I now find that they need a current Class 1 medical - fair enough I had one done about 7 months ago - but it has now lapsed to a Class 2. So I had to take another half day off work yesterday to go and have another one done. (Only needing Class 2 for FI work).
Are you sure it lapsed to class 2? My class 1 gives 6 months for single pilot commercial operations carrying passengers and 12 months for class 1 other commercial operations. So in month 7 it is still a valid class 1.