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wink of fate - everything perishable has a use-by date

Sent: Monday, 29 May 2000 4:13 PM
Dear Harald,
As you can see, I am not quite there yet but almost. Whilst my Computer is
reinstalling Windows 98 update, I want to quickly write to you.
I am happy that you have overcome the worst. Please let me know how things
progress.
What is that now re the cat? And with the sack? Is it the cat one doesn't
let out of the sack? All because of 2 bottles of wine? Ha..so you are trying
to have me on? Ha Ha Ha!! I have like always no wine in the cellar. Firstly,
we don't have a cellar. Secondly, when I was still partaking of grog, I
would never have managed to get two bottles of wine together, I always made
sure there was nothing left, each night! Thirdly, now I don't tolerate grog
and I don't care if there is something wet in the pantry. Now and then I buy
a small bottle for Hedwig. She finds it difficult to accept it without
sharing it with me, because she knew the old me. But I calmed her down. Not
as if I would drop dead immediately, I always had a great constitution when
it came to alcohol. But I knew exactly that if I drink one glass, I would be
done for, I would no longer have a reason to avoid one the next day and with
my lack of resistance, I would soon be merrily twittering again. So I am
afraid of myself. And I am really happy not to have any more hangovers. I
wasn't quite an alcoholic but, by god, not far from one. And the theatre was
the right place, and that I already learned in Düsseldorf, in the opera
house.
I am grateful that you will be visiting Gerd. He understands German, even if
he doesn't speak it fluently. He was 4 years old when we arrived here. He is
a great guy and you will like him.
Of course he will get a chance to see Inge and Dennis before they leave.
Hedwig has called them all together before his departure. And you can be
assured that there will be some kind of family get together before Inge and
Dennis' departure.
Now to my pause with the computer. Like I already wrote to you, I had
problems telephoning via the computer. It didn't really matter but despite
this I fiddled around a bit, to find out what was wrong. And Robert happened
to be here and I mentioned it. He sat down at the Computer and also fiddled
a bit. And then a bit more. When there is something that can't be
understood, one has no peace. I said to Robert, leave it be, as long as I
have my internet. And he said "well that's it, you don't have it". Hm! There
were quite a few things that had recently given me the shits. I suggested we
reinstall Windows 98. He already tried that a few times. But the problem
could not be solved. The modem refused to turn on. So I said, then I will
buy a new Windows 98 and install it fresh from the start. Yes, he said, if
you do that then install it on your new hard disk which is much bigger and
much faster. No sooner said than done. Yesterday morning I went shopping and
after I had backed up the most important stuff onto CD's, I took my heart
into my hand. By 11 I was still at it, I could use the modem but could not
get into the internet. And then we lost the power! For two wretched hours.
Hedwig and I sat here by candlelight and listened to the radio, each his
own, understandably, we have headphones. That would have been the right
moment for me to return to the bottle! Today I continue and bang..the other
PC is kaput. It won't say another word. And I just can't get the internet
started again. This afternoon Robert came back and worked until 22:00 and
got everything going again apart from things I have to install myself, like
the German language and the German keyboard. And whatever. So you can say a
quiet prayer for me. And now I am sick of the Umlauts the SZ and the Y
instead of the Z. But my other PC is working again...all on its own. Must
have been only a wink of fate ...letting me know that everything perishable
has a use by date, a good natured and smiling wink!
All the best Harald. And should I not write before you leave, I wish you a
good journey to Paris.
Kind greetings to Anne.
Hedwig and Peter

posted by Inge @ 10:42 am