Like most people; I suspect; I know when I am about to become ill with a cold or similar. I knew yesterday.
Yes I went to bed late but I don’t believe that makes you ill despite what the “experts” say. I never set my alarm because my classes never started until 1330 and the chances of me sleeping too late were nil. In fact I awoke at 0800, pumped ship and went back to bed feeling like manure. I then proceeded to doze on and off (waking only to try and moisten my mouth which was as dry as the Atacama desert) until I really had to get up at midday.
If I was a student I would have reported in sick. In fact, seeing as I am being given the bullet here anyway, I could have done so as a teacher. But no, I like to think I am better than that and so I hauled myself into the bathroom where a shower - which normally makes me feel a lot better - only made me feel clean. By the time I went to the first class I felt like death on legs.
It is of course the main hazard of working in institutions, if studentitis is doing the rounds and you haven’t had it before then you will get it. I can handle having to take extra tissues with me but this was different, normally I can make it to the 3rd floor before becoming a little breathless, today it was the 2nd and I needed to take a break then the 3rd, another break and then up to the 4th. What is pleasing though is that whilst I have dozed off in my chair three times tonight (took me three attempts to watch Newsnight) I think when I wake up later I will probably be an awful lot better. I hope so because I need to shop and then in the evening be the games master for the English Corner. It’s bad enough feeling like shit when you go to class and try to pretend you are Ok but doing likewise in your free time for a “happy” activity?
Yesterday in the business street supermarket I also tried to buy liquid laundry detergent. The familiar packages were absent but the brand I use was still there so I added a litre bag to my basket - I have a big bottle and buy the bags to top it up.
Oh no, I wasn’t allowed to buy it! In fairness the women who work there have known me for 6 years and know my habits so I asked by tugging at my shirt if this stuff was for washing clothes. They tried to explain and thankfully a student in the queue told me it was softener, not soap. Great. Ok, show me where the stuff I normally buy is because it has changed design.
They took me to a litre sachet sitting inside a large plastic washing-up bowl. They then proceeded to wrestle with a pile of bowls to separate them whilst I protested that no, I only wanted the laundry soap.
The penny dropped. The bowl was a free offer with the detergent. I wasn’t happy at the time but it now appears to be perfect for the cat litter - it is deep enough that their kicking and scratching will not see loads of wood chips thrown out onto the floor. Doubtless Dumpling will be pleased. Seeing as Joan is far too busy cramming I am taking Dumpling for a steakhouse dinner after she cleans on Saturday. It’s nothing that special, I wish it was with real steaks but I am hoping she will go for the lamb which everyone bar me likes.
And now it is 0315 so I really need to call it a day and hope that sleep will be therapeutic.
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