I want to break free

Breathe in calm and blow out worry was what I kept telling myself over and over again as the nurse jabbed me in my right arm and then my left.

Being particularly rubbish with needles, I had been dreading this day but knew it had to happen. You can't just waltz over to Africa without first doing your best impression of a pin cushion. Today I was vaccinated for meningitis, measles, mumps and rubella. Next week it will be hepatitis A and typhoid. After that it will be cholera, hepatitis B and yellow fever.

Today I walked out of the surgery with a smile on my face feeling very pleased with myself. Not only did I not faint. I didn't even come close to fainting.

Now where's that big girl's blouse...........?