Manfred Papst on a Stuck Drawer, Dickens and London in NZZ am Sonntag Column

In his column "Die Zugabe" for «NZZ am Sonntag», Manfred Papst recounts his experience with a stuck wardrobe drawer at an Airbnb in London, selected by his wife. The disorganized space, located near a former home of Charles Dickens, is home to a silver-grey squirrel. Despite his insults and attempts to dislodge the lower drawer, which ultimately falls to the ground, the upper drawer—holding shirts and underwear—remains stuck. A family carpenter eventually fixes the problem, yet Papst forgets to request a refitting of the drawer. After two hours of struggle, the drawer mysteriously slides back into position. He contemplates life's difficulties, comparing his ordeal to Odysseus’s trials, mentioning his own encounters with Hades.