A Birthday Casualty

A year ago I almost ended up spending my 21st birthday in Asterdam's Schipol airport after England rather inconveniently fog bound itself. Fast forward a year and I find myself having spent a portion of my 22nd birthday in the Casualty department of the local hospital.

The receptionist didn't seem to pick up on the significance of the occasion when she asked for my birthdate, and I replied "Today, but 22 years ago". Fortunately the nurse did and wished me a 'Happy Birthday' while bending my knee in all sorts of improbable directions. Unfortunately the end diagnosis was about as ambiguous as the reasons for me being there in the first place. After waking up in the middle of the night on Wednesday with a rather acute pain in my left knee, I woke up on Thursday morning unable to bend said knee. A whole day with a hot cushion on my knee made little difference, and walking on it, or bending it, produced a sensation which felt like what I would imagine stabbing the back of my knee cap with a hot knife would feel like. Unfortunately yesterday brought no improvement, and neither did this morning, so I had to concede defeat and follow my parents' advice to go to Casualty. Apparently I may have (a) a bit of cartilage/bone 'free floating' behind my knee cap, (b) a torn something, or (c) a random imflamation. I'm holding out for the latter, although a bit of keyhole surgery for the former would certainly be exciting.

Unfortunately the upshot of this was that I was ordered to rest and not put weight on my knee, which put paid to my plans to go ice-skating, karting or walking today, and instead meant I've had a rather quiet birthday at home - although I'm now suffering Strictly Come Dancing. Hopefully, after Schipol last year, and West Cornwall Hospital this year, it won't end up being Guantanamo Bay next year.

Thanks to everyone who's sent their birthday wishes today; it's been lovely to get them :).