Ouch… was practically my last word of 2010. Actually the year’s last word was unprintable so let’s stick with Ouch…

I stood on a wine glass. Not my smartest move. But the real problem was that I had no shoes on at the time. At first I thought I’d only kicked it over, spilt a few drops of cheap red wine on the parquet. Alas the red wine was no Merlot… it was blood dripping from a 3cm hole in my foot.

Blood and pain… not a good way to end the year. (or start one for that matter)

My default position in such circumstances is that very male of responses… Ignore it.

A small plaster and more wine was sure to make everything better. However, even I couldn’t ignore the mouth of skin that gaped open on my foot. Which, for all you non-medical types, is the wrong place for a mouth. I overcame my natural aversion to hospitals and took a cab to A&E.

The place was completely empty. 2am and I was the only injured soul, (or is that sole?). Amazingly I was in and out in 20mins flat. 3 stitches cost me just 300CZ plus the doctor spoke enough English to get my jokes. As painful experiences go it was fairly painless.

But in truth I’ve always been happy with the health care I received in this country. Czech doctors have warm hands and a professional disposition. The hospitals are clean and the treatment although basic seems to do the trick.

Now I’m not to saying the British NHS is a disaster, even though some would have you believe it. And it’s clear there’s never enough cash to pay the doctors and nurses what they deserve but then business and health care never really was an equation that would work.

No, my best wishes and gratitude are with underpaid medical staff everywhere. I promise I'll look where I walk in future.

So now I limp about Prague seeking sympathy where I can. Happy in the knowledge that if I ever were to be hit by a truck here at least the trip to hospital wouldn’t hurt… much!