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 If one were running away from the hustle and bustle of our busy daily schedule, Genval may just be a place to go. With a small tranquil lake in the midst of it, occasionally lined by quaint and inviting holiday homes, this was where the 14th Genval-Brussels International Symposium was held - within the most impressive feature by the lake - the Chateau du Lac. While one may have thought a tired Singaporean Orthopaedic Registrar may have retired to this small ideallic town 18km south of Brussels to drown his sorrows in the lake, he decided to drown himself in 2 intense days of Orthopaedic basic science, anatomy, engineering, and clinical issues of the Muscle, the theme for this year being - Muscles in Reconstructive and Orthopaedic Surgery: Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Sports Medicine, Coverage and Functional Flaps, and Rehabilitation. Indeed, this was the 14th time Prof Frederic Schuind's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University Hospital Erasmus was organising a theme based symposium, with an eclectic mix of speakers and participants from 18 countries, covering a whole range of topics about the Muscle. Pleasantly surprising was the presence of the legendary biomechanical engineer Prof An Kai-Nan from Mayo Clinic (who refreshed our memories on tendon biomechanics, and the emerging technology of magnetic resonance elastography - of which i could hardly follow for the tonnes of physics it involved- and I confessed to Prof An as much), and also, the outwardly reserved, but privately jocular, worldwide guru of free muscle transfer - Prof Kazuteru Doi from Yamaguchi, Japan. There appears to be no such thing as retirement in medicine. Greats like Prof An from Mayo Clinic, despite their seniority, are still active in research and enthusiastic in sharing of knowledge.
I confess that 2 days of intense lectures was quite sufficient, to which I contributed one minor topic on upper limb necrotising fasciitis. What surprised me was not the information I obtained - for I admit as much that  basic orthopaedic science often leaves my head in a swirl - but the grace, hardworking attitude, and unassuming humility of these 2 men of such academic stature. Of course, all the participants were entertained by the occasional French Professor, always with a touch of madness and french flair, passionately expounding his new findings: if "hiking under the skin" (which was the title of his talk), makes no sense to you, then you'll have to ask me the next time round you meet me.
I was also much impressed by the hospitality, kindness, and warmth, of my host, Prof Schuind, who himself trained in Mayo Clinic in his early years, and is both an enthusiastic clinician, and basic science researcher. I first met him in the SICOT meeting last year, when he invited me to this meeting, as well as a visit to his department.
Which is what happened next. After a Sunday break, I joined in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University Hospital Erasmus programme for 1 and a half days, where I was able to participate in their morning and evening meetings, and even join Prof Schuind in his clinic. It was interesting to learn of their variety and spread of cases, and the different ways in which they treat similar conditions. The department, being a centre that specializes in external fixation, used them in a way I never expected. One of these techniques was that of total trapeziectomy for 1st carpo-metacarpal joint osteoarthritis, with stabilisation of the 1st and 2nd metacarpals using a mini-external fixator. The patient, indeed, did very well. It was an eye-opener. The department itself is supported by a large rehabilitation department, and both departments are heavily involved in basic science and clinical research. The basic science research ranges from the cellular level, to bone and soft tissue biomechanics, to gait and motion analysis, and complicated computer modeling with a view to extensive clinical application.
 To round up my short re-discovery of the Muscle and Man, along the journey I watched the movie The Greatest Game Played, where it depicts how Francis Ouimet beat Harry Vardon in the playoffs in the 1913 US Open. The words that struck me was what Ouimet's mother told his father who was fiercely objecting to his pursuit of golf (in the days when it was still an aristocratic game, while he was a caddy from a working-class family) - that Francis had "God given talent". Beyond that, I was reminded to perceive and isolate opportunity and gifts of providence when they come; and they do not always appear in the most convenient circumstances.
The other thing was to see Vardon's humility, gamesmanship, and integrity despite being the greatest golfer alive, and being beaten at the play-off, at the last hole, by the clearly talented, but determined underdog and amateur, Ouimet .
I was reminded once again, of our role in Medicine, our ability to touch people's lives, and our need to remain humble everyday of our lives. There is a sad tendency to be lost in the busyness of life's daily toil, to forget our simple daily mission, and for young surgeons like myself to forget myself, and get a little cocky.
After Francis Ouimet won, he and his pint-sized boy caddy were carried on the shoulders of the thronging jubilant crowd, amongst whom was his humbled, but proud father. People were handling small tokens to these 2 impoverished amateurs, who played golf for passion - and for free.
My short journey there and back was not about a pretty chateau by the lake, was not so much about Orthopaedics, but much more about Life.
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