25/11/2002 Utrecht, Holland (Phill)
In this episode of Phill's Journal: Hospitals, Raves and lazy days!
Phew, it's been a crazy few days. My knee is still hurting so I got to spend almost 3 hours at the hospital on Saturday. Obviously a doctor would've been more convenient but it seems like Holland has a medical system that's in the same dissarray as the uk. Very overtaxed and you can't just pick which type of doctor to go consult with. Fieke took me to the local doctor except because I wasn't registered with them they sent me to the hospital. So off we went, the first Casualty department was closed (can you believe that?) and they suggested we go to a different hospital. They also suggested that I shouldn't mention that I had this injury for a couple of weeks and certainly shouldn't suggest that we walked to the hospital. Apparently that would have made them not help me!
Anyway, we do get to the next hospital, quite nice actually. But we sit in the waiting room for about an hour and then in an empty room for another. The nice doctor did examine my knee and basically came to the conclusion that I had torn my miniscus and perhaps had fluid under my knee. Of course, that meant that I should go see an Orthopedic surgeon and get a wee hole drilled in my knee to get a better look. After calling the specialist she had to inform me that there was a waiting list and there's no way it could be done before I left (a week later). So I got bandaged up and she advised me to try to keep off it and see someone as soon as I got back to Scotland.
So, being me, I had to do the opposite, what could be worse for a damaged knee than 7 hours of intense dancing? Yup, we hopped on a train to Rotterdam to meet up with some of Fieke's friends and head off to the rave. We were supposed to be met by her friend Arie at the train station. Unfortunately, we were later to find out that Arie had been pulled over for going 120km in a 50km and had his car and license confiscated. Good start, huh?
The Rave was different from British one's (that I remember). The age range was massive, although most people were abuot 22, some were in their 40s! None of the clothes I brought were really suitable for this kind of place, so Fieke had loaned me some of hers. Basically I was wearing all black, some flare-type back trousers and a tight black angel shirt. The shirt had red wings on the back (stop laughing Rob!). Anyway, I hated it at first but it definately was suitable for the occasion.
Most that know me know that I hate dancing, only Kelly know's why though. But anyway, the best part about the whole thing was how friendly everyone was. Everyone was smiling (well apparenty, except me, since I dont smile when I dance). I stayed with Fieke most of the night, but when she would leave to go chill out or drink more water (we consumed about 5 bottles each!) one of her friends would come and look after me. I was amazed how nice they were.
Anyway, I must've danced for most of the 7 hours but I didn't get tired, think I was just too into it. Having a great time is a great way to keep energized. We didn't walk out into the cold until about 7am when it closed. It was bloody freezing when we did leave though and then we walked to the center of the city turning a 20 minute walk int almost an hour! Worse still when we eventually found the station and got on the train an anouncement came over the speakers telling us that there was work on the line between Rotterdam and Utrecht and the train, (and subsequent trains) were cancelled.
We ended up getting on numerous trains before finally taking a massive 2 hour tour of Holland trying to get back to Utrecht. We went through The Hague and Amsterdam so it was hardly the most efficient way of getting there! We got home at 10am or so, absolutely exhausted. It's a strange feeling to be travelling on trains on your way to bed when everyone else on there is on their way to Chruch, or to go shopping, it's quite disorientating.
We got home and went straight to bed, waking up at 4 or 5pm still exhausted. So we stayed in and ate leftover pizza and watching movies. Brilliant weekend.
Posted by Admin at November 25, 2002 02:19 AM