So yesterday I went to give blood at the IBTS clinic on D’Olier street. I should have gone a month ago tbh; had I not hung around I would have been able to get another donation in (in September) before I vacated for Germany.

But anyway, I show up, all is in order. Routine questions. “Sore throat or anything?” I told them I had the tiniest, tiniest ticklish sore throat because there was pollen around and I hadn’t taken any antihistamines since Saturday (actually thinking about having a clean bloodstream for the donation). And apparently this is grounds for their declining you - just because it’s not all that sore for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be a living hell for any blood recipient after a surgery or something.

I mean, I’ll go back - they always need blood and I feel good about myself after a donation; but why they want to turn my blood when it’s pure - and it’s only an allergic, non blood-borne reaction that’s causing the tiniest bit of a sore throat (and I can’t emphasise it enough, it’s really the tiniest possible tickle that it could be without not actually being a tickle at all), it’s no wonder they’re in such short supply…