Saturday 15 October 2011

What a year!

This year AD 2011 was quite outstanding considering what has happened to me and what thankfully did not come about.


First stunt
One of the first days of January, I visited my Dutch friend here in the village. He showed me the crumbling wall of the boiler building standing on a kind of embankment. I ran down the slope and got my left foot entangled in some brambles.

So instead of running down I had a short flight and the prospect of a hard landing on the tarmac. Thus I tried some rowly-poly but anyway, you have to touch ground on something and in my case it was the elbow instead of my head. Hospital, arm in a sling, 20 sessions with a physical therapist.

Even now, my left arm remains slightly bent instead of stretching straight as it should be. But I could have landed on my face!


Second stunt
A left arm "out of service" means no paragliding. But end of May I was ok again and thus we decided to have one weeks' holiday at the Atlantic Coast, paragliding on the Pyla Dune and having a good time both of us.

On the highway after twenty minutes' driving my wife said to me "I think the roof box opened". At 80 miles/hour that is bad news. I stopped the car on the side lane and looked back. A sleeping bag, a rug and a plastic basin lay on the fast lane. At that moment a car was driving over the basin. Bam, a noise like a canon firing or a plane crossing the sound barrier.

So I sprinted back as fast as I could to retrieve the stuff and avoid an accident. You are not supposed to spread your belongings on a French motorway where people speed along at 130 or 140 km/hour (80 to 90 miles/hour).

My left foot Achilles tendon did not appreciate the highway racing and broke under the strain. The last meters or feet I was limping along but I got the stuff. I even crossed the two lanes to retrieve the rug that lay on the left side and than limped back to the car.

When the highway police came I was already busy fixing the roof box with a sturdy strap. "Did you cross the highway" one of the cops asked me. "Certainly not", I said and he was obliged to believe me. Quite friendly the chap and even helped me to get back on the highway, slowing down those other speeders passing by.

I drove to the nearest cafeteria. Sitting next to my wife, sipping some lukewarm coffee, I had to tell her that our holidays finished here. I showed her my left foot. There, where the tendon should show a hard tight surface it has a belly-like feeling. She drove the Audi back home, slowly.



The next day, operation, three nights in the hospital, then 45 days in plastic plaster with two clutches: that is a very different way to live. Two clutches means you have no hands, only four legs. And after that the muscles are gone so I had to learn how to walk, increasing the distance one can make on foot. That takes takes time. In September I was back again at about 80 percent.

Could have been worse, I never had any pain and the highway race, let's forget that one.

During those 45 days on clutches, I decided to try obtaining the "Air Transport Pilot Certificate" on Microsoft's Flight Simulator. It's the most difficult one to get, it requires quite a lot of knowledge, a high degree of concentration and very fast reactions. Obligation to do the right thing at the right time. If somebody is interested just to have a look on YouTube, here is a kind of "walkthrough" showing what to do in order to succeed Splendidly made video. Sure, I will never fly such a plane in reality but it gives a good idea of what is required. Since I am a flightsimmer, I have the highest respect for those pilots doing this demanding job. In case your Internet connection is fast enough, don't forget to click on the HD definition.



Stunt number 3
On a beautiful Thurday morning, three weeks ago, I was driving to Aurillac to buy this and that and meeting my wife there at noon to have a bite. The road from the village to the main road is narrow but large enough to cross even a truck. Each one goes a bit on the grass at the right side and that's it.

I see the car coming towards me, driving confortably in the middle of the road. I sverve to the right, the other one, nothing, I drive a bit more to the right, rien à faire, BAM, BONG. All four airbags came out. Inside the car there was powder smoke as if I was in the midst of the battle of Trafalgar, right near a cannon, on the lower deck.



Keeping my breath I scrambled out of the car. Starting to yell at the other driver who had stopped, too. In the middle of the road where we met. Out came a very old man, nearly 80 years old, I guess. He was a bit shaken and did not say a word. Don't know what happened, he must have been dreaming or looking at the green grass in the fields. Afterwards his son told me he is in bad health and his wife has a nervous breakdown.

Those airbags of my 12 year old Audi saved me, or at least my front teeth. The bags came out so fast I don't remember seeing them coming! One of these days I go to see the old man to have a little friendly chat and to ask him how he is doing. The insurance will pay me the full value of my car but by old banger is 12 years old. They give me 5500 €, about 7400 US$.

I think I'll get me another Audi A3, I owe something to that company, oh yes, I am an Audi addict and the next car will be flaming red again.

44 comments:

  1. After reading this, I don't think I will be complaining about the boring year that I have had so far.

    Hope you mend well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. POOR GEORG!
    you have had a rough time!
    all those small disasters!
    It is good that no one was ever hurt very badly.
    Just lots of pain and bits of aggravation!
    I hope next year is a BIG improvement for you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. To Bruce

    Thanks for asking. I am fine. Considering all this statistically, I am quite sure the next years will be "boring" as this one was for you.

    To Sorrow
    Thanks for commenting. I am looking forward now to a boring uneventful year.

    What about your blog? I loved to look at those beautiful objects you made.

    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  4. hi Herr Georg, es tut mir Leid! that you've been through so many maladies and misadventures, some years are just like that, huh? but i am glad you are coming back to healthy life and not giving up! I will try to upload more Mendelssohn music for you on my blog, to soothe you

    warm salutes and health wishes from California to you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ah! also Herr Georg, so you can seat still while you recover, do read the newest Julian Barnes book, he finally won the Booker prize for his latest book
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15361059

    you know he's a superb writer, enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. To Berenice
    Thanks for your wishes. I might need this, not for the present but for the future. Considering those happenings statistically, I suppose a long uneventful stretch of life awaits me.

    Thanks for the Barnes info. Right after this I'll have a loong look and reading of the link you gave me.

    Mendelson's music can be veery enticing. I heart it first in a Woody Allen movie, sounded great. Someone said he was a reincarnation of Mozart.

    Cheers
    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are really brave, resisting all these hard times. And you are ready to drive again, so you are on the true recovering path! As a friend of yours said, now we cannot indulge in our little daily pains...without thinking about you.I remember you were interested in the Aix painting, the cathedral one. Well it 's now on site. You can read the whole story about it in a very fine book which has just been published: 'Le Triptyque du Buisson Ardent' Actes Sud/ Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles PACA . May be you will enjoy readind it. (Very fine Art book indeed) it is on Amazone France, 27€...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bonjour Yvette,

    Thanks for commenting. If I ever pass through Aix, I'll certainly will pay a visit to Froment's graint painting. Acte Sud, thanks for telling.

    As to me being brave, well, I am not. Just muddling through.

    Cheers
    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi George,

    Thank GOD you survive these all. Quite adventurous. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. For Hiva

    Well, well, Hiva, how can I thank someone who does not exist? God is man-made phantasy and mosty counter productive for those who indulge in this addiction.

    All the best to you
    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  11. Salut Georgy,
    If it is true that 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' then you must really be stronger than Goliath by now! Hopefully you have seen enough of accidents and doctors for a long while, my friend. :o)

    I salute you for maintaining such high spirit in such a string of bad luck! Sure, it could have been worse, but repeated bouts of injuries would frustrate the mad tom cat out of me. And you even have compassion for the old man whose inattentive driving wrecked your car...

    Dear Georgy, you are the living proof that people can be and are 'good' without 'god'/religion! Enjoy the new red Audi! :oD

    Smorgy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bonjour Georg,

    Mon anglais est prop superficiel pour me lancer dans l'écriture....mais j'ai tout compris ! Que d'aventures je savais pour les chevilles mais pas pour la voiture .... Vivement que l'année se termine !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. J'oubliais de signer

    Amicalement JMichel

    ReplyDelete
  14. To Smorgy

    Thanks you my friend. Fact is, I am just muddling through and anyway, all this is slowly sinking back into the past and becoming personal history.

    Pour Jean-Marie
    Oui, encore deux mois à tenir sans incident. A partir de 2012, les statistiques sont en ma faveur et me promettent au moins dix ans sans "tuiles".

    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  15. Interesting Post,,, thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Juste un petit coucou ! j'ai vu que tu avais laissé un petit mot, il y a quelques temps. Merci !
    Quand je te lis, je me dis que je suis en retard sur toi et que je ne voudrais pas t'égaler, j'ai un bras en mille morceaux depuis peu et c'est encore très douloureux.
    Bonne fin de journée et bisou
    Viviane

    ReplyDelete
  17. Comment j'ai fait ? Je ne sais pas ? j'allais porter un sac poubelle dans la benne... et par terre après avoir cogné un gros mur ancien.
    Voilà ! c'est bête !
    Tous les jours ? Je me débrouille comme je peux, le plus dur c'est pour se vêtir et se chausser, après ça va.
    Bonne journée.
    Bisou
    Viviane

    ReplyDelete
  18. You've had quite the eventful year Georg; here's wishing you a happy and SAFE 2012 with a new Audi of choice :)
    On a different note, I attended the protest in front of Westminster Abbey in London last week ...all in the spirit of redefining Wall Street and its doings : )
    Happy New Year Georg.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello Georg!!!
    Je rentre juste du pays!!
    Que d'eaux-que d'eaux!!!!!!!
    Espérant que tu auras passé de joyeuses fêtes
    je de souhaite une bonne et heureuse année, un bonne santé, à toi bien sûr mais aussi à tous ceux que tu aimes.

    Que ton blog continue de nous enchanter, nous informer et nous divertir.

    Bises à Elizabteh

    ReplyDelete
  20. To ID IT IS

    Thanks for your wishes. Same to you, we all need it. As to your trip to London, how did you fare? I'll have a look at your blog these days and in case you have not written something about the London adventure, do it now.

    Pour Vincent
    Moi aussi, je viens de rentrer d'une visite à Partenay. A bientôt sur l'internet et aussi dans la réalité au Pays Vert.

    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  21. Georg,
    London was a lot of fun, but I am still dithering about how I feel about the fact that it was the center-post of one of the strongest and most long-lasting colonial powers of the world, and it has been silent witness to all that transpired within the Tower of London. I hope to post on and about London once I am able to approach the subject more objectively : )

    ReplyDelete
  22. Georg,
    London was a lot of fun, but I am still dithering about how I feel about the fact that it was the center-post of one of the strongest and most long-lasting colonial powers of the world, and it has been silent witness to all that transpired within the Tower of London. I hope to post on and about London once I am able to approach the subject more objectively : )

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Georg,
    It's been a long time since I've visited my friends. So I thought I'd have a look to see what you have been doing only to find out that you have injured your self.

    Get a bigger car, more metal, more protection. At least I like to think so.

    I hope that your injury's will get better and better over time and maybe over time you will be good as new.

    ReplyDelete
  24. good grief!!! your year sounded a bit hectic like mine :) no injuries to me but lots of stress and work....feel better and here's hoping 2012 is better for all!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. To Id it Is,

    Well, I am looking forward to read about the subject. As to GB being a colonial power: it lasted about 200 years. Not so long I think.

    To Exseno
    Thanks for commenting. My new car coming next month will certainly be as sturdy as the last one. Audi cars are frequently used for robberies where you bang first against a wall. As to injuries, I never had one, absolutely nothing.

    To Betmo
    Yes Betmo. This year will certainly be better, it must be so, the statistics are with us.

    Cheers to all of you.

    Georg

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am so sorry to see that,take care!Every thing will pass by so wish you a happy life.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Bonjour Georg - and like many, it's been too long -
    Yikes to your excitement and hope that you are now on the mend -
    Will look in from time to time to see what other fun you have had -
    =Cheers my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello Georg!!! que deviens tu ???
    Bonne et heureuse année, de bonne santé à vous deux, à tous ceux que vous aimez et à tous tes lecteurs.
    Bises

    ReplyDelete
  29. Salut Géorg!

    Tu devrais me remercier. Tu as une nouvelle lectrice, très assidue, une berlinoise (un troll) qui a découvert que je te visitais.
    Comme elle ne comprend pas l'humour elle prend tout au 1er degré.
    Bisous à Elisabeth.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Marie-A... Entame une troisième chémio qui la fatigue. je te donnerai des nouvelles plus tard.

    ReplyDelete
  31. salut george comment vas tu?
    LA berlinoise m'a laissé un message pas gentil dont la première phrase en Allemande est pour toi. Peux tu me la traduire et laisser tes impressions sur mon blog
    bonne journée

    ReplyDelete
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  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  37. Hallo Georgy! We've been missing you on the blogosphere. Hope all is well and that you are having a wonderful winter. Best of wishes for a very happy 2014!

    Smorgy :o)

    ReplyDelete








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