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A Trip To Remember!
by Lea Downey
It all started on Thursday 7th September, when Sensei Kershaw went to
pick up Sensei Charles Hannah at 3.30 am from his home in Cleethorpes.
As he arrived he noticed the house was in total darkness. He rang the
bell, and after a while Sensei Charles opened the door in his pyjamas,
saying: "it's tomorrow isn't it?"
From that moment, it all started to fall apart!
On arriving at the airport, and
after checking in, we were given our boarding cards. We then proceeded
to departure.
When Sensei Kershaw gave our cards to a security officer, he said:
"what's this you're giving me?" We then realised that the boarding cards
were blank! We had to go back to the check-in desk. We finally got
sorted and went for a few pints of Guinness.
We finally arrived in Amritsar at 11.30 pm that evening.
The next day was the start of more to come!
At some point, I had been bitten in the backside, and the right side of
my bum had swollen and was painful.
The tournament commenced on the Saturday,
and I had made it to the final of the kata, to be held the following
day.
This I went on to win. We then started on the kumite.
There were four kumite events, and having won three of them, I was into
the final fight of the Men's Open, when I gave a mae geri kick, and felt
some pain in my foot. I still needed a half point to win, so carried on,
not having time to think about injury. Having eventually won, I went to
walk off, but realised I couldn't!
My foot was packed in ice, and I was taken to hospital. My foot was
X-rayed, and when the results came back I was told my toe had been badly
broken! The foot was put in plaster, and I was given two injections for
the pain.
I also had a graze on my other foot, but didn't think any more of it.
Following the tournament, classes and
grading examinations in Amritsar, we boarded a train for Delhi. From
there we were to fly to Mumbai (Bombay).
After the thirteen hour train journey, and two hour flight, we arrived
in Mumbai and were taken to our luxury hotel; the Hotel Aqauria. A five
star health and sports club set in tropical gardens.
It was two days after arriving in Mumbai
that I told Sensei Kershaw the right side of my face was very painful,
and my jaw felt stiff and kept clicking. He insisted that I was
immediately taken to hospital. There I was given a tetanus jab, and put
on medication for the symptoms of lock jaw and tetanus! The graze on my
foot being the source of the infection.
The whole trip was starting to become a nightmare!
I was on crutches, but kept my spirits up. I kept smiling, and laughing
with Sensei Kershaw and Charles.
The next day, we had some fun in the pool.
Sensei held my foot up out of the water, and rested it on the poolside.
We went to see the Gateway to India, and had a ferry trip.
After this, we all wanted a lazy day, doing nothing.
For the final two days, we did just that; relaxed, drank beer, and
contemplated the long journey home.
Although things didn't go to plan this time,
I wouldn't let it put me off going again.
We still had some really good laughs.
It's always a special time for us all, and I look forward to the return
journey next year with Sensei and Charles.
Oss!
Lea Downey. Shodan. |
