A cold

I have a cold! I thought yesterday it was the dust from the paper I was shredding making me sneeze but it is definitely a cold! I've had this happen before where I've not had time off work for ages it seems as though the moment I relax my immune system packs its bags and goes on holiday too.

So I intend to do nothing today apart from cooking a meal. The dust can wait. I have plenty of time to deal with it.

Health update

After two good nights of sleep my cold is a lot better. I still have the cough to get rid of but as I have asthma it frequently takes me ages to shake off a cough.

My arm is still progressing as well. I've noticed recently that I've started to let it relax beside me when I'm walking instead of holding it across my body. For a while it was still quite painful to straighten to that extent but it has definitely improved in recent weeks.

Virtually no pain at all now whatever I do with it. I spoke to someone recently who had a similar injury and she said it took her quite a while to get rid of the odd twinge so perhaps 6 months is not too bad. I did go through a phase where I started to think I'd have to live with the pain when I made some movements but now that has nearly gone. I would not care to repeat the experience.

Off to the dentist tomorrow - well the hygienist anyway. It's a bit of a nuisance going every three months, in between the 6 months appointments for the dentist but worth it I think. In any case it's included in what I pay monthly. I have to go back to Norwich - 70 miles away - which is why it's a pain. I could try and find a dentist in Lincolnshire - not easy - but I prefer to stick with the one I've been going to for about 30 years now. I'm going by train which at least means I got two hours each way of uninterrupted reading time.

A shrinking office

We are rapidly dwindling in our office and another one left today. Now she's gone we're down to 16 in an office that actually could hold 80! Great that we've got so much space but still a little strange. Someone else is retiring next month - soon we'll be like the 10 green bottles!

My cold is worse than yesterday just at this moment but hasn't been as bad today. I've been busy as well which has taken my mind off it - always a good thing.

I haven't been reading very much over the last couple of days because I've been going to sleep early but perhaps I'll feel a bit more like it towards the weekend. I'm having a day off on Friday and having my hair cut as it's starting to annoy me so once I've whizzed through the housework I'll have some time to spare.

Off to catch up on the news and then to bed to read for a while.

That's two days missed so far . . .

Actually though 2 days in two months is not really that bad. Anyway no point in beating myself up over it. I wasn't feeling marvellous yesterday and couldn't stop coughing, so I went to bed early, then didn't sleep well. Today I'm not coughing as much and at least my throat is pretty well all right now, though I am sneezing and blowing my nose. I went to work today because I didn't feel that bad - not like the last cold I had when I spent two days in bed! Hopefully I'm over the worst of it now.

Stereotypes

I was intrigued tonight coming home on the bus to realise the teenage girl behind me was listening to what sounded like opera on her iPod. I thought it just serves to show that however hard I may try I still put people in pigeon holes - a salutary lesson!

Childlessness

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/4679546/Why-Im-happy-to-be-child-free.html

I could not have put it better myself!

In recent years I haven't had any negative comments about my childlessness but I used to get a lot when I was in my twenties. Most of them were along the lines of telling me I was selfish for not wanting children.

I have not regretted my decision which was made when I was a child. I did have a very idealised picture of myself at one time having twins and holding down a really high powered job. Somehow that never got close to being on the drawing board and I'm not at all sure where it came from!

I've never been interested in children and what maternal instincts I have are more than satisfied by looking after an ill partner and a delinquent cat, not to speak of being agony aunt at work.

Sore throat a bit better today but I've started sneezing. Don't feel too bad though - maybe it won't develop into anything much.

Feeling sorry for myself

I have an irritating sore throat and think I'm getting a cold. The first one for almost exactly two years - but that doesn't stop me moaning about it. I'm not sure where I got this from as everyone who's had a cold at work had theirs two or three weeks ago. Presumably I've picked it up going to and from on the bus.

Thinking about it there was someone on the bus on Tuesday who had one - so I'll blame him. By the way Boots own brand sore throat pastilles are excellent - I've get the lemon flavoured ones and they really do work and they're not expensive - £1.26 for 24. I usually find a packet will see me through two colds.

I think I shall have an early night tonight and see if sleep will stave it off or at least reduce its severity.

Sunday

Just come across this on the Magistrate's blog - link under favourite blogs:

Nicely Judged
It is reported that after the second time that a mobile phone had rung in the public gallery the Judge put down his pen, and glared across at the flustered-looking owner of the phone. "If that happens again" said His Honour, "you may discover why they are known as cell phones".

Yes, who says judges are out of touch and have no sense of humour?

Writing progress - over 38,000 words now. Need to revamp the plan because I'm sort of running out of plot - oh dear. This is the trouble with mainly writing short stories up to now. I'm good at the economical writing thing but not so good at giving all the details that count. Still, if I can get to say 70,000 words I know it will grow when I edit it. Continuity will need some work as well, but I'm still sticking to 'Don't get it right, get it written!'

Think I'm sickening for a cold, but if it develops it will be the first for over a year. Can't think where I picked it up, but it could have been on a bus or even in the street. Of course I'm not back at work till Tuesday so it would be typical if I have got one. Still, I tend to feel better if I go to work and take my mind of the snuffles, rather than stay at home and feel sorry for myself.

Off to read the Sunday papers on line.