Journal Entries
Real people real feelings
Posted Jul 20, 2004
My father was ill again recently - a very painful infection of the testes. He's just come off the antibiotics. It was pretty harrowing - mainly for him, really. The pain must have been very bad and then he was taken to Addenbrookes (Cambridge hospital) where, upon his arrival, they left him half naked, cold and in pain, for a long time before doing anything with him.
My mother called to tell us about it. He'd already been dismissed from the hospital but he couldn't speak because he has problems breathing and can't talk much at one go. He had just eaten and gone to sit in the lounge so was exhausted from that. By the time I'd spoken to my mother he'd got his breath back again to say a word, but he was still very poorly and just managed to gasp out "Promise me you'll look after your mother" - which is rather a heart-stopping thing to hear.
Last night I spoke to them again. Everything is fine and he apologised for scaring me. He was full of how wonderfully my mother coped and did everything while he was away, or at home but helpless. (Actually she does it all anyway, but that's beside the point).
He said "I've fallen in love with her all over again".
They're 85.
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Latest reply: Jul 20, 2004
Vampires
Posted Jun 27, 2004
The gnats are about again. Everyone is complaining. Apparently the helicopter broke down just as they were going to spray the lava or something, so they missed and out they swarm.
10-15 years ago nothing was done and they were really bad. But it only takes one to ruin your evening on the patio. Worse still, they buzz around the kitchen and at the office.
My plans to write an entry on this topic haven't been quenched, but I must still persuade my husband to finally subscribe to the online version of our local newspaper - there is a wealth of information about the subject there.
Where was I?
Oh yes. This morning in the bathroom, one was buzzing round my head. It must have been right near my ear, but I couldn't see it in the mirror. Eerie, isn't it?
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Latest reply: Jun 27, 2004
Family Celebration - a rare one
Posted Jun 20, 2004
Last week I was in England. Sorry I didn't warn anyone.
Short summary:
On Corpus Christi (public holiday in this part of Germany) it was our Church fete - hard work for most, taking money, pouring drinks, talking to people and performing for people. A Church fete in Germany is nowhere near as varied as an English one - they just eat and drink.
Anyway, on the Friday, my husband and I flew to Stansted and took the coach to my parents' house.
The Saturday was the big day - they had a lunch and tea time celebration at the very posh Jockey Club rooms for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.
In the morning, before we left, the card from the Queen arrived, my father was genuinely surprised and very touched by this - my mother had caught on that my sister was organising this, but it was a very moving moment all the same, to see their faces when the postman handed it over.
The party was formal but great fun, my family are a jovial lot, and all the friends who were there were really nice to talk to. Everyone took lots of photos and admired the flowers - my sister had done beautiful table and standing decorations with white roses and white peonies.
After a superb lunch, cooked and served by the competent and freindly Jockey Club staff, we stood around on the terraces, admiring the lawns and nattering. Tea and a Wedding Celebration cake were served. It rained a lot, especially as people were arriving, but nothing could dampen anyone's mood.
My husband went home on the Sunday, as he had to be back at school on the Monday. I stayed on for a week. Every day there were cards of congratulations and thanks in the post, at least two more bouquets were delivered and people brought round pot plants and gifts.
On the Thursday I had arranged to meet some classmates in the evening (reunited thanks to friendsreunited.co.uk) and we had the best kind of evening you can imagine - we had all got on well at school and were a small group. I hope there'll be lots more like that!
So here I am back home in Germany and it's Sunday and I've got nothing to eat in the house so we'd better get going on out to find an Italian salad or something. (I'm so full up after this week I don't mind if we don't have anything to eat, but the troops are restless).
Off to work again in the morning. It's going to take some adjustment, talk about life in the fast lane - my parents potter along on the hard shoulder.
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Latest reply: Jun 20, 2004
Christian and Muslim cooperation
Posted Jun 6, 2004
OK so our town has a lot of immigrants. And the largest group is the Turkish community. This morning, as part of a weekend programme run by the intercultural society, we attended a Prayer for Peace. The Protestant, Catholic and Muslin churches were represented and the square was crowded with German and Turkish people.
The ceremony was very moving even though most of it was in Turkish. The prayers, readings and speeches were translated into German. It was very solemn and everyone followed it intently. At the end we all joined hands for a blessing. I was standing near a (Turkish) colleague at the time and we really did all join hands, Muslims and Christians.
The readings emphasised the themes of brotherhood and a saying from the Koran "If you kill one man, you kill mankind" summed it all up. The Protestant deacon read from one of Paul's letters to the Corinthians, saying that he had planted a tree, but the tree only grows by the grace of God. A simple message that is also surely shared by the Islamic theology.
After more than 30 years, the Turkish community is accepted in our little rural area.
I look forward to the day when it is no longer necessary to demonstrate that we are making an effort to understand and tolerate each other. We just do.
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Latest reply: Jun 6, 2004
Wow - put the flags out
Posted Apr 5, 2004
A thread which I started has actually blossomed and already has over 200 postings. I thought it would grind to a halt on the first page like all my other threads (on, what for me, were riveting topics).
And what is it? A daft idea I had about a thread where no "speaking" is allowed.
F19585?thread=403461
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Latest reply: Apr 5, 2004
You can call me TC
Researcher U154942
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