"We stayed ... at home"
Actually, we wanted to go on vacation at the end of May. Then my husband had to lay off the planned time in July for professional reasons. Stupid for us, because hot and expensive where we like to fly. Never mind, we thought. With house and garden, to reach the Baltic Sea in 20 minutes, we will find relaxation here, especially since the children are out of the house and we can flexibly have our time.
The first call came from the children on the first day: Would we care for the cats alternately with the in-laws in Hamburg? They flee for a week to Majorca on vacation. Aha. Next week? Since we have also vacation and to Hamburg you drive from us for less than an hour (without traffic jams). Silence on the other side when we say no. Otherwise, almost never happens.
We try to find the sun in Büsum on the North Sea, which is somehow gone. But it is a nice ride for a day. As I said, we come from the Baltic Sea. But we take a long walk in a stiff breeze and relax. Short.
Call from grandpa. He can not hear anything in one ear. He is 87 years old, but he can not go to the doctor anymore and he lives 30 kilometers away from us. Anyway, he gives the phone number and I make an appointment with the specialist.
Today it is dry, my husband is working on the vintage car, I am doing gardening. Yes, we relax. In between, we buy, somehow everyday. Well, then I can clean the windows quickly, they look at me so sad.
The next day: My husband puts grandpa in the wheelchair and drives him to the doctor. Unfortunately Grandpa gave the wrong phone number. It is the doctor who has no elevator. Man stands in the street and pulls the phone to the rate, which doctor is still in question (with elevator and appointment). Oh, by now it is raining and grandpa is angry.
On the way back, a badger runs in front of our car. Bump in the car, animal dead. It takes an hour until the police and foresters are there and everything has its order. All right, that's just bad luck. Especially for the badger, the daughter is indignant later.
Today we do a bike ride in very good weather. Baltic Sea coast, great bike path, really nice. We ate delicious and are relaxed. Suddenly there is a hissing noise and the bicycle tire gives up its spirit. Of course we do not have a repair kit and are miles from the car park. One of us gets the car with the bike intact, the other one watches the grazing sheep. Has almost something soothing.
Back at home, my girlfriend calls and asks if we can take her boyfriend's dog, which he somehow keeps in care of the neighbors (who, ironically, are on vacation as well) because she wants to travel to Barcelona with him over the weekend. Huh, please? My 'no' sounds kind of aggressive. We have holidays, I say. But you're home, she says. How dumb is that?
Grandpa called, he needs food. So I buy and we drive him things short. In short, another 60 kilometer tour.
Can not change. Not even that a technician comes in the morning and wants to measure our kitchen, because we get a new one in the fall. Let's stay home today. I have to suck anyway, dust, do laundry.
But we really had a nice day: blue sky, beach chair, in the evening a nice outdoor concert. There were also other moments that were nice because we already live where others spend their holidays. You have to stop it.
Nevertheless, next year it is again "we are then gone". And then children and girlfriend can take the Grandpa in care.
