I was deaf in my left ear for a good while recently. I have an ear wax thing that plugs that ear up the odd time, and I have to get it syringed. The thing is, it's gradual, so I don't realise there's a problem until I'm lying in bed on my right hand side and Sally pokes me to roll over so she can repeat what I just didn't hear.

So I made an appointment in the clinic near work. I'd been using drops to soften the goop so I just wanted to go in there and get it done. The doctor seemed sort of  unnerved by this. It's like she had an ear wax thing, and didn't want to do it. The ear syringer was a little box filled with (initially too hot) water which swooshes water through a small tube and nozzle. I held a container under my ear to catch the run-off and she syringed away. That was a bit sore -- too hot. She adjusted the temperature and went again.

It was obviously a bit gross and she was muttering 'ew' to herself and trying not to come into contact with any of it. I thought it strange that not only was she not wearing gloves but that she was having such a reaction. I just didn't expect a doctor to be put off by some bodily fluids.

Anyway, there was lots of checking and looking and re-syringing and then suddenly squnch! I could hear again! It was very sudden and quite shocking to realise how much I hadn't been hearing. It had been obvious as I had found I really had to concentrate to hear what people were saying and any ambient noise just turned everything into an aural mush. She then turned her attention to the right ear which she said was worse (although I hadn't noticed any problem there) and as she syringed, it felt marvelous. It was like scratching an itch, only much, much better.

So I paid my fee and left; and it was then that I realised just how bad my exhaust had got. Jesus that's loud.

Paddy and I put together the cot this evening (that's an electric screwdriver, by the way). It's a bit premature (still two months to go), but I'm glad I did, as there are bits missing. It's in our room, taking up space, and I'm sure it'll just be used as a clothes hamper for a while. God knows everything else is.