Had to Uber a taxi with my flat mate this morning, she didn’t want her hair to get messed up in the wind and my alarm hadn’t gone off. Actually made it to work earlier than usual and still managed to grab breakfast and a coffee before sitting down at my desk. The rest of my day has gone really well, I’m feeling fresh after the gym this evening and already excited about the four day weekend ahead.

Sometimes the usual routine doesn’t go to plan, the alarm doesn’t go off, you miss a bus or you realise the shirt you were going to wear is still sitting in the dryer. More often than not you’re annoyed for a second and then soon forget about it. You continue the day like any other, get back on track and have a great day.

HIV can interrupt your routine in the same way, it’s unexpected and largely unforeseen. You’re aware it’s a possibility but it’s not something you think about all the time.

But HIV doesn’t have to ruin your day, or your life. People deal with their diagnosis at different speeds and in various ways, but in the majority of circumstances at some point HIV will become a very boring, nondescript aspect of someone’s life.