In January 1997 the number one public-service tv and radio broadcaster in Germany – ARD – employed me to do the webmaster job of the brand new ARD Website.

In addition I started working on a project called ARD-Online-Kanal, programming apps for interactive tv. Arising thereby: a full-time (freelancer) job for ARD Digital until 2009.

At about the same time we did accommodate and care for my wife's father, who had an apoplectic stroke in March 1997. During the last 15 months before he died (in October 2007) we were carrying out full-time care on our own.