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

*puts down her cell-phone*
That was my brother on the phone. My dad's in hospital, after he fainted in the shopping mall.
Now what?

umm... Hope I'm not intruding on you now, but I was just wondering how your father is now? And did they find out what was wrong? Don't answer if you don't feel like it...

Thank you for asking.
Turns out they had given him wrong medications for his heart-trouble. One of the medicines was dosaged seven times to high! And one of them he shouldn't have in the first place! No wonder he was feeling dizzy and naucious...
He's been given new medicines now, and hopefully the right ones this time. The drawback now is that he's not allowed to drive his car the next two months, until they're sure he's ok.
And I feel a bit guilty because I was hoping he could help me with the new floor...

Glad to hear is feeling better!
Well, those things happen when nurses are overworked and underpaid. I mean, they definately shouldn't be happening, but it's not all that strange. In fact, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.
How old is your father?

Oh, and about the floor... Don't!

He's 66. (or 67?) And it wasn't the nurse this time, but an overworked heart-specialist..
It's too late with the floor.. We've already ripped up the old one, re-insulated and put down new floor-sheets. What's left now is to lay down soundproofing mats and then the final floor on top of that! And I need a new window sill (tilsetting) in one of the windows..
I really need someone with a car...

Nurse, heart-specialist, yada-yada...

Well, I do have a car, but I suspect the trunk is too small (two-seated convertibles have a tendency to not have a lot of storage-space), anyway I think it's bit of a long stretch from Drammen to Bergen "just" to help you with your floor...

Oh, we can always find a car, it's really a driver I'm after...
No, you're a bit too far away, so I wont even consider asking you. But I do have more local friends I can pester a bit. It's time to call in a few favours....

I kinda have the same problem when I need to move something large and/or heavy. Both my father, brother and brother-in-law have large cars (my dad cause he likes big cars, and my brother and in-law cause their craftsmen), it's getting one of'em to take the time to do help me that's difficult... Tends not to be a problem though, I just say that they can try my car once, and they usually come around...

Hmm, yes that's it. I need a bribe...like a case of beer.. or fresh brownies perhaps..
I'll take a telephone round tonight. Then we'll see what comes out of it.