Wearing a tense jaw, I was a little perplexed to be interrupted by other speakers for support and guidance. Why would they ask me? I’m missing a cable and my presentation is mostly video!

Now looking back it wasn’t my first thought (that I looked old), it was more likely that I was laughing with tech support. I have enough ‘experiences’ to know it all works out in the end.

The first time I did a large plenary to hundreds, nearly 20 Years ago, we all got a shock! In fact we actually walked back out to check the room name as we were expecting a side room. Then as we walked toward the stage and took our seats my colleague/co-author missed her flippy chair and plonked herself on the floor! This made us all laugh and relax our jaws ready to present our rather challenging work at the IV RCN conference.

Many other things along the way. Typically, in healthcare you get a moments notice to meet the CEO of the NHS (and ‘teach’ him to cannulate) or asked to rally the matrons for a presentation first thing for the CNO. At which point you rush to get your uniform on only to notice moments before your engagement ring is on! Clearly, in the panic, it is removed and lost for a few days. We did laugh in corporate when I found it.

Then you tremble as you realise your pitch is on the top floor of the World Trade Centre in Dubai (not a side room in the tin hut next door)

Then you find yourself in Qatar and realise your mother was always right - “You need to be able to dine (meet) with and eat with kings, queens and paupers alike” . I hear this loudly as an official walks over to tell me our stand is on the routes please be ready to receive her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. My former ED colleague (now a local) makes off to leave and I ‘encourage’ (make) him stay and instruct him, if needed, to give me ‘The’ look only otherwise seen in our resus days or at my mother’s dinner table. Such a treat to have him there to enjoy the moment together. Even though we didn’t get the chance to meet her Highness, he knew exactly how to make me laugh and not be disappointed.

So I say grab the mic, write the book and be thankful for any chance given to have the honour of making an error.

Smiling is infectious - Raise them where you can and if you are rewarded with laughter, enjoy it - it is hard earned.