Okay, here's my attempt at translating Leo's letter - with a little help from dict.leo.org (sic!). I'm not claiming it's a great translation, or even good English, but as always, you get what you pay for.

 

Dear congregation,

For me (as a "guerilla fighter" within the Antonia project) it is overwhelming to see the expressions of symphathy prompted by my "little accident".

As of 6am this morning I have been sitting on my bed in the hospital waiting for my discharge. Finally at 5pm, a Doctor was found who was not busy with an emergency and thus able to fit me out with medication for the weekend and discharge me. Those were the longest 11 hourse of my life!

I am accordingly tired, but would like to briefly tell you the state of affairs:

I have ten healthy fingers, I can think, my right eye is also functioning again (I had not told Meike [translator: that's SaintFox] that it hadn't quite been cooperating, either); moped-riding will not likely be possible anymore, but I can walk and also use stairs again. The left leg may well stay numb, my balance is considerably compromised, but I am laying my hopes on rehab and its physiotherapy. Beer (non-alcoholic) tastes good again. Trying that out was my first action after being discharged - with explicit permission from the doctor ("Wheat beer is isotonic, that's good for you!").

I am eager to contribute again and generally work at the computer, but need to pace myself, because I get exhausted quickly and my ability to concentrate still leaves something to be desired. So I need to take it slowly, which does not come naturally to me at all.

Just the process between being able to walk and ascending four flights of stairs at the hospital took me 48 hours, so my life has - temporarily - slowed down.

Sadly, this must be enough for today; it has been a long day and the cats are already waiting on the bed.

All the best; I hug you all; the daily greetings and get-well messages that Meike brought to me in the hospital have contributed considerably to me now sitting on my chair at my work place again.

-- I'm not mad at you, just Westphalian.