If you know Hong Kong, or if you know Rugby, then you've heard of the Hong Kong 7's. A three day weekend, full of drinking, socializing and a boat load of rugby.
I arrived at the stadium after two days of some spectacular rugby. It was Sunday morning and I was headed straight to “South Stand”, dressed head to toe as Ronald McDonald, ready for a day’s drunken madness.
After a slightly jaded couple of hours, the face paint had started to burn into my skin, I’d kicked over a Litre of Alcohol, eaten my weight in beef pies and nature was calling. It had been my goal to get on the big screen, live in-front of the crowd and as yet we, the McDonalds, had not been noticed.
On the way to the toilet, however, my luck changed and I managed to get my moment of fame with 15 seconds of crazy dancing on the big screen. Full of glee over my recent TV appearance, I had decided to repeat the dance whilst traveling back to my seat, just in case the “paps” were still rolling. I began with a hop, a skip, a shuffle and a shake; I was truly in my element. I had no idea, however, that this would all result in a torn ligament and 4 hours in A n E.
Before I new it I was hopping home hoping that after a few hours kip some RICE (rest, ice, compress and elevation) and some pain killers, I’d make it to Wan Chi for the after game party. It was not to be, however, after a few hours’ kip. I tried standing and almost collapsed in pain. If was off to hospital for this 7’s fan.
The first thing I can say is thank God I went home first and got changed. The mere act of sitting in A n E as a slightly hung over Ronald McDonald, in a wheelchair with a potentially broken foot and a face full of paint, would most likely ruin the dreams of any small child not to mention end in a potential law suit from McDonalds themselves for Brand misrepresentation. I had other things to worry about.
The first thing you have to realize about the hospitals, like so many other things in Hong Kong, is that you pay upfront and you keep hold of the receipt. If there is any place that could feel more like a Monty Python sketch it’s a Hong Kong hospital. I half expected John Clees to pop out from behind the curtain to take my order.
The next thing you will notice is that the locals are apparently there to watch the TV rather then as a result of any illness. It’s my opinion that if you can walk, and your not in a sling or have blood coming from somewhere, that you shouldn’t go to A n E. In England we are deliberately told not to go to hospital if we have flu like symptoms. It’s the opposite in HK, with patients told to report if there have any signs of a cold. There must have been at least 10 people go through before me, only to return within a minute with a perplexed look on there face.
So there I am, sitting in a queue of drunken 7's victims, with receipt in hand waiting to be seen. It really is a unique experience. It’s a shame that I was told they charge extra if you use a wheel chair, I would have hopped if I had known. The best description I can give of the whole experience is that of a 5 star Hotel. Admittedly all the services are superb, and you know you're in good hands, but ultimately watch out for all the additional extras they may add to the bill and NEVER ever drink from the mini bar in your room.
All in all I’ve lost my south stand virginity in a way I will never forget. There is always more to the Hong Kong 7’s than the rugby.
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