Sick Again

I seem to be plagued by illness. I spent last Thursday with Rosie who had a streaming cold. I find it impossible not to pick her up and be close so, of course, I came down with same streaming cold. I can cope with a cold and this was fortunate because I had booked myself into an open day at Harris Manchester on Friday. I snuffled through the event and then drove to Brighton to spend the weekend with Alison and Harry. As luck would have it, Harry had diarrhea and vomiting. Once again, couldn't resist holding and cuddling. We were afraid I would give him the cold but instead, he gave me what he had. I woke up on Monday morning (back in Oxford) with all three complaints in full force. It would appear that my immune system is not at its best. I know I blogged recently about joining the gym and I did feel good. Oh well. Nowhere to go but up.

The Gym

Here is a perfect example of how lazy I am. I joined a gym at the beginning of the month and promised myself that I would go at least every other day, aiming for four times a week. Today was meant to be a gym day and there is even a class that I like on Sunday evening. Am I there stretching and puffing? Of course not. I'm sitting in front of my computer pretending to be doing something worthwhile. My gym interactions have been interesting. You have to be induced (induction) by one of the little gym rats before you are allowed loose on the machines. My little chap is called Dave and he wanted me to list my problem areas. Where to begin? How honest should I be? I decide to be truthful so I write down things like, "pain in my legs, pain in my joints, shortness of breath on walking upstairs, dizziness, headaches." He looks at the list and says, "Have you seen your GP lately?" I assure him that it is just age and inactivity and nothing to worry about. He's not having it so I have to promise to go and bore my GP for ten minutes. I do this and GP does his thing and declares me fit and well. He says that the only help for my symptoms is exercise!! So there, Dave! I go back to the gym and Dave shows me things to do. Very simple, very elementary. I've done a lot of gym stuff in the past so, the next time I go, I ignore Dave's mamby pamby routine and really go for it. This followed a two mile walk with Rosie so I was feeling pretty chuffed and pleased with myself until I woke up the next morning. Oh dear. I'm telling myself that that is why I didn't go today but the real reason is that I went to a lunchtime party and had a couple of glasses of wine so exercise was off the agenda. I spoke later to my allotment partner who had also been at the lunch. She had just come back from a run down to the allotment to check on the beans, etc. She was running, I was napping. We each do what the Lord put us on earth for.

Because I'm such a lazy sod, I seem to have to start every blog with an apology for not keeping up. In future take my apologies as a given.

Yesterday morning I went to Nigel's for an extra special soiree. He was reading a lead-in poem for his epic and the first chapter of same. It was excellent; especially the poem. I've read his stuff before and sometimes it's hard going - replete with lots of gods and goddesses and I can't even put a function or talent to the well known ones, my classical Greek education being nonexistent. We were the usual group with a few omissions but, instead of just coffee and biscuits, he had laid on wine, bread and cheese, tomatoes and chutneys. It was not only a feast for the ears and stomach but also for the eyes. Nigel was dressed in a floral patterned, silk brocade jacket with a similar waistcoat underneath plus a floppy scarf which figured in the procuction. He carried a sword as well and waved it about from time to time to make a point. The epic is based on goings on in Whitehall so lots of in jokes. Hunting figured in it as well. The thing I regret was not taking my camera. It would have made a wonderful picture. Maybe I can get him to dress up again for a photoshoot.