Like our good friend Altair my time on this great forum has been limited recently due to family issues.
At 2am on the 13th November I recieved a call on my mobile phone with caller id "Mum". I immediately knew this couldn't be good. It transpired that my Dad had fallen the full length of their stairs and had hit the door frame at the bottom with his head. Initial prognosis was not good. We were told that his chances of survival were minimal. He did not respond to any tests. He was placed in a coma. Two days later there were small signs of cognitive response. He was then rushed to another hospital 50 miles away. We spent ten days travelling there with my Mum. Finally, he started to show some appropriate responses to tests. He then got a very bad chest infection from the life support tubes down his throat. Jump forward four weeks and he is over the worst of the infection, he recognises us all and took his first few steps at the end of last week.
We were finally told that his life is not in jeopardy due to his brain and infection. His brain is severly damaged (the specialist'own words). He is like a toddler in his behaviour. But he is still here, still fighting and we all still love him dearly.
Going through something like this is life changing. You don't know how you do it but you get through it and you maintain strength for your family. I had a kind of epiphany. I have learnt: You can never under estimate the strength of family and friends. Don't put anything off if you don't have to. Life is both too short and incredibly vulnerable. Our bodies are incredibly complex and very fragile. Always look after yourself: My Dad only got htid far because of his high level of fitness. And never ever try and negotiate the stairs at night without the light on.
This personal anecdote is at once an explanation for my lack of time here recently (I also had to go to work, organise my Mum and two Sisters and go to regular meetings at the hospital as well as visiting) and moving into the future (my Dad will be in rehabilitation for at least three months) and also to introduce my latest horological aquisition:
I had always admired this watch from the catalogue and on-line images. It seemed to include all of the favourite elements of one of my favourite marques. When I got to try it on an AD about three months ago I was instantly smitten and added it to my "must have" list in the future. The only hurdle: £12100 with minimal discount.
I received a call a couple of weeks ago saying I could buy the watch for very nearly 20% off (unheard of with this brand) because they were getting another one for next year. This wasn't an advertised sale and only a few people had been contacted privately about it. I instantly put some watches up for sale and thought "if the worst happens with my Dad I'll put it in my safe until I can feel passionate about such things again". I also found out from three different trusted sources that this brand were having a price increase ealry in the new year and this watch would go up accordingly.
Happily, my watches sold and, so much more importantly, my Dad has reached a point in his recovery that we never thought we'd see and where we can relax a little.
The AD, which is 80 miles away, hand delivered the watch to me on Sunday when they heard of my situation with my Dad.
A full review will follow of this incredible time machine soon where I shall extol the myriad of virtues that make the PAM 275 my favourite, acheivable sports watch of all time.
BTW, I showed it to my Dad the other day. He put his thumb up, got hold of one of his bed sheets and gently polished the glass for me. He obviously remembers the OCD I have that means I was always cleaning my watches.
If you have got this far thank you for reading through this traumatic story which has, thankfully and miraculously, got a happy ending.
Here are a few quick and very dirty pictures of my 275 with in-house 8-day, monopulsante column wheel chronograph, GMT, hand wound movement.
