Dutch Doctors- (01/02)

It was a typically cold Thursday morning on the way to the gym. Little did I know that the nibbling cold wasn’t going to be the only thing to cause me discomfort... During my gym class I and many others were, under the relentless encouragement of our instructor, attempting set after set of tricep dips. Into the 3^rd set, having only just struggled through the sit-ups, I was wavering and as I tried to haul myself out of a dip I heard a clunk across my chest. It was an unattractive drop to the floor. The shooting pain made cycling home difficult, daily peck-horsing, clambering children, cleaning and just sitting and standing as much so.

The kids were off school the following Friday but I was in too much pain to wait until Monday so a trip to the Dutch Doctors with kids as very reluctant moral support was in order. Passport, travel insurance documents and EHIC all proved invaluable but didn’t stop it costing me €25+. In true Dutch fashion the consultation was very to the point. A small rupture in the muscles across my chest was diagnosed and strong painkillers prescribed. It should heal itself but since this happened in January and gyming is still off the cards I am getting slightly impatient.    

Mijn Verjaardag :)

On the Saturday leading up to my birthday I went with friends to play some GlowGolf, located along Scheveningen’s boulevard in the shopping centre. That is, mini golf in the dark with glow-in-the-dark golf balls and sticks, obstacles and score-pad. Aimed for children the 18-hole course was compiled out of a fantastically simple blend of piracy and the ocean. We had mermaids, dolphins, reefs, treasure chests and wrecks! It was a lot of fun and I won, always nice! The adjoining Mirror Maze was also amusing under the flashing lights and thumping music, all helping to make it difficult to navigate yourself and locate your wandering friends. I’ve matured a lot over these past few months and have often felt more like a mother than the teenage daughter that I am so it was great to do something a little childish to celebrate the passing of another year. The 23rd itself was an ordinary working Wednesday but it was nice to skype with Ma, Dad, twin and brother (not all together!) and to receive their's and my sister's cards. Not to mention a lovely one from my Church family. Let’s see what’s in store for this year...

The Bike Debacle (13/01)

What happened to the really extensive cycling (press here!) I hear you cry! Or, in fact, cycling at all? Cycling isn't without its problems (just have a read here) but for the last few months it has actually been impossible. I haven’t had a bike. It was actually back in October that I took the bike I use from my host family to do some shopping in the centre of Den Haag. Shopping completed, all ready and unlocked to head home, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten. This resulted in an embarrassingly hurried dash back to the shop. It also resulted in a failure to re-lock my bike. A quick 5 minute in-and-out and my bike had gone. My bike could have sat on Ypenburg’s shopping street totally unlocked for hours and it wouldn’t have been so much as touched but in a big city like Den Haag that’s all it takes. Bike theft is after all one of the most committed crimes in Holland and it’s no wonder since there are so many (more than there are people). That’s why nearly all Dutch bikes have fixed on-and-off locks around the wheel with most owners choosing to wrap an additional lock around at least one wheel, the frame and an immovable object.

Anyhow a couple of (pretty pointless) police reports later and a good deal of searching I have finally got a replacement bike courtesy of some great family friends. They even drove a tightly packed me and bike in the car from Noordwijk to Ypenburg to save me the chilly ride! It’s been great to be back on the saddle and I’ve definitely learnt my lesson. Lock and double lock.