Sharm sunset

Oh, it's good to be outside, released from hospital and back together as a family.

Tom is ok. Quiet, sore, a bit shell-shocked but really, really fine.

I turned my comments off the last few days as I had a feeling that I needed to really concentrate on this holiday and that turned out to be true. But the comments are now firmly back ON to thank you all for the hearts, comments, emails and good wishes for Tom. I'm really grateful for the kindness of family and strangers - except none of you are strangers to me, more 'Blippers I haven't met yet'. Thank you - it was comforting and lovely to know you were there.

Tom was kept in ICU overnight, wired to the machines, but he had a decent night's sleep and no dramas. The hospital was faultless, clean and quiet. The doctors and nurses were kind, softly spoken, reassuring and compassionate. They all introduced themselves by name to Tom and talked to him about football (his specialist subject). The food; warm rolls with honey or cheese, plain yoghurt and orange juice, was simple and good and brought to his bedside with a smile. I was allowed to stay the night, in the bed next to his. If you're going to spend a night in a hospital in Egypt may I strongly recommend the South Sinai, but I sincerely hope you don't ever need to do so.

So what happened? The doctor suspected a fit, based on the fact that the whole of Tom's right hand side went into spasm. Tom says it 'locked up'. He doesn't think it's anything too serious, but wants us to get Tom tested in London. Or he could have been stung by something under the water - jellyfish perhaps? - which caused his body to start shutting down or perhaps he was allergic to a part of the dive equipment (latex allergy maybe?). We just don't know yet, but we can be certain that without anti-histamine, adrenaline, oxygen and Jamie on the boat, the outcome would have been very different.

We waited a looooong time for the hospital discharge papers. There was a weird mating dance between the hospital, insurance company and us. I can only thank heaven for decent insurance and the speed of email, otherwise we could still be in there now.

So, now onto the important business of getting on with our holiday. I've promised Tom a milkshake and whatever he wants to eat tonight. I'm going to buy Jamie a beer and the doctor says I've got to give him a kiss. Or two.

And here's a big one for all of you - thank you xxx