Well, after the aural issues I have been suffering with at last I got to see the doctor. It seems I have an infection and a blocked ear and I was sent along to sit outside the treatment room and wait for Nurse.

I have to admit to being a little apprehensive about anything medical (a condition I blame on a nurse who insisted I have an injection in my backside rather than an arm when I was about four) and the last time I was here for shots before I travelled I even insisted on the lolly afterwards.

I was tempted to point out what nurses do to the four year old ahead of me in the queue but as his Mum seemed to have brought sweets I decided against it.

At first glance ear syringing seems to be in the 21st Century. An impressive piece of equipment came out, complete with foot control and water tank. A new, hygienic end was fitted and then the whole procedure slid downhill as an old, beaten up aluminum jug was produced. “You need to hold this under your ear”, I was told, as Nurse proceeded to push the pipe into my ear, turn on the water and drench us both. “I think you have the wrong type of ear”, she shouted, soaking us again.

In the end we sorted it with a lot of pushing, head twisting and water spraying. Now I have bat like hearing in one ear and the other seems dull and muffled….