Having turned thirty last year the annual health check shifted gears from casual inspection to thorough investigation, and I was served my first ever barium meal. I have to say that it was not as spectacular as I thought. Neither the taste of the barium sulfate, nor the machine that rotated me around made me sick. It was definitely much less unpleasant than the blood sampling. I did well there too this year, especially compared to two years ago when I fainted and last year when they had to go in three times to get enough juice out of me.

Other things on the menu:

• Blood pressure measurement
• Weight and height measurement
• Torso X-Ray
• Electrocardiogram
• Abdominal ultrasonogram
• Hearing test
• Visual acuity assessment (they gave up on having me do that without glasses)
• Intra-ocular pressure measurement
• Urine and stool sampling
• Life-style questionnaire, with particular focus on eating habits

Nothing dental. That never seems to be included in the bundle, wherever you go.