Chapter 5: After Irmgard’s return from her holiday in Majorca, Stefan had only a fortnight left in Saarbruecken. Worse, in the first week, he had to attend a conference in Frankfurt for three working days. So, they saw each other only once. Irmgard was in almost exaggeratedly high spirits, beautifully tanned from the Mediterranean sunshine. When she stripped, the pale contour of brief bikini pants showed off the only part...

Chapter 4: Stefan spent the winter trimester productively but, regarding any sexual adventures, uneventfully in Tübingen. Although he had Irmgard’s phone number, he had decided not to ring. Despite his wish to continue his relationship, Stefan did not feel entitled to hold Irmgard captive. Also, he did not rush back to Saarbruecken. Over Easter, Stefan spent ten days with friends in Provence. He returned to Saarbruecken f...

Chapter3: Irmgard and Stefan’s relationship began in late September. Until Christmas, Irmgard continued to spend some sex-filled hours with Stefan at least twice a week, whenever he was in Saarbruecken. Except on two occasions, they did not go out with each other. Irmgard’s weekends were reserved not only for time with her son, but with her continuing, everyday social life, which Stefan neither could nor wanted to share....

Chapter 2: Stefan and Irmgard had made no date. Of course, both knew that they could meet each other as 'regulars' in Liesl's café. Stefan was sorely tempted to go the following evening but stayed back to work on his lectures. Wednesday night, however, he could no longer resist. Settled down at the corner table well before ten, with a beer and one of Liesl's famous sandwiches, Stefan wondered what it would feel like if Ir...

Chapter 1: For the first three months and the last three months of study leave, Stefan Blatt was based at the University of the Saarland in Saarbruecken. The accommodation provided for him was in the University's guest-house. It was surrounded by a park-like forest, a ten-minute stroll from the university campus. This studio apartment became for Stefan his home base for most of his year in Germany. When Stefan and Irmgard...

The country had been at war for six long years. At the start of the 1950s things began to improve. My sister was a helper at our local church. Nothing wonderful just to help out generally with the evening functions in the church hall. I was not over keen on the idea but I  went along with it. I had never been so bored. My first evening was assisting a group of about thirty stamp collectors? The meeting lasted three hours....

Sometimes to write of love,tender feelings,longing and desire. But is that love?Sometimes sweetbut often bitter. Or is it passion,a battle fought,a war of attrition? Love? Is it surrenderor victory completeor mutual annihilation? Does love possess the soulor auction the heart?Is there fair exchange? It is torment and exhilaration,being one,becoming fractured. The pieces of the puzzle,none that fitbut all in place. Sometim...