Second Week Back

My 2nd week back after our Black Forest Holiday was again filled with a mix of work and play, and the weather was just as mixed.

It was also a "short" week - not that it had less than seven days, but Thursday was a Bank Holiday in Germany (Ascension), and since both O.K. and I had taken the Friday off, we had a 4-day-weekend to spend at my place.

Monday, May 23 was uneventful; it rained on and off and I had a meeting with my volunteer group in the evening, so no time for an after-work walk anyway.

My team and I were booked for the pub quiz on Tuesday, May 24; after a last-minute cancellation from one team member and nobody else available at such short notice, there were only three of us playing. We still managed a full score in the 2nd half (and were the only team that night to achieve this!), but we were four points short in the 1st half and so did not walk home with a prize. It was our last chance before the summer break; the quiz will take up again in September. The three of us had a good evening nonetheless, with plenty to talk about; of course our late team member and friend Martin is still sorely missed.

It was mostly sunny, although not very warm, on Wednesday, May 25. My maternal Grandfather would have been 108 years old that day, and my Mum texted us in the morning to ask who was up for raising a glass of his favourite wine in the evening at my parents'. However, I had other plans, and so we postponed that glass of wine. I was meeting a friend at a beer garden and walked there after work, enjoying the walk in the evening light, the company of my friend and the falafel salad plus shandy. 

O.K. arrived at my place on Thursday, May 26, some time in the afternoon. We walked over to the recently opened up area at the train station (mentioned in my next-to-last post) for a snack and drink. It was busy but all in a pleasantly relaxed manner. I was suprised to see so many families with children there; it is not exactly a playground and prices are a bit on the steep side at the food and drinks stalls. We had our first ever Negroni, and although it tasted good, I doubt it will become our favourite drink.

To catch the rest of the beautiful evening light and sunset, we walked out of the city and on the fields before grabbing a pizza on the way home.

For Friday, May 27, an evening at my parents' was planned. The day was beautiful, and after a slice of quiche at a café in town around lunch time and visiting a few shops, we crossed the busy main road that cuts Ludwigsburg in half and walked in the palace grounds. The rain earlier in the week had been good for the gardens; everywhere was lush and green.

We chose the "long" route home via the deer park and still had enough time at my place for a quick coffee before going to my parents', where my Mum had ordered Chinese food for all of us.

Saturday, May 28, started well but ended rather dramatically. 

O.K. and I met my sister for breakfast at a café in town and then walked with her to the allotment; O.K. had not seen it yet, and we were duly impressed by what she and a friend had done so far. Even in the short time since my previous visit the week before, things had grown, and all looked well.

At home, we had a snack and a rest before setting off on a walk along the top of the vineyards next to the river, and back into town via the deer park once more. 

"My" pub is in the sunniest corner of the market square, and we were both ready for a drink by the time we arrived there: 

From there, it was only a short walk to my place. We had settled down for the evening and were just watching a film when my Mum texted my sister and I that she was worried about our Dad; he had been even less mobile than usual all day, hardly able to move at all, and not wanted any food. We urged her to call an ambulance, and once she had confirmed she had done that, I left O.K. at my place and walked over to my parents' as quickly as I could.

The paramedics had arrived a little before me and were in the process of carrying my Dad down the narrow flight of stairs (three floors from the ground up), but he was unable to right himself in the chair and kept sliding down. It was decided that different equipment was needed, and one of the paramedics radioed for it. While we were waiting on the stairs (no way we could move back into the flat, or further down the stairs like that), I kept holding my Dad's hand and talking to him. He was shaking and breathing very hard and did not fully understand what was going on; he was very scared and squeezed my hand with what little strength he still had. My Mum later showed me the bruising she had from where my Dad had clung to her before he was moved into the chair.

Once the next ambulance came with the equipment needed, the paramedics were able to shift my Dad more easily, and he was soon inside the ambulance and on his way to hospital. We were told that it would be of no use for us going there too, and so we stayed with our Mum until around 11:00 pm. She had been given a number to call, and we learned that my Dad had developed a sepsis and high fever but was now being treated, and we could come at 3:00 pm the next day.

So, Sunday, May 29, saw us gathering at the hospital, where my Dad looked a different person already - he was alert and talking, knew where he was and what had happened. I won't go into all the medical detail here, but he is still in hospital as we speak; a minor operation was carried out last Friday, and he is being cared for very well. We don't know yet when he will be home; he receives much better treatment there with all the equipment than what my Mum can do at home, and much as he would of course like to be home, he understands that.