THE FIREMEN COME

The ever growing water stain

  It's a good thing it was such a nice afternoon because the rest of the day was a little stressful.  I woke up to a huge water stain on the ceiling in our kitchen.  No answer at the housemaster's apartment, so I emailed our landlord who lives out of the city.  After a few hours he called to say that the housemaster was on Holiday and his son (who was standing in for him) couldn't be here until 6:00 PM.  The water appeared to be coming from the upstairs apartment, but there was no answer at the door of our 90+ year old neighbor.  The decision was made to call the Fire Dept.  Soon the Firemen arrived (all 6 of them.)  What a sight!

What a nice bunch of guys!   I wished I had baked some chocolate cookies for them!

 They all clopped through the apt. to the kitchen and began scrutinizing the water stained ceiling.  They determined that they would probably have to break down the door of my upstairs neighbor.  Before getting physical they checked several nearby apartments to see if anyone had keys to this apartment  Bingo!  Someone did.  We were all bracing ourselves thinking we might find this elderly woman in a bad state, but she was there and just not hearing the banging on the door.  The problem was not emanating from her apartment, though.  So, another call to the Landlord to figure out what to do now.  Much of the communication was a little hampered by my lack of German, but somehow we managed.  Tomorrow a repairman will come to begin tearing out wall to find the leak.  It could have just waited a few more months and we'd be gone!  

Greg was in the hospital today and got to miss all of the excitement, but he was having his own fun.

Wien Privatklinik (a thirty minute bus ride from our apartment.)

 He had surgery on his knee to remove floating cartilage pieces that have been causing much pain when walking.  In the States it would be out-patient, but in Austria you spend the night and aren't allowed to go home until a visit from a therapist occurs.  Due to the water leak and my persistent cough (leftover from some respiratory crud) I was unable to be with him during surgery.  I arrived at the hospital for a short visit as he was having lunch, which was catered by the Imperial Hotel.  Quite the food!  Definitely unlike any other hospital food I've had the privilege of tasting.  The surgery was at 7:00 AM and they weren't allowing him to stand up until 6:00 PM, at which time the therapist would help him figure out his crutches.  Now, to figure out how to get him home in the midst of repairman and leaks.  I guess he'll just have to call a taxi.  :-)