Footpath Guide to Mainz

Through lack of decision for which story to headline with, it defaulted to this one. The reason will soon become apparent.

But first to the question you've all been wanting answered: Why was my last blog on the 31st July? Was it because the things I said then were of utmost importance? Or wanted my brother to be in the limelight for longer?

No, none of the above reasons. Rather, On the 1st August, whilst cycling home, I had an accident. And not just the grazed knee type either. This was a full blown "Vordererkreuzbandausriss" as the people here like to call it. In layman's terms, I pulled the cross-ligament of my right knee from it's fixture, and in so doing, also broke a bit of the lower leg bone for good measure.

This resulted in me walking around on crutches from this day (and I still am) with my leg in a sort of plaster-cast. On the 11th I was operated (holes bored through bones, cable pushed through) and was in the Uniklinik hospital until the 16th. Since then (and thanks for all the emails/SMSs/chocolates that were sent) I have been limping around Mainz, getting between my place, centre of town, and the hospital (for physiotherapy). Which is where the title comes in. Some of you may remember my article on the Bike lanes in Mainz, and what I generally thought of them. Well this was nothing compared with the problems someone with crutches faces on the pavements of this city. I don't think I have yet to find a single pavement that doesn't dramatically tilt towards the road, thus making it near impossible to walk straight or easily. I also discovered the delights of the buses when you've finally managed to scale the stairs to get on and are then looking for a place to sit (people here being famous for not even offering their seats to people more in need) and the bus driver decides to drive off, invariably around a sharp corner, thus throwing you against a window/floor/nearest passenger.

Off the subject of me for a moment, and other things have been happening too. Javi was at the Olympics in Athens (although I didn't see him at the ladies beach volleyball matches), Jordi, Albakra, Fernando, Albe, Paolo, and Juanfran went off to Sardinia to bask in the sun, sea and, well, you'll have to see the photos on Albe's site to find out the rest.

Luca has also given signs of life today, describing the new friends he's making at the old people's home (getting in all the chess practice he can, I bet), and how little he's managing to study.

Now to the rest of the world. Those Cambridge University folks have done it again, and come out with another sheep fact. Sheep feel more at ease seeing photos of other sheep, especially those known to them. Of course the next stage would be to see what photos excite the sheep, and therefore could be considered as 'adult content' for help with fertilisation.

Which leads me nicely on to the next site, which teaches you the hallowed art of origami (paper folding) but not producing hats or boats, rather positions of the Kama Sutra.

And finally some shocking news about the Xbox killings in the US. It is amazing the lengths someone goes jsut because his games console got stolen. Read through the details for a full idea of how ill this person was.

Well, another weekend, another few days to relax (ok, that's a joke - read trying to find someone to take over my appartment from 1st September...).

Play safe