I'm laughing thinking about the absurdity of life, and the many mysterious ways it moves. I've spent several years jumping through hoops and dragging myself over seemingly-endless hurdles to get my spousal visa.

Last week I received news that it was ready for collection. Booked an appointment. Traveled to the visa office to be met by a white A4 piece of paper saying that the offices were closed that day for fumigation, come back next week.

This afternoon I arrived to a sea of people queued in a car-park, waiting to collect their visas too. Some had been there for over seven hours with no help to be seen. My Mama couldn't believe the audacity of it. I could.

"Yana, I used to wonder why you've been saying paper work in South Africa is so difficult. Now I know" she exasperated.

A man approached. "You'll be waiting for a long time over there, I can help you though..." He gave me a look that said everything about paying him nice money for his services. I walked away.

Another man approached. "Hey, what do you need? You'll have to talk to the manager. Come with me. Give me a moment..." We walked with him. He scurried about talking to one security guard and then the next. I was ready to leave, exhausted by yet another hurdle. Mama encouraged us to stay.

Moments later he beckoned us up the steps. I carried my daughter in my arms, dressed in her flamingo-print play-suit, wide-eyed for the world around. The manager met me and walked me to a room. "Speak to that lady" she said, ushering me to a desk. I handed over my documents and in less than five minutes, walked out with my visa in hand.

A momentous moment. A new chapter begins.

Sat outside I took a moment to breathe in the blessing. Messaged Mr Dzedze with the news. A man walked by, and turned to my Mama and I. "Wow! This is beautiful! Are you both mums?" It took me a moment to register that he had assumed that my daughter must be adopted. That my mama and I were lovers, and she was our child. "That's my mama and that's my daughter" I said, pointing at each of them. He was warm in response. Taken aback my mama and I laughed.

We stopped by the park on the way home. Sat by the lake and took photos of my daughter's grins. She stared at the geese and gnawed on her pram. We need to buy her teething toys, her slobber game is serious!

Home time. Nap time snuggled up to my baby. Gym time. Fifty lengths of the pool and deep breaths in the sauna. Home again to feed my daughter. Work time. I hopped on a final call with an online program I've been running, The Tussling.

It's not all beautiful, there's ragged anger and huge deaths happening in my world too. But for now, I'll leave this on a happy note. I got my visa.