h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've always been fascinated by the body's ability to heal itself - especially one of those huge bruises on your thigh - and I also find the colours fascinating - I especially like the purple stage, but the green-yellowish isn't a pretty sight...

I totally agree. I like the colours too, but the really large bruises that you get when you fall down stairs and such always look worse when they turn green and yellow. Even though that's when they stop being so painful, they are not nice at all.

I had one on my arm once that looked like the continent of Australia. It was quite horrendous. I actually ended up telling several people that I was having a tattoo removed. Amazingly enough they believed me!

I once got one of those whilst giving blood. I felt a slight nick from the gun dealie, and the nurse said, 'Oops - I think you may get a bit of a bruise there.' Bit of a bruise?! Bit of a blooming bruise? The inner side of my arm went purple from my wrist to half way up my bicep. It healed really fast, though.