When people say ‘do your bit for your country’ what they mean is ‘do your bit for my holiday’

Trying to get hold of HRT in the time of Covid is like trying to score crack. Possibly, scoring crack is way easier than trying to persuade your GP to do your annual blood pressure test so you can renew your prescription while the nurse who does the blood pressure testing is socially distancing. I can’t be sure, obviously.

While they don’t much want to wrap a strap around my arm and press a button, they are very keen on sticking a syringe into me.

The vaccine call-up came in a text from the NHS the day before my blood pressure test, which they finally decided to give me after attempting to do it over the phone, despite me pointing out this wouldn’t work. They texted me to say I could now book my vaccine.

I ignored it, and explained to a friend why. ‘No, no, no!’ he wailed, passionately. ‘The government is doing everything it can to keep you safe, or you would moan that they hadn’t done enough to protect you.