Preparing for Russ to join us at the hotel today started with a 6am departure north (walk, bus, walk) to collect promised medical oxygen from the factory.

Exploring the industrial areas, but a small courier set up, DHL!

Found our destination only to be informed that we could not be supplied with medical oxygen! Russ was in charge of discharge meetings and Hans!

This place was however a BBQ pit masters paradise…but a very disillusioned Sue and supportive George left empty handed with another phone number to call (hopefully to reach an English speaking person).

Another 15 minute walk to the bus, and 15 minute walk back (empty handed). Next phone call made, and the hint of success that we could maybe rent…from a place in the opposite direction. Uber time…and an hour of processing, and we left with the required equipment and a back up bottle! Russ was under threat of being kicked out by this time and when we finally arrived at the hospital both he and Hans (whom they were also moving to another unit) were dressed, packed, beds gone and prowling!

We borrowed the wheelchair (to be returned to ward) and shook Hans hand and wished him good luck. He tried to give the books back to Russ, but they are his to keep to remember the Kiwis. Back to the Hotel (another room sorted for George) and we grabbed lunch.

Freedom on the outside deck and a good solid feed of McDonald’s (not to mention a much needed coffee).

The next excursion for the day was a trip to the international airport, on the other side of the city, to collect all our remaining luggage that Roland had kindly packed and airfreighted!

Russ had a lesson with the new oxygen and was under strict instructions to rest and enjoy the freedom of his hotel room!

Wheelchair returned, and 2km was to the train, that took us underground (26 stops) from one side of Berlin to the other…a short bus ride and voila here we are at the airport. I was going alone, but as it transpired, thank goodness George was with me.

I have decided that, if it’s not their job, they have no interest in providing accurate directions. First person sent us to terminal C, only to be told to go back past terminal B and A. The quite helpful lady at terminal C told us we had to go to cargo, I asked if this was like DHL (being fresh in my mind from this mornings excursions) she said no it’s C-A-R-G-O (spelling it out) and it’s quite far but we could walk! Ok off we set…walking again.

Checked again at terminal A after a 15 minute walk, only to be told it’s very far, through a tunnel and around the other side of the runway…well she wasn’t joking, barbed wire fences on one side (or miles) and…

Bush and little cottages on the other side, it was like, OMG where are we…. around and around in a deserted road, with warehouses and work factories…finally spied the C-A-R-G-O Sign.

Another km or more we asked a pilot (on his way home) who said it was secure area – we had to go to the checkpoint. Dammit, a back track! Again someone who didn’t know but pointed us to a row or truck loading bays, for lifts and general big factory stuff.

Finally found a very helpful man … and yep C-A-R-G-O was the right place!

And amongst all the huge freight, there they were our three bags sitting on their own pallet, and fork lifted out to the loading bay.

After two hours at the airport, the price of yet another Uber for the day became minimal in the tiredness of our bodies and minds!

So now we were in rush hour traffic and the car ride took an hour an a half.

The day was too much for George….nothing like an Uber nap!

Home by 5pm and Russ had had a lovely afternoon nibbling on cashews!

Beer time for me, and tomorrow begins another challenge – applying for medical clearance to fly!

So for the cult followers of Hans, the story is over as we say goodbye to Russ’s roomy and are all in the big wide world of Berlin.

No, I am not talking about this daily little blog in Berlin suburbia! The new (2nd hand free German book) put our lovely roomy Hans to sleep last night. And the morning paper (which I collected at 8am today) have a welcome diversion for the morning….The nurse finally realised Hans is a reader and at lunchtime he brought in another paper.

However this did not go well, a tabloid gossip paper is not welcome. Hans leapt off his bed chasing after the nurse (who had slipped into obscurity in another room), and, not being able to find him, threw it in the trash with disgust. Then quietly went back to finishing the news of the world (my paper), and picked up his book for the afternoon.

You will all be pleased, Hans was getting his dinner, when an elusive son phoned and said he was coming for a visit…about time after a week! Dinner can wait, he was very excited.

Now the kiwis, I left the hotel (check out day) and moved my bags to the air conditioned, with fridge and coffee in my room (and a bath!!) then headed to see Russ.

I got to the hospital in time to see the team of doctors…Russ is out of jail tomorrow, with a little trepidation! I spent the morning running around the streets of south Berlin arranging to have portable oxygen at hand, for the next ten days, at the hotel while we wait for flight clearance! The one we need is supplied from Munich, but I found the distribution warehouse and arranged to pick one up early tommorrow (opens at 6.30am) Russ May not need it if he relaxes but it is peace of mind for all of us!

Russ had another walking test this arvo, and George arrived at the time I was checking into my new room! Back to see Russ and I bought us all Chinese (my south Berlin go to) for dinner. We think the hospital had decided it’s time for Russ to leave, as his lunch was a miserable bit of pasta and tomato sauce!

George and I are sharing our air conditioned room tonight and then I will move him to another when Russ gets home! (As much as home is right now)

Big day tomorrow!!!

Thunderstorms are looming as I sit in my hotel garden for the last evening (moving tomorrow) Air has been hot and heavy all day, and it’s been a day of decisions.

Before I start, however, an update on our friend Hans (not his real name). I was up early at the hospital and collected paper just in time as Hans was starting to prowl. This settled him down for the morning, a happy chap. However I left about 11am to go do some life changing things (explain soon) and not long after I had left Russ texted me to say; maybe look for a couple of books for Hans to read as he had already devoured the newspaper (and it was going to be a long day)

I was heading back about 1pm and went to what I thought was an op shop, and I had seen lots of books there a few days ago. Of course all in German and I couldn’t read the blurb, and was mindful (not knowing Hans state of mind) that I didn’t want to get something that might crank him up. James Patterson and something else nondescript in hand, I was accosted by a worker. Not knowing what he said but I think he meant it was a community library and I couldn’t buy them (after all my effort). Ok, so google translator came out and I typed in that they are for a German man in hospital next to my husband who needs something to read. Tide turned and he gave them to me, with a big smile on his face, I also managed to find an English one for Russ.

A few groceries for Russ and back out of the heat to the hospital…just in time to meet Hans trying to get out of the automatic doors – pulling them, which stopped them from opening (donned in nightie and nappies). I told him I had books for him, so he scuttled in following me and was delighted! Put his nose in one for the next hour…and didn’t dog ear the page, used a piece of tissue as a marker! Trudi I thought of you instantly – fellow book lover! Again the kiwis to the Hans rescue! We are his new best friends.

Now update on Russ, the doctors came this morning, and are looking at releasing him in the next couple of days (pending a walk test tomorrow) The days business was then to get the medical form completed by doctors and change airfares to fly direct from here back home.

The short version is; forms for oxygen filled in waiting for Qatar to call and tell me where to send them.

Flights changed to leave Berlin on the 10th of August (business class all the way), providing the airlines approve the medical request! All going well we will get home in the middle of August. This has been a journey, but now armed with a whole lot more information, as we say upwards, onwards and around the world back to god zone!

Hans (Russell’s agitated roommate), having lost the TV remote on his great escape two days ago, had nothing to occupy his day – it’s seems no one is prepared to give up their time to visit him. Russell had a brainwave, and thought a man of his indeterminable age might enjoy the German newspaper. On Russ’s last walk to the big hall last night, he collected one for him. Eureka!!!! Hans was very happy and very settled for the evening. On this mornings walk we collected the Sunday one, and again Hans has been a happy man all day!! Takes a Kiwi to find a simple solution!

This morning I cleared up work emails and had a bit later exit from the Hotel.

A trip to McDonalds, lots of inside colour going on, and with the breakfast coffee deal in hand, met Russ around 10.30am for a garden Brunch.

After lunch, as no medical action was going on, we snaffled a wheelchair and went exploring the neighbourhood, that had become my home!

I took Russ to my Hotel, and showed him where I had been living for the last week or so….and now they really know I do have a husband in hospital and am not a lonely old drunk drinking my 2-3 beers each night by myself!

George has rescheduled his travel plans and is arriving Tuesday on his way home from Greece, so this spurred me in action to move on. Not far but booked in around the corner, for the next week from Tuesday, with air con, fridge and tea and coffee in my room!

All the business done, we decided a cool drink was in order (coke and ginger beer) at a bar I had been spying across the road, but not game enough to visit on my own.

We perched ourselves in the corner of the outside area, another lady joined our table (?)….it seemed very busy for a Sunday afternoon! However we sipped on our room temperature coke and ginger beer (not pleasant), then realised a big housie afternoon was about to start!

Set up with snacks, drinks and oldish locals, who all seemed to know each other, the cards were being sold. Kind of spoiled the anticipated cool drink in a nice peaceful garden bar! Well…..deciding time to move on, I went inside….it was full to the brim with tables packed (probably another 50/60 people squeezed in) snacks, housie pens, cards ready. No such thing as smoking outside, it was a cloud of cigarette smoke inside and the old girl behind the bar, durrie in hand, fan on her face (blowing said smoke back at her for a second gasp) and looking like old Bette from coronation street (a bit more tatty).

We made our exit graciously, surrendering our table to last minute arrivals for the big afternoon. Ok my curiosity is satisfied, I don’t need to visit this bar again!

These beautiful specimens of Harley Davison’s parked on an otherwise deserted street (all shops closed), but I took Russ for a tour…the Chinese shop where I buy dinner, the supermarket where I buy supplies, the $2 shop where I buy shower shoes (to protect Russ from anything Hans might care to share) and finally…The kebab shop, where they do great kebabs and coffee (and have a nice clean toilet). After our rather unpleasant experience at the Housie bar, we sat in the cool breeze and enjoyed a great coffee and took away our salad bowl dinners!

Russ walked back to the hospital and no oxygen needed!!

One more walk out side (no oxygen) and back in time for dinner! Russ is going really well today and we can share some positives with the doctors tomorrow.

Upwards and onwards Kiwi Wanderers!

After days of walking an average of 7-8kms in my thin red rubber “Havianas” the feet were getting very sore. I decided that I needed to invest in the sandal that Germany is famous for! The Birkenstock…I walked out of the shop with them on and my happy feet are still smiling!

Also found a good sale and a quarter of the price than in NZ for this lifetime investment!

Saturday began as my now normal routine has become….up to the hospital to tune into the live commentary of the All Blacks vs South African rugby test with Russ…glad we weren’t watching, and I decided just before half time would be a good time to visit the supermarket (that is if you are in NZ and it would be quiet). Not so in Berlin, where everything is closed on a Sunday, there I was with all the suburban locals doing their weekend shop.

Back for the 2nd half of the game which ended in a deflating draw!

As Russ’s roomy Hans had slept all morning, we decided to take a garden walk before lunch! We figured that Hans had been given some relaxing drug so he didn’t up and run off again in the middle of the night.

I left after lunch I went for a walk to the mall.

Down my leafy cobbled street, very pretty on a summers day….

This is quite a nice suburban area, sporting the coloured houses and gardens synonymous with what we imagine to be ‘German’.

Busting out into high rise apartments as I got closer to the retail area…brollys decking them out in colour!

While no where near a beach, a sand pit playground – with the old seesaw and climbing frame reminiscent of my youth (that was a wee while ago).

The aim of this trip was to give my feet a break and early into the mall found just what I was looking for, my Birkenstock’s.

A quick shop in Aldi for Russ’s treats – no not these, but needed to share a 5 litre keg (of quite a nice beer) for €9.90 (about NZ$17.00). Again Germany is renowned for being the home of beer and it is a cheap commodity! (Thank goodness)

Well I got back to Russ around 3.30pm and old Hans was at his best (or worst) again for the afternoon. While not actually escaping today, he treated us to some nude wandering, prowling, yabbering and generally disturbing behaviour! If they don’t knock him out again, I am seriously going to ask if Russ can move to a more peaceful environment!

While this title may sound like a cry for help, Russ and I are perfectly happy to stay as a resident of this Berlin Hospital and continue to get amazing care.

This story is about Russ’s Roommates who are chomping at the bit to get out!

While dear old Boris (not his real name) spend two days and finally got his wish, he was replaced with another very distraught gentleman called Hans (maybe his name) the day Boris left! Bring back Boris is our motto right now. Hans is a challenge!

This morning at 3am Russell was woken (bearing in mind no curtain divider in room) to Hans rooting around in his locker (by Russ’s bedhead) and packing his supermarket bag in readiness to “Leave”.

Russ drifted back off to sleep and by he time he woke at 7am, Hans was dressed packed and ready to go! This gentleman seems to not have realised that we cannot speak German and continues to barrage us with long conversations (one sided) even though we throw our hands in the air and obviously don’t know a word he says.

I arrived around 8.30, and Hans was ploughing around the ward and in and out of the room. Hospital towelling slippers over his socks!

We asked Russell’s doctor if he was leaving today (hoping this was the case) and she said “noooo” and he was told by several staff to get back on his bed.

So this continued for the morning, the prowling and the long German stories and bag packed….

Russ was ready for a rest around 10.30, so I went for a walk, and upon my return at midday, he was gone – lock stock and supermarket bag!

Sometime in the last hour (while Russ napped), when the coast was clear, he made his escape! I told the nurse as she went past (telltale that I am) and everyone was running around the hospital looking for him.

While I have seen no visitors to Hans, a son was called, but not before the police had found him wandering around (quite far from the hospital) and he was returned under police escort!

He was looking very hot and bothered and his hospital slippers seemed to suggest he had been park roaming – covered in leaves and dirt!

I gave him a piece our our leftover cake that I had brought from the French bakery for our lunch. (Which was promptly stashed away in aforementioned supermarket bag)

Finally his son arrived and he spent a bit of time explaining, actually I don’t know what, but by this evening, I had to help him into his nightie and he seemed to have settled! God loves a trier! I just hope Russ has a more peaceful night.

Finally almost in bed – but not quite! Last ditch attempt!

Anyway, I felt Russ needed a treat so, at dinner time, I went to my new favourite Chinese and got him a good tasty feed – rather than the bread and sausage and cheese supper supplied!

I have one the same – at least we will have full tummies!

We cannot understand why the Germans feel this need to escape a perfectly good bed for the night and excellent care! At least they have air conditioning back on and are not paying for it!

Actually it kinda is, when you’re living in a hotel or a hospital with no air conditioning!

It’s one week and two days since Russ was admitted to this Berlin hospital and on the hottest day so far (36 degrees celcius) they had to flick off the air con (it was in danger of blowing itself up)

I went in early this morning and then headed to the mall around 11am – in search of an iPhone cable and air conditioning!

While my directional skills are somewhat relaxed (having had George for two weeks as the navigator) but I found it. Then had to walk another kilometre to find an “in” door! It’s huge and after circling the same shops a few times I found a phone shop, with iPhone cables! However both my visas malfunctioned (declined), I’m sure it was a device problem of the store, and I spend my last 20 Euro cash!

A little mall art while I tried to get my bearings.

Then a few more circles in the hunt for a money machine, certainly building up my 10000 steps per day, I found a “bank of India” (in Berlin) machine. That’ll do! And the first card worked fine!

Headed back (very slowly taking advantage of tree shade), in the scorching heat, to do a couple of hours work, then lay down and napped! Woke in a lather and thought I would hightail it back to the air conditioned hospital! No such luck….this was now turned off and Russ had gone walking in search for a cooler place!

A small car wreck in the middle of the street outside my hotel!

Found Russ who was feeling decidedly better this afternoon, determined to get those legs going – still a bit of oxygen needed and rests on the way – but promising….still not cleared for flying anywhere but hopefully baby steps!

There is definitely no shortage of water, in this part of the world, sprinklers and hoses are out in force keeping the gardens green.

I have left Russ and his new Roomy eating their dinner and found a little ‘Vietnamese’ kitchen – don’t know what I ordered but it smells good and enjoying a cold beer with all my friends! (Actually no one – don’t think women drink beer here!)

They say everything happens for a reason, and we ended up in Berlin to get Russell the professional care and plan needed to keep wandering – although not yet!

I have made friends with the locals, negotiated a cheap price for the best room in the hotel…

While it lacks the luxury’s we are used to, I am getting to quite like my little bolt hole – at least I have light and a very comfy bed!

Kiwi improvisation is rich in our veins – foot washing in the shower – soap and stomping on clothes then rinse, towel wrap and hang around the bathroom to dry the next day. With temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius I can foot wash every day!

I buy my cold beer on the last trip home from the hospital (no fridge) 89c euro a 500ml bottle or can and my dinner!

I work in the middle of the day while Russ has a rest, best time to have good internet, and answer emails before the kiwi work day starts.

I have made friends with the receptionist (the one I mooed at) and now the owner and we are sharing fishing stories!

And in the afternoons Russ and I go out into the hospital gardens and there is always a new sight! Denise Cox you’ll love these!

Russ is doing ok, but will be in there another few days while all the test results come together and the medication kicks in! We will have some new facts to present to the kiwi medical profession when we get home….mmmm will be interesting how they handle this!

While, for me, Berlin is not a tourist destination, it has given me a new insight into the people and the way we live…and learning to live with myself – that has been a challenge!

After a few tough days,with Russ’s health, and with the amazing attention of the German medical profession, Russ is on the improve. While the boat (rivercruise) has sailed and we are not going to get to spend time in Norway, a lot of the jigsaw pieces have been put together.

And I have Russ in the garden foyer without oxygen! Drinking his McDonalds coffee and eating fried shrimps!

I have booked into my simple hotel for another three days and, all going well, Russ may be out by the weekend and we will stay put in an airBNB in Berlin for a week before heading back to Malta for our last month on the sunny side!

I spent the morning at the hospital, catching up with doctors, and Russ of course. Then back to my abode for a couple of hours work, before the afternoon coffee run to McDonald’s! Still the best coffee in the suburbs!

We did our free walking and discussed our plans moving forward, before I headed off to the supermarket to buy something healthy for my tea!

32 degrees today and the tree lined streets a welcome shade on my walk!

Salad and pork knuckles (ribs) for tea, Dave you’ll be proud of me, but can’t have another repeat of last nights cashew nuts and chocolate biscuits!

A view back at the reason we ended up in Berlin – the high rise in the middle is this fabulous Vivantes Neukölln hospital!

My daily plod back and forwards to the hospital – still clocking my 10000 steps a day and 5-6kms on foot!

We still have a bit more of Berlin to go but we are positive all will be sorted!

P.S. Beer time!

Some days are good days and some days are better, today was a good day.

Not much action from the hospital side, tests taken – no results and Russ, having been sedated, slept the afternoon away.

We have been practicing our German – so far we have; please and thank you, and every part of the day covered (good morning to good night), beer, large coffee, toilet, Russ has 1-10 sorted and I use my fingers!

A visit to the supermarket to stock up on treats and fatten Russ up! And a MCDonalds coffee were the highlights of the day!

Boris (Russ’s roomy) thought he should go home today and sat on his bed, dressed with bag packed from 8am and was still there when I left at 12.30. When I returned at 3.30, he was in his Jammies back in bed! I guess he didn’t win that one.

Helga (the evening nurse who speaks very little English) brought Russell all the left over tomatoes tonight – he is getting them trained!

So our day has been about as eventful as this upside down flowerpot….German innovation as an ashtray space!

And the warm drizzly weather is making us all sleepy, maybe and early night, not watching TV (all in German) is in order.

Thanks to everyone who is keeping in touch and giving me someone to talk to!!!’