Is this being compared or contrasted It was fully a week before they were all normal again and meantime with whining children and cross adults the house was not a pleasant place to live in Jurg?

Answer 1

The sentence contrasts the difficult atmosphere of the house during the week of turmoil with the eventual return to normalcy. It highlights the unpleasantness caused by the whining children and cross adults, suggesting a stark difference between that chaotic period and the subsequent calm. The use of "meanwhile" emphasizes the ongoing struggle before the return to normal life.