When was the last time you ever got stung by a bee?

I know it happened when I was a child (the predictableconsequence of trying to flick one with a length of plastic meccano) but I don’t remember ever being stung as an adult. Up until yesterday, that is. I’m pretty certain I got stung on the neck as I was riding home.

My fucking god it was painful!

The other type of stings I used to get as a child were nettle stings and they seemed to hurt far more when I was younger than they do now. These days, I hardly notice nettle stings although that could be because I only get them when I’m running so endorphins and adrenaline may mask them. I did wonder whether it was just relative perception between being a child and an adult. I also wondered whether the same could be said for bee stings.

I think the answer is no.

I noticed the sting immediately. At first I thought it was just an insect which had hit my neck but the pain was immediately excruciating. I stopped in a layby a couple of minutes later and took my helmet off and when I felt where the pain was I dislodged something which, presumably, would have been the bee’s stinger. It felt like an injection but, you know, one where the needle was was actually a builders nail and it’s stabbed in your neck. By the builder.

Did I mention that it fucking hurt?

Now generally I’ve got quite a high pain tolerance. Sure I’m never going to experience childbirth and no I don’t think I could cope - I was in the same room once and that was harrowing enough - but hey, I used to play rugby and we all remember (gruesome image link - you have been warned) this right? I’m not into pain but, you know, a little every now and then just makes you feel alive.

Not so this sting. It was entirely unnecessary and very painful pain.

I was even more convinced that it was, in fact, a bee sting when I got home and realised that when I turned my head, I could feel a dull ache up the side of my face. There was no mark or swelling to speak of though (and I have zero allergies so no problems there) but it’s still there this morning although it just aches like a bastard. A quick bit of google-fu does show that the itching and aching can last for up to a week so it all ties in. Colour me impressed - those little black and yellow, honey producing fuckers really do have it in them.

So, anyone else been stung in recent memory?