“I'll take you in,” Petra suggested.
“Cheers Pet,” Dad offered, “i'll be in as soon as i've got parked.”

I have to admit that it was a bit weird arriving in the accident department under my own steam, walking wounded so to speak. Not that I make a habit of it but most of my hospital arrivals are in the back of an ambulance after some sort of race mishap. I suppose today is still bike orientated and potentially as embarrasing given what I'm wearing.

It didn't take long to get checked in and the triage nurse called me through just as Dad joined us in the waiting room.

“So Gaby,” he started, “slip your jacket off, what've we been up to eh?”

Dad helped me lose Pet's coat as I started to explain.

“We were riding up to Arlberg when it started snowing, so we turned back and I fell off on a lump of ice.”
“Snow?” my Angel queried.
“Yeah, a regular blizzard,” I confirmed.
“You're wrist yes?” lets take a look.”

Dad is okay for basic first aid but Paulo, thats the nurses name, was much more thorough and I have to say gentle.

“I don't think its broken, just a bit of a sprain but lets get you x-rayed to make sure eh?”
 
I suppose most people have had x-rays at some time or other, I sort of know how it works but I'm still fascinated to see the pictures of stuff inside of me. I returned to Paulo to get the diagnosis, we had to wait a few minutes whilst he finished with another victim before being called back to the treatment area.

“You'll be glad to know there's no break as far as we can see.”
“Thats good eh kiddo,” Dad opined.
“Yeah,” I allowed with a wince.
“There are lots of small bones in your wrist, sometimes the x-ray doesn't pick up tiny cracks.”
“Is that the scaphoid?” I asked, one of the lads at school had a pot on for weeks after breaking his.
“That's the usual culprit, so if the swelling doesn't go down in a few days get yourself checked out again.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
“We'll sort you out a brace, should make it a bit more comfortable, give it a bit of support for a few days.”
“Guess I won't be riding anymore this week,” I sighed.
“I'd give it a couple of days, give it a chance to recover a bit eh,” Paulo suggested.
 
“Well?” Petra enquired after i'd been fitted out with the wrist brace, it certainly felt a lot more comfortable.
“Bad sprain,” Dad supplied, “lets get you back to the hotel, think you might've missed doing anything this afternoon.”
“Talking of which Dave, Manda and Gret turned up in Bludenz, finally got a signal on the Handy while you were being sorted.”
Dad looked a bit guilty, “i'd forgotten about the others.”
“Thats understandable, anyway, George abandoned the rest of the ride, they were coming down in the bus.”
 
I hadn't really been taking any notice of the time and was a bit surprised that it was only just coming up to two when we got back to the Weisses Kreuz.
“So's it broke then?” Mand asked when I clattered into reception.
“Bad sprain,” I waved my injured arm.
“No pot then,” she sighed.
“Or water park.”
“Er about that, we didn't know how long you'd be so we're off in a few minutes, the bus is only once an hour.”
I shrugged, “i'm sure I'll live, look I'm gonna get a shower, you guys have fun, don't worry about me.”
“We got you some chocolate.”

Bum, i've missed the Milka place.

“er cheers,” I offered before waving my poorly arm, “shower.”

 
I was nearly dressed again – in proper clothes that is, when my Handy started trilling.

“Hello?”
“Where are you kiddo,” Mum asked.
“In the room just getting dressed.”
“Meet me in reception in five minutes, we're going out.”
“We are? Where?”
“You'll find out if you come down, now chop, chop!”
“'kay,” I sighed.

To be honest i'd have been quite happy to just veg in front of the idiot box, they always have some film channel in hotels. But Mum sounded quite, I dunno, on a mission so I suppose i'd best shake a leg. Have you ever tried dressing with one hand? I was gonna put some hose on for a bit of warmth but I gave up and had to go with short socks, its a good job my boots zip up!

“There you are, how's the wrist?”
“Sore, the brace helps but I guess riding and skiing is out.”
“Hmm, we'll see, you got your bag, coat?”
I waved them for her to see, “where're we going?”
“Bregenz, come on.”
“Where's Dad?”
“Having a lie down, you had him worried to death this morning.”
“Didn't mean to.”
“He knows kiddo, jump in,” she instructed as she beeped the Saab open.

“So where are we going, you said Bregenz but what for?”
“There's a sports clinic, they're gonna try and get you something a bit better than that brace the hospital gave you.”

We were already on the autobahn, at Mum speed we'd be there in about ten minutes!

“What for, Paulo said it just needs some rest.”
“Do you not want to do anything the rest of the week?”
“Well yeah,” I allowed.
“So tell me about this morning.”
 
By the time we found the Sportkilinic Rheintal/Voralberg she had the full story, seems like they weren't actually that far behind us at the tunnel when it came to it. I guess timing is everything, if they'd been a bit faster or we'd turned back sooner or – well you can't live on if's and but's as Gran says. Mum got us parked and I followed her into the clinic, a very posh place, more like some fancy business than any sort of medical facility.

“Ah, Frau Bond and our Weltmeisterin,” the chap who fetched us from reception greeted.
“Gaby,” I filled.
“Indeed, my daughter never is quiet about your exploits,” he went on.
“She rides Doctor...”
“Sorry, Kaufmann, just call me Frank though, no, not the bicycles, she skis, no she has followed you on Eurosport.”

He ushered us into an office and bade us sit.

“So young lady, what have you been up to,do you mind?”

I offered him my arm before giving him the abridged version of events as he removed the brace. He carefully examined my injured appendage much as Paulo had earlier.

“Does this hurt? Or this?” he enquired as he pressed various bits of my wrist, I did wince once or twice but it wasn't too bad really.
“Hmm, not too bad young lady.”
“What do you think Herr Doctor,” Mum posed.
“It is just a sprain, we'll get you set up with a better brace and you'll be riding as soon as, these things,” he waved at my original brace, “they are fine for Oma but for more active persons we can do much better.”
 

“Its a bit over the top,” I suggested nearly an hour later as I flexed my new, very expensive, custom brace as we returned to the Saab.
“We can take it back,” Mum suggested.
“No, its great, I can actually grip stuff,”
“That'll be the injection working.”

Doc Kaufmann had suggested the Cortisone injection to let me use the hand without as much pain.

“So how'd you know about this place?”
“A couple of years ago, you remember Maria broke her hand at the Bodensee Classic? These guys sorted her out, she was riding again in a few days. Hmm, I think we still have time.”
“Time, what for?”
“You'll see,” she grinned.
 
Ten minutes later we turned into one of those sort of retail parks, not like in England but a couple of stores, in this case a Lidl and one of those discount shoe places along with a budget burger cum kebab place.

“What're we stopping here for?” I asked as Mum pulled into a bay.
“What do you think we're here for?”
“I dunno, a kebab? oh.”

Oh indeed, if i'd actually been paying attention i'd have seen it much sooner, there, right in front of us a fairly non descript building, nothing special except for the decorations that identified it as the 'Wolford Factory Outlet'.

“So?” Mum queried.
“You're kidding?”

“Nope, another find from the Bodensee, shall we?”
“Not many!”
 
In case you haven't noticed, I'm something of a Wolford fan, it might be expensive but if you are spending out on expensive shoes and frocks, shouldn't you match them with your hosiery? Okay, i've only got a few pairs of fancy hose and they aren't all Wolford but they are my go to brand. We walked around the building which was when I spotted that we were at the actual factory (the clue was in 'factory shop'), a plain building currently sporting a bigger Weihnachtsbaum than Dernau puts up, the only thing better than this would be a trip to Vicenza!

I'm not sure what I was expecting inside but I think reality exceeded it by a factor of at least ten. Its not a huge building but it is of course exclusively offering Wolford products, no incursions from other brands like you get in Karstadt. In turn that means that everything you see in Stern or wherever is in here, those posh bodies and clingy dresses that you never see in the shops, even 'that' place in Ahrweiler.

Okay, so the prices weren't greatly reduced on everything but even a few euros is better than nowt, right? A lot of the more run of the mill stuff was like half price but a forty euro pair of hose is still twice as much as other brands. The real bargains were the bins of 'seconds' and 'end of line' stuff, even so the contents of my purse weren't going to buy very much, but what should I get?

“Okay kiddo?” Mum asked finding me debating the merits of a discontinued body and a pair of stockings with Swarovski crystals up the rear seam.

“Found anything you like?”
“I was thinking of getting these but thats me blown for the rest of the trip, what about you?”
“Just some tights,” she advised waving the packets.
“Think I'll just get the stockings, Jules got me that garter belt last year and i've never used it.”
“What if I got you the body, early Chrimbo present, you could get something else then.”
“Really? That'd be well cool!”
“Just don't tell your father, you were only supposed to be getting the shoes.”
“Mum's the word,” I enthused.
“And as its a one off you can use your card, but just this once okay and don't go mad.”

OMG, I'm never allowed to use my bank card, i've got quite a few euros in my account, my kiosk earnings and prize money mostly, I still get an allowance from the Rents which covers my day to day stuff. My eyes lit up, I could get anything, well pretty much.

“Don't go mad,” Mum repeated, “give me those so I can pay and don't be all day, I think they close at seven.”
“'kay,” I handed her the stuff in my hands then made a bee line for a shopping basket!
 
Beep, beep, beep, the checkout girl scanned my packets, another girl put them into a large Wolford carrier bag. Beep, beep, beep, beep. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, longer than an Aldi food shop, the basket was empty. I had a rough idea of what the bill would be, I haven't gone too barmy but its still a lot.

“Drei hundert, funf und achtzig bitte.”
“Ist alles?” I'm sure it came to over four hundred.

She showed me the receipt thing, oh well, I'm not complaining.

“Karte,” I offered passing her my card.

She put the card into the reader thing, pressed her buttons and passed the whole thing back to me for my pin. Two, five, ut, uh, ok. A moment later it beeped and receipts started printing as I took a silent breath of relief, what if it hadn't worked? I retrieved my card and stowed it in my purse before taking my prize.

“Wiedersehn.”
“Danke,” I offered in return then headed into the gathering gloom outside.
 
“Sorted?” Mum asked as I opened the back door to stow my coat and purchases.
“Er yeah.”
“Forget something?”
“Erm, thanks?”
“Try these,” she handed me the Swarovski stockings.”
“Oops, I'll give you the money.”
“You can buy me coffee before we go back, do I want to know how much you spent?”
“Too much,” I suggested.
“It is your money,” she allowed, “just don't make it a habit, how's the wrist?”

I hadn't actually noticed it while I was shopping so I'm guessing the fancy brace was doing its job.

“Okay I think, doesn't hurt as much anyway.”
“We'll have to see how it is in the morning as to whether you can ski.”
“Yeah,” I sighed.
“Lets go get that coffee and maybe some cake, i've only had a sandwich since breakfast.”

My stomach gave a loud rumble, i've not even had that much.
 
“You were a long time,” Dad mentioned when we got back to the hotel.

We'd stopped for coffee on the autobahn, Mum had lemon torte and I went for strudel.

“A bit of retail therapy and a coffee,” Mum told him, giving me a wink.
“The Doc reckons I might be okay to ski tomorrow,” I told Pater.
“Possibly,” Mum reiterated.

 
“Good time?” I enquired when I joined the others to go into dinner.
“Brill, you should've come,” Tali enthused.
“Dur,” I waved my arm.
“Oh yeah, soz Gab,” she returned a bit less enthusiastically, “so like how is it?”
I shrugged, “i'll live.”
“So what'd you do this afternoon?” Ron asked.
“Got this,” I waved my arm again, “Mum took me to a sports clinic up in Bregenz.”
“So is it broke?” Gret asked.

Clearly the state of my wrist hadn't rated very highly on the afternoon's list of conversation options.

“Just a bad sprain, the Doc says I should be able to ride and ski if I'm careful.”
“That's cool, lets hope we can go tomorrow,” Tal allowed.
“George'll have a plan B,” Ron told us, “George always has a plan B.”
 
Of course, I had to repeat everything for Tina and co, but as professionals where injury is a constant potential they were a bit more blasé about it. I guess anything less than a full on fracture doesn't rate as news, a bit of road rash, a few bruises are just normal daily occurences. I know Mum's been off a few times this year, I suppose by the laws of averages thats par for the course.

Dinner was a 'healthy' turkey schnitzel with pineapple, croquettes and red cabbage, pretty sure Petra has been suggesting stuff to the chef. Anyhow, we got to coffee before George stood and got our attention.

“So tomorrow, bit of a change of plan.”
“We not skiing?” Erika queried.
“Skiing yes but after today its a change of location, we wouldn't have reached St Anton today eh Gaby?” George told us.
“I guess not,” I agreed.
“So where are we going?” Tina asked.
“Davos, the Swiss keep the road open and it only takes a little longer to get to. I think if we set off at halb neun?”

There was no dissention at the earlier start.

“How about you Gaby, you will come?”
“The Doctor said I could probably ski if I'm careful, I can always hang out around the shops.”
“Okay, so eight thirty in reception, enjoy the evening.”

 
The adults gathered in the Stube, i don't think there was a lot of drinking going on but whilst we weren't barred or anything, Me and Mand ended up in Tal and Gret's room playing cards. It would've been better with some of Ron's coffee but she was being 'adult' tonight, I suppose its not cool to hang out with us youngsters all the time.

“Anyone got any big coins?” Gret asked after a bit.”
“What sort of big?” Mand enquired.
“Twos, fives.”
I sorted through my pile of Kleingeldt, “got a couple of twos.”

Mand and Tali donated some coin too.

“Be back in a mo,” Gret advised skipping out of the door.
“What was that all about?”
“Don't think we'll see the money again,” de Vreen suggested.
“Well she won't get far on sixteen euros,” Tal chuckled as she shuffled the cards.

The door opened and Gret returned.
“Ta da!”
“Now we're talking,” Mand allowed with a grin.
“Well get some glasses someone,” Gret suggested as she put her armful of booty down on the table.
“Where'd you get this?” I asked picking up one of the cans, Fohrenburger, nothing i've heard of, guess its the local brewery.
“Machine at the far end of the corridor.”

So I prefer wine to beer but beggars can't be choosers, it certainly made the cards more interesting especially when we got to strip pontoon!
 
© Maddy Bell 16.03.2019