The first covid test I took I found mildly irritating and the second and the third ones were similar. Now things have changed drastically and I can no longer take the test. Just before Christmas I was in hospital and had to have another test. The moment they put the swab up my nose I started fighting them off. Eventually they had to hold me down and I finished up with a bleeding nose. I got no sympathy from the doctors or nurses over this. Rather they considered me to be a baby. In most situations I have a high pain threshold. I’m a retired fisherman and during my career I have broken ribs, legs, arms lost fingers from my hand, cut hooks from my body and even sewn up cuts, but that covid test is beyond my control.

Fred Steel, By email