New years eve 2013                                            1800

I can only report that things went from bad to worse. How I made it through Friday I have no idea but from the moment I finished Friday afternoon until lunchtime yesterday the only times I was out of bed were to pop to the campus shops, cook for the animals or take Pepsi out for her necessaries. Cooking for myself never came into it - I never ate for five days.

Oh, I tried - I bought egg and tomato Sunday, took one forkful and dumped it, ditto the pot noodles yesterday. Today on my way to examine students I felt that unless I got something inside me in all likelihood I would collapse. Accordingly after I finished I went and bought some bananas, three of which have temporarily perked me up. Later I am going to grill a packet of “British” bangers and will have a couple of those with some cheddar - to hell with the health aspect (not that that ever bothers me anyway) I just need some strength and energy back.

Colds and Man Flu I have had aplenty and always ignored them. Sure, you wake up and don’t want to get out of bed but you know that once you do, as the day progresses you will feel better all the time. This was different. I coughed solidly for five days round the clock (I’m surprised the Korean never complained!), had the sweats and shivers and just generally wanted to crawl off and die - I know I am ill if it affects my ale consumption and it did - still is to an extent. It has to have been flu proper.

As a result I pulled out of the teachers concert, leaving Kevin to step in at the last minute  - I never even went to watch it yesterday because not only did I not feel up to it but I neither wanted to infect anyone else nor spoil the show by coughing all the way through. This was a Lulu as they say but after the next two days off I hope I will be considerably brighter.

I have also declined invitations to a couple of my classes parties this evening for the same reasons - plus they normally only see me full of vim, vigour and bonhomie, not the miserable carcase I am at present. A somewhat reduced version too it has to be said, for currently I am having difficulty keeping my trousers above ground. Doubtless that will rectify itself in short order.

Not an awful lot more to tell - as you will appreciate, having spent the best part of five days confined to bed I haven’t been up to much - and of course here it is hardly new year even if students use it as an excuse. I am hoping to have a bit more about me on Thursday for having not been shopping all I have for the animals is a constant diet of liver. I had been starting to stock the freezer for the spring festival but never realised I would need it before then!

So thank you very much for your reading during 2013 and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a happy new year followed by a healthy and happy 2014 wherever you are. Sing NeeAnn Kwai Le!