Evening

For the next thirteen hours we will be home alone again, as most couples are on an off-night. No social obligations in sight. No particular plans either. Just easy going.

Just before Fatima, de garde-malades, left, Lara had an argument with her metabolism - and lost it. Strange, for she had not eaten since breakfast, and that was seven hours before. As usual she had gotten into a coughing fit (who knows what triggered it) and the coughing in turn led to reflux. Nothing in her stomach now and her appetite totally gone. So food intake will be commensurate for the day. She doesn't seem particularly bothered and is fast asleep again.

My appetite is gone too after the Dutch team lost a socker match against the Danes in their opening match for the European Football Championship. What a pair we are.

I sit on the veranda; a chilly breeze moves the trees under a blue sky. The blackbird is singing from its favorite chimney. Suddenly I realize I am sitting there by myself. That will be the rule before long. I'd better get used to it.

Under the tones of Haydn's Drum Roll Symphony, around 10:00PM, I prepare the couch next to Lara's bed in the living room for my night watch posting. More than 45 nights now I have slept there, sometimes so soundly that Lara was unable to wake me up by the force of her voice. Using the electric chimes we have installed, she buzzed me out of my sleep. It is important that she call me over at any moment during the night, for I don't want to see her fall down again like the very first night she slept out here. Not to put too fine a point on it: she might hurt herself, and that can be dangerous; once she starts bleeding, she won't stop.