h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, I know it should be boldly, but I'm not exactly bold when I have to drive to places I've never been before.

Yesterday, my son called, asking me to fetch him from the driving school (he's doing theory lessons). It's not really far away if you have a car, but it is in 'alien territory' as far as I'm concerned. I looked at Google maps to find out how to get there. It went OK-ish, only that the route they suggested was much more complicated than it needed to be.
Anyway, I made it there in time, and thought that was enough for the next five years or so.

Wrong!!

Shortly after I had got home from work today, my husband's boss called, telling me that my husband was in hospital, possibly with a renal colic.
Now I know how to get to most hospitals in Frankfurt, but that's not where he is. He's in Offenbach, the neighbouring town.
I don't like O, it's filthy and generally not a good place to be.

Same goes for the hospital.

I had to go there, though, to bring a few items like a toothbrush, something to read etc.

I asked my son to come along, as I didn't want to drive there aone.
The instructions of h's boss had been: Kaiserlei, then O- Bürgel.

Well, we got to Kaisrlei allright, but there wasn't anything saying Bürgel.

I drove into the next side street to look at the map. It said the street we needed was on page 102 - only page 102 was missing!

Add to that that I need new glasses (I can't really see street signs which are far away any more), and my son didn't wear his contact lenses, so he wasn't of any help. We turned round, but then I took one exit too early, and we ended up on the motorway leading south!

I then decided to head for Frankfurt Centre and take it from there.
It worked, and we even managed to avoid driving into the City Centre and stay on the road we were on, leading back to Offenbach.
At some point, even the missed page reappeared, so we could eventually find out where to go.

We made it after 1.5 hours, with just a few hairs left on my head, because I tore them all out in desperation (hence: baldly). It's a distance of about 15 km!

The hospital itself is very confusing. After having asked several people we eventually found the main building. There are a few lifts, there were many visitors, and there are about 20 floors. If it hadn't been the 11th floor we had to go, I'd have taken the stairs.

I think we had to wait for a good ten minutes until the first lift arrived. You can imagine how crammed it was. It stopped at every bl**dy floor. It was hot, and no air in it, I felt like I was suffocating.
On the doors to the lifts there were large signs, warning people of pickpockets!!

The whole hospital looks filthy.
When we finally entered the room, there was my husband, lying on the bed, fully dressed in his work clothes - sleeping. He had broken down on a grassy spot, so you can imagine what his clothes and the bed looked like.

They had given him Novocaine and something else for the immense pain he had suffered from on arriving (and before, for that matter).

They will only examine him tomorrow morning!

I really wanted to get him out of that hell, but couldn't take the risk, so I left him to his fate.

Oh, going back home only took us about 30 minutes.

What a horrible day.

You poor thing. And sympathy to your husband too. Driving a route you don't know can be really stressful and taking a wrong turn just makes things worse. At least you didn't give up and go home. Well done you for persevering. Did you note the route back for return journeys? It's always easier to find your way home isn't it?
Best wishes
Vestie

Thanks, Vestie. I told my hsband that I wouldn't go there again if I can avoid it.

It was very unfortunate that he was working in O when it happened. Of all the places there are, it really has to be the worst - well, hospital-wise, at least.

Bel

get some new glasses

you will be no use to hubby if you prang the car or get nicked by the fuzz

I know, Taff. It's on my 'to do' list. I even know the costs I have to expect, because I enquired on Tuesday.

Too bad things have turned the worse for you and your family,luv..

But as Vestboy says,well done for sticking out the journey..shows absolute loyalty...maybe the hubby will notice and treat you better from now on..

I was about to give up when driving towards the city centre. All I wanted was to go home again. It was only when I realised that I was on the road leading directly to O that I decided to give it one more try to reach my destination. I don't think I would have persisted if I hadn't had my son's company.

Whatever works,luv...

Any word on how he is doing???

I hope I'll find out tomorrow, after work. I'm not optimistic, though.

well done! I don't do 'new' particularly well either.

mini

It stresses me at the best of times. I was lucky that all this happened before the rush-hour started.

I know we will all be hoping for the best for you B'El.......

Thank you, MS. I really hope they'll fnd ut what's wrong, and that he won't have to stay there for long.

If there's anything we can do to help, there are legions of hootooers standing by...

Thank you, Mala.

I'm slowly calming down now that I'm safely at home.

Kidney stones are usually very simple to diagnose

Enter room, see patient literally climbing up the walls moaning and complaining about back pains in recurring short intervals.

Tell to give patient certain painkilling injection.

Re-enter room fifteen minutes later. Now painfree patients smiles and will happily chat about what has happened.

Could be a herniated vertebral disc from what a colleague told us the other day. The pains must be very similar.

and

Poor you. Poor husband.

Sending good thoughts.

I know how this is - it happened ot me. I have a terrible sense of direction, and had to find a strange hospital where Elektra had been taken.

(Nicer hospital, though - that sounds awful.)

B'El, you had such transportation trauma. I must admit I couldn't have driven that, but then I haven't driven for around fifteen years, and the scares me

I wish both you and K the best, and I'm sure everything will work out well...

, and

MMF