About 2 months ago, I spent the night at the emergency room of the OLVG (local hospital) because of a gall stone colic. That was not an experience I’d care to repeat, so I avoided fatty foods, coffee, chocolate and eggs since that night. (All over Easter, too!)
Of course, I went to see my doctor, who referred me to the hospital. The diagnosis was, indeed, a stone in my gall bladder.
The only way to get the stone out, is to remove the gall bladder itself. Or so the current medical practice says, anyway. So I was put on the waiting list for an operation.

Fortunately, medical science has progressed and nowadays it’s possible to have the operation as an out patient: you turn up in the morning, they take your gall bladder out, you’re home before dinner.

And thankfully, that’s exactly what happened. Jan took me to the hospital this morning (actually we cycled there – it’s only five minutes) and I was in my operating gown by 7:30am. Not very fetching, by the way – unlike some gowns I’ve worn. But I digress.
By 8 o’clock I was in the operating theatre, by 8:10 I was out like a light.

I woke up in recovery at about 10:30am. With a little cup on my nightstand, which contained this. (Not the coins, they’re for comparison!) All in all a necessary operation, I’d say.

After a couple of hours, I was well enough to go home again. Jan and Wim came to pick me up, by car this time, and I was home by 4pm. So far I’ve not had any great pain or discomfort. I do have 4 cuts in my belly though. Something to show off on the beach this summer I guess.

So Queensday – which is celebrated tomorrow, Saturday April 29 due to some strict Christians not being allowed to have fun on a Sunday – will largely pass me by. I’ll be happy to take it easy at home. It’s going to be cold anyway. Although I’m up and about, I think I’ll have to take it easy for a while. On the upside, I can have a Oranje Tompouce tomorrow without having to worry about the fat-content….