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One other spinoff from all of this, Rayner, is to encourage litigation. I had a successful operation for bowel cancer here in 2010. But, in 2015 I had to be admitted to Friedrichahafen's Kiinnikum as there was scaring and my bowel blocked. I shall spare the more sensitive readers too much detail, but i was told that the 2010 operation was negligently performed and that, if they did not operate immediately, I had no more than three days to live. I was admitted at 8.00 p m on a Sunday and there were two surgeons, two anaesthetists and two nurses solely dedicated to my case and all there by midnight when they operated. All went well and i was out seven days later. All still seems to be well.

It was suggested to me that I make a claim against the NHS. But why? I was sorted out at no extra cost to me. A week in a German hospital feeling a bit sore interrupted my holiday, but what the heck.

These lawyers would have been on my case like vultures. Chching! Their adverts are everywhere. (The Dental Practice inserts a quarter page ad. in The Gazette every other week soliciting clients to sue their dentists!)

Frankly, I find it obscene. This sort of thing was simply not done in Eastbourne 1973-76, I can tell you!

Two lessons to be learned: (1) Don't leave home without your EHIC; (2) Pay attention in you German classes as the speaking instructions in their scanner only talks to you in German. Fortunately, i had Mr Foston teach me and my goodness he drummed it into you.