad not to know what was wrong with my eyes. After the visit to the doctor I was really relieved that the allergy should be gone within a few days.