After already having endured back pain for several months, at the end of March it turned out I was suffering from a massively slipped disc. Not something I could recommend in any way.

The telescope meet on the Aschberg had originally been cancelled (and then moved to a different venue) because of building measures on the site. After I had been told it would be completely out of the question for me to participate in any such event, of course the AST was re-instated and re-relocated to its original mountaintop. I did not necessarily feel better because of that.

After having ended up in the emergency ward one evening because of unbearable pain (many, many thanks to my mother for driving me around to the emergency ward of my choice while suffering my whining and screams!), I was tasked with seeking out an orthopaedic doctor the next day. Like that was going to happen in an environment where orthopaedic doctors tend to make appointments years ahead.

Fortunately, I managed to make it happen, and this led to an MRT scan which established that I was actually suffering from a massive prolapse of the L4/L5 disc. This properly impressed my orthopaediac and indirectly led to an operation being scheduled, as well as myself being strictly forbidden to engage in any activity involving my telescopes, for half a year at least.

The winter season is nearing its end. There would still be a lot of things to ovserve, but I am not allowed to, and honestly, I couldn’t either. I am very, very frustrated.