Wednesday 13 January 2010

Death warmed up, searches for a sign




I am SO tired of having this terrible cold. Of constant nose-blowing and hand-washing. Of having a head feeling like it's packed with cement. Of having no sense of smell (except for the cat trays - how cruel!) or taste. Of headache and mouth-breathing, and painful, puffy, streaming eyes and of scaring myself if I glance in a mirror. Of wanting to lie down even after a 5-minute totter round the block with a bored dog. I've run out of Manuka honey, of Greek honey, of French honey, and  anyway, I'm getting sick of hot water with lemon and honey. I want tea that tastes of tea! And maybe some crisps....

It's as dismal outside as I feel. The snow has given way to dirty slush, there's no sign of daylight today, and there's enough sleet coming down to discourage the dog, never one to venture forth in any degree of dampness, from getting off the front step without a helping human foot behind her.

Every few hours, there's a brief paracetamol-blessed respite during which things get done, like changing my bedding (oh the joy of a clean, crisp bed when you feel germ-laden and feeble!) or making a cake or a pot of watercress soup. Until the streaming starts again, and the urge to lie down, groaning pitifully, takes over, waves of self-pity washing over me, albeit with a small disapproving voice in my clogged-up brain snapping "Get a grip, woman! It's only a common cold!".

But I'm bored  with it all now; it's time to feel better, for the weather to improve, for daylight to break through the perpetual gloom. It's time for Spring to show her first tentative shoots.

And there they are. Looking out of my sitting room window at the dreariness of the front street and the tiny sodden patch that I fancifully call the front garden, with its blackened, slimy snow-victims that once were poppies and lavenders, I can see a little clump of snowdrop shoots that weren't there two weeks ago, standing sturdily upright, one of the most optimistic sights of this bleakest time of year.

Phew! That's all right then. In no time at all, they'll look like this.



I feel better already.

10 comments:

Linda said...

Repeat after me "I will feel better soon" "I will feel better soon" or, if you are feeling spiritual, "This too will pass"!

Or just follow the dog's example - stay in and sleep.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Your cold sounds like a super new Family-Size one . Hold firmly to the belief that a cold lasts seven days and repeat mantras ( I must , I must improve my bust was always my favourite ) if you think they help .
Meanwhile you could try that yukky but effective remedy .....sniffing salt water up your nose ( that's if you've got to the stage of being able to sniff anything up your nose , of course ) . It does help .
Mind you , so does cognac .
I do hope you feel better soon !

rachel said...

Linda: "This too will pass" is my eternal motto.....

S & S: We used to say 'increase' rather than 'improve' when we were girls. Now 'reduce' would be more appropriate.... Sniffing salt water - there's a thought. An unpleasant one. Not that I'm ungrateful, of course.

Lesley said...

How about "I will survive"??

We haven't got ANY green round here. I can't decide whethre I'll be pleased to see it or sad that this winter wonderland is on its way out. Probably the latter - I love snow. Can't help myself.

Hope you feel better soon.

Lesley x

BumbleVee said...

Awww... hope you begin to rally soon. Of course, a cold is a 7 to 14 day thing....so just hang in there...

how on earth did you manage to do some baking? ...and perhaps therein likes the problem... are u trying to do too much too soon? Give yourself permission to be sick... just rest.... lie down ..sit...just veg... whatever... and stay inactive....rest...let your body heal itself..... okay?

hey...wow.... greenery under the snow...already. My slush in the alleyway is now a foot deep and I couldn't drive into my driveway yesterday...the van is on the street down by the neighbour's house... maybe it is hard enough to bounce it in now...must run out to check...it could be a "bompy ride" .....

Anonymous said...

Ah, the power of positive thinking! I only hope it is beginning to take effect. I'm with the cognac line of thought, although one of my favourite winter comfort drinks is Ribena, ginger wine and hot water; so what if it kills the vitamin C, I feel better for it. OllieV

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

Winter is bad enough without having a bad cold. Just take care of yourself, sleep if you can, and dream of spring and flowers in the warm sunshine.

Hope you feel better soon!

rachel said...

You all knew I needed someone to look after me (ie boss me about and tell me to rest!), didn't you? Thank you; I shall.

Pam said...

Well, I don't want to be discouraging but I developed a cold on December 27 and I'm STILL blowing my nose and coughing like a TB victim.

I don't actually feel ill, on the more positive side. I just wish I'd taken out shares in Kleenex.

Hope your regime of lemon and honey and lots of cats and no nasty work to go to induces a speedier recovery than mine.

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Hope you are feeling better soon. My snowdrops are showing at least an inch - wonderful!
It's been milder here today. and the snow has almost melted. Hope you can get outside for some fresh air, it might help.

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