Since my tonsils were whipped out at the end of last week my throat’s been very painful. But it isn’t only me who’s been experiencing it. When I feel a particularly strong wave of agony my tics overreact and make me hit myself, or whoever happens to be nearby.

In the early hours of this morning Zoë was on the receiving end of this pain relay. She was helping me during a ‘ticcing fit’, and as it came towards the end I kept swallowing. It felt as if I’d swallowed all the hedgehogs I’ve ever ticced about, and each time the pain hit me I hit Zoë. She bravely stayed put, but wisely kept a slightly tighter grip on my arm than usual.