Booster shot

A couple of weeks ago, immediately after Bavaria reactivated its online booking service for the Vaccination Centres, I booked myself, and then minutes later Angie, for an appointment. Today was the first available date but the few minutes time gap between registering meant we got appointments 2.5 hours apart. A nuisance as the county vaccination centre is 25 km away in Bad Worishofen.

For two weeks now we have been saying we will go together & chance them doing us at the same time, but suddenly this morning Angie said she would go under her own steam. Exactly at the point I was about to get in my car to leave, it unexpectedly and without weather forecast warning started to snow and Angie changed her mind. She then scurried around , we threw Luna in the boot and set off in her car, already at limit for getting there on time .... in normal conditions.

Within 3 km of home, a snowstorm of Domesday proportions started exactly as her car started to play up & would not accelerate. We had no choice but to keep going. Although the autobahn was snow covered, the ploughs had not had time to get out, we found ourselves being overtaken by all the trucks as the car struggled to keep going. It was simply awful! Quite how, we arrived at exactly the minute of our appointment!

Luckily the people allowed us both in at the same time, and we were sent through the system together. The "receiving (admin)" doctor had just come on shift and was preparing all our paperwork when a supervisor came in, and he happened to ask her a question about which type was being used most - he had booked us down for BioNTech, but she told him  no, everybody to be given Moderna, unless a high risk young person. And so it was, now have Moderna after 2x initial BioNTech  jabs.

The process went fast, at least relatively. Still seems to be far too much admin time spent and forms to fill even though one has been through the medical history twice before. Germany still has much to do in terms of digitalisation & coordination. It is one of the issues the new government has placed high on its agenda. I hope they can break the decades old "Angst" the Germans have of data collection and privacy.

While Angie went to the large supermarket next door, I took Luna for her evening walk on the snow covered pavements and onto nearby farm tracks.

Got home fine, the outward drive had warmed up the engine and topped up the battery. Angie won't believe me that the problem with her gearbox is related to a poor battery. I had exactly the same problem with my Jeep which like her car had a Mercedes-Benz engine and gearbox. There is a crucial valve that needs to open when starting, but it will only do so if there is enough juice in the battery.

Anyway, pleased to have now got the booster..