Dcember 27th, 2023

long pause in my blog, due to a tragic event. My dear aunt and godmother, Charlotte, passed away on 4 December at the age of 94, after a short stay in hospital. I had a very special relationship with her, just as I did with my godfather, who left us several years ago. He was a veterinarian, and I spent many holidays with them, creating countless precious memories. Losing a loved one is always difficult and painful, especially at this time of year.

To lighten the mood a little, my biker friend René, who came from Cologne, paid me a visit. We went out a few times by car, which helped me get out a bit despite my temporary immobility. On 24 December, I went to see my mother, who is also grieving her sister, with whom she shared a very close bond.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I have booked my next trip to continue, and perhaps complete, my journey through Morocco. I will leave Bern, travelling through the Lötschberg and Simplon railway tunnels, to reach the port of Genoa in the late afternoon. The ferry departs at 8 pm, which is ideal as the journey takes about five to six hours, so I can avoid an overnight hotel stay. I will arrive two days later, around 3 pm, at the port of Tanger MED. This time, I will follow the Mediterranean coast and, at El Jebha, I will enter the country to visit Taounate, Sefrou, Missour, before reaching Midelt, where I had surgery last May. I plan to visit the hospital staff who looked after me. I will then continue my itinerary as originally planned, passing through Volubilis, Meknès, Fès, then Ceuta, where I will take the ferry to Spain. After that, I will head to Portugal, then back to Spain, crossing the Basque Country, and finally returning to Switzerland via Bordeaux, Poitou, Berry, Burgundy, and the Jura, before reaching Bern.

I have received a reply from my lawyer regarding the KPT case. Unsurprisingly, KPT rejects all criticism and holds me responsible, arguing that I have not provided sufficiently clear evidence. They specifically request a detailed letter from the hospital in Midelt, specifying my stay and the care received, to be provided within four weeks. However, sending such a letter from Switzerland to Morocco takes about two weeks, making it impossible to meet this deadline. My legal protection insurance will therefore cover the costs refused by KPT. My only consolation is that, from 1 January, I will no longer be insured with KPT!

I have an appointment with my surgeon on 10 January. If the X-ray is positive, I will finally be able to remove my cast and wear an orthopaedic shoe for a month, which will also mark the start of my physiotherapy.

I take this opportunity to wish all readers of this blog a happy, healthy and successful 2024. For my part, I will not have many joyful memories of 2023, except for the start of my trip to Morocco, which was wonderful. The rest, five operations, eight months of immobilisation, and this family loss, leaves a bitter taste. I am therefore all the more pleased to welcome this new year, which I’m sure will have its own surprises!