It’s amazing the information you can get from complete strangers just be talking to them. In Asda just now, the lady on the till told me that after years of having all her family of 18 people around for Christmas Day, she was keeping this year to just her close family. Apparently, her sisters just sit around and wait to be served on instead of helping out. She serves Christmas dinner on her best china and insists on washing up after their starter before dishing up the main course.

A three course meal for Christmas dinner eh? In our house, breakfast was selection box and sherry and starter was cheese balls and Twiglets.

Her favourite drink is port.

For my part of the bargain, she could have gathered that I’m single, that I have a brother, a sister, a niece and elderly parents, and that my mother has had a recent knee operation.

Today in work I had a meeting with my boss in which I happily told her about the gradual recovery from my mental health problems, but in which I volunteered other information about my health and my personal life.

It’s odd how so much emphasis is put on confidentiality and privacy, yet most of us are more than happy to discuss the minutiae of our lives with just about anybody… apart from those closest to us.

And today came the distressing news that a health professional had taken her own life because she’d been conned into passing on a call from some radio show hoaxers who were conducting a prank and enquiring about the health of a member of the Royal Family. Such a duty is placed on healthcare staff about the personal information and privacy of hospital patients, yet most individuals are more than happy to tell any old person about their health issues; the representatives of celebrities even provide information to the press about their clients’ health.

We’re naturally a trusting sort and this can be the downfall of so many. I’ve never been the victim of a con artist, but in the past I’ve happily provided my bank details to charity muggers who convince me that it’s a good idea to pay a regular charitable contribution to whatever cause they’re being paid to promote. MUG! And I’m supposedly quite intelligent. Then again, I have no common sense and I see my contribution to Shelter as a not too bad price to pay for this.

I do worry about my parents though. These are the people who insist on paying their utility bills in full as they come in rather than setting up a potentially money-saving monthly payment scheme, yet they pay people who knock on the door in cash for gardening services or repairs to their shed roof. I’ve told them not to hand over any cash or sign up to anything unless they discuss with us lot first…. because I obviously have the track record to be trusted!

Do I care if complete strangers get hold of my health records history? No, not at all, but I’d absolutely DIE if my mum ever saw them and found out that I smoke.