Well, to say the last week has been eventful would be an understatement.

It all began Tuesday morning whilst in town having breakfast. Off I went to the loo (nothing unusual in that) and I was peering in the mirror when I noticed that the mole on my left jaw line had grown a pink cauliflower like lump. I've had this mole forever and whilst it's big, it's never been any trouble at all. So, what to do now?? After much dithering I got one of the girls to take a picture of the offending blemish and e-mailed it to my doctor in the UK. I then called him to ask for his advice......No it was not ok to leave it until I got home......No it was not ok to leave it a month and come home early. It needed looking at.

So my options were to fly home or to fly to Bangkok, where the hospitals are good, and get it seen to. So Bangkok it was. Flight and hotel booked for Wednesday.

I flew into Bangkok at 2pm, went stright to my hotel and was in the reception of the hospital by 4pm. The dermatologist came on duty at 5 and it was being removed by 6.

The doctor spoke very good English and I felt pretty reassured until I noticed that he'd written on my notes 'Remove MOLD'....great! Blood pressure taken and ok and I was on the bed awaiting the needle.

Now, I'm not at all sqeamish, but if all of you think of that one thing that makes you shudder and your skin crawl, for me it was this particular mole. I hated to even touch it, so having a needle stuck into it took all of my will power not to jump up and run out of the room.

It then went from bad to worse. The instrument usually used for moles looks like a mini apple corer, but my mole was too big for the largest size and so it was down to the scalpel. It was so deep as well that I kept feeling it and needing more local. Between the cutting, pulling and needle I was in danger of putting my nails through the palms of my hands. He kept telling me to relax.....YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING, HE WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE PUNCHED.

Half an hour later and it's finally off and it's now the stitches, which I can feel but by this time I just want it over as quickly as possible. Sod another needle, just finish it.

All done and 3 stitches, then a waterproof dressing which must not be removed or got wet for 3 days. He then shows me the pot with my mole in...why? I do not need to see this.

Next stop the pharmacy to collect my drugs (painkillers, anit-biotics and iodine solution) and then to the cashier. The cost of everything, including getting the mole analysed was the equivalent of 75 pounds. Bargain.

At last, it's done and I'm out of there, only to end up sitting on the curb bawling my eyes out. Not my greatest moment. I finally pull myself together and find a taxi to get me back to the hotel. En route my driver starts shouting at random. At first I think he's talking to me but no, I have managed to pick the only taxi driver in Thailand with Tourettes Syndrome. Just call me lucky!! I can cope with the odd shout as it alleviates the boredom of being stuck in traffic, but I get slightly concerned when he starts twitching. Anyway, I get back safely and just want to have some food and go to bed.

Why is it that when you are quite happily sitting on your own minding your own business, some annoying pratt decides that you need company. The hotel owner's brother took a shine to me and wouldn't leave me alone.

Finally ditched him and made it to bed but didn't sleep too well. The next morning at breakfast I was informed that the hotel was full so I had to move. Fed up with the whole thing I booked into a poncy hotel....sod the expense.

My dressing was soaked and starting to peel off so I found a Boots and stocked up on dressings and medical supplies. My main problem seems to be that I sweat so much that the dressing gets wet from inside and peels off. Also managed to locate a Starbucks and an M&S so new knickers and a vanilla latte were in order.

Friday morning I flew back to Siem Reap and was met at the airport by Beth, sporting an ice cold diet coke. What an angel. She took me straight for brunch as well.

Not done much all weekend as my main concern is keeping the wound clean, which proves difficult when it's so dusty and hot. I'm not going to New Hope until the stitches are out and it's healed as I really don't want to get an infection. Results on Wednesday hopefully!