We are not short of mosquitos here in Hong Kong despite the regular fogging of residential areas which must contribute to a worrying absence of bees. Open any door or window and there they are, buzzing around ready to pounce.

Predictably, I’m one of those people that Mme Mosquito considers as prime a delicacy as a rare rib eye (substitute stir-fried tofu according to your sensibilities). I know that they’re only trying to make a living but I’d rather that they weren’t living off me.

Once you spot a mosquito or hear it buzzing in your ear, it lurks in your brain until the thing is gone or dead. Taking a swipe is not always effective against these racy little beasts and I’m invariably bitten in an horrific revenge attack soon afterwards.

Repellents often don’t do their job against the stingy harridans and they’ve ruined at least a couple of holidays that I’ve had to spend miserably cowering and swathed in towels. 

This year, however, I discovered that covering the bite with Sudocrem, better known as something you apply to your child’s rear end when you change their nappy, as soon as you notice it will stop the itching forthwith  and help it to heal almost immediately. My tub is always within easy reach at my bedside.  It’s become my little hero and brought me comfort and joy this year.

My mum always had “Zinc cream” to hand as a panacea, something that I always mocked but she was right, of course. Sudocrem is such a miracle cure that I now would not be without a tub. Sadly I lost touch with mine for a few days this summer when it was confiscated from my carry-on luggage at Heathrow on the way back here. I like to think that the security control officer had a good holiday, unencumbered by predators.