This is the one I'd rather forget - in more ways than one.

About three days before Christmas, I started experiencing severe stomach pain. This wasn't the first time this had happened, and before now it had gone away. But not this time. It just kept getting worse and worse, and by the evening of December 23, 1984 I was in agony and nothing was working. Our doctor was at a loss to explain it, and I was taken by my family to the Austin Hospital.

I remember lying waiting in an examination cubicle with my parents looking on worried. And my mother asking me how I was, and I didn't answer. She thought that meant I was only semi conscious because of the pain killing drugs I'd been given, but I said I heard her and I just didn't feel like talking. The fact was I was exhausted after fighting the pain and I just wanted to rest.

When doctors worked out what was going on, I was admitted on the morning of December 24. The problem was a strangulated intestine, and it had become gangrenous. When that was discovered, my status was elevated to emergency and I was booked in for surgery at 6.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Apparently I spent two hours on the table and I was as groggy as anything making for what was without a doubt the worst Christmas in my life. Being in hospital at the best of times is bad enough, but to miss out on the family gathering not just on Christmas Day but Boxing Day as well was not an experience I want to repeat! Come to that - neither was the pain that put me in the Austin in the first place.

I was within 24 hours of carking it. That was too close for comfort. Never again if I can help it! I was in hospital for a week and then I had to return for a week in January 1985 because of an infection. And subsequent events and stress targeted my stomach - and as a consequence I have been super protective of it where possible. It's why I hate flying as the heaving that occurs on take off and landing is a reminder of this time. It scares me, and whilst a repeat is most unlikely if not almost impossible the pain at least could be replicated.