The first few days are nothing worthy of note. I'm not nervous and everything is running smooth. I do have to mention the fact how glad I am to have a job now, which gives me far less time to think about everything.
It's only wednesday in the evening that I get a first feeling in my stomach I would describe as 'uncomfortable' to say the least, but it's not until friday in the afternoon that I start to get the pins and needles. It even reminds me of the time before my corneal-transplant surgery, when I also had this feeling like life was going by like a movie and I was looking at myself rather than actually being present.

The end of the friday-afternoon I get quite the headache, but work was a day of utter chaos and that sure did not help.
Luckily, I have some time left at the end of the day and I decide to head for Den Haag CS, to whitness the surprise-performance planned for 6 PM, to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the RTME-Feis (RTME = Registered Teachers Mainland Europe)
I arrive just in time at the station in question and place myself near an information-booth in the central hall.
I look around (probably in a peculiar manner) if I see groups of people hurdle together or if I see someone changing his shoes in the middle of the station, but nothing.
There are now more people that seem to be on the lookout next to the information-booth, but they are all there to pick someone up.

6 PM... ... ... ...

Then, the clock strikes 6. I keep my eyes and ears open, but it remains quiet and life goes on like normal.

5 past 6: nothing. 10 past 6: again nothing. At 15 past 6 I don't believe anything will happen anymore and I decide to head for a place to get some food. With tomorrow's competition ahead, I don't want to go for my standard 'chips with mayonaise'.
I find a Subway near the trainstation and pick a sandwich that looks reasonably healthy. It also gives me the opportunity to see where I need to go tomorrow, as the Subway is on route to the theatre where the Feis will be held.

Female Irish dancers in the crowd

I walk back to the station after receiving my sandwich. It's just a little warmer there and especially not that windy.
Completely at ease I eat my sandwich and then suddenly discover a group of female Irish dancers in between other travellers.

For the average layman it's just a group of travellers with (maybe) a bit much luggage, but the many suitcases with labels still attached and especially the wedge-shaped bags, some also covered in shiny stones and a Celtic knot here and there, don't leave any room for doubt about the reason of their presence.
This way, more females pass me that only came to this city because of the upcoming European Champions and competitions.

The night: I sleep, but I don't really rest. I did expect it to be far worse.