I have tried to learn from each episode of asthma. My first bad experience was while I was doing a Fine Art Degree and had a reaction to paint solvents. The next was a reaction to olive pollen on a Spanish holiday. The most recent was to tree moulds in France. These are allergens I have learned I must avoid.

I'm not going to give up painting; I select materials which don't affect me. I'm not going to give up foreign holidays; I have to carefully research before deciding where and when to visit. I now also use add-on medication and carry a mask just in case I might need it.