I was going up the escalator on the tube this morning, feeling pretty sorry for myself, because my guide dog is ill and I had to leave him at home and rely on my stick-with-a-ball-on.

I was listening to a conversation that was taking place about 150 meteres away about hand luggage and the airline BMI. I was able to do this because my other senses are vastly heightened to compensate for my disability.

Suddenly I was stunned by a rancid eggy sulphurous cloud that nearly burned my eyebrows clean off.

I spent most of the morning in A&E and the consultant has informed me that all the nerve endings in my left nostril have been permenantly destroyed.

I am dreading going home tonight, must get one of those face masks, or possibly an aqua lung.