In reply to Pursued by a bear:
Thanks all for the empathy. By my reckoning, this is the third time I've had chicken pox; once as a wee nipper, again in teenage years (when my parents told me about the earlier episode) and now this, plus shingles in my early twenties too. Joy unabounded, but with more itches and a place heading towards the outer reaches of cases of chicken pox experienced by one person.
The GP has advised that I take paracetamol plus an antihistamine for the itching and avoid rubbing the affected parts on pregnant women and small children, which is advice that we'd all do well to heed in all manner of circumstances.
I'm now waiting to see just how far it's going to spread and whether I can make a picture of a willy if I get a marker pen and join the spots.
T.