Sick

I've been a bit peaky; somewhat seedy; definitely under-the-weather. At first I thought it might have been the excitement of a day at the Stitches and Craft show, sans children. But as I retreated to my bed - with a pounding headache, achey limbs and a stomach lurching like it was on the high seas - I decided even the most extreme craft wouldn't do that.

Bed rest was in order. To be frank, I felt vile. Mr HB took over as chief cook and bottle washer, as I succumbed.

It got me to thinking. Thinking about when I was a kid. And sick. Because, as I remember it, I was sick a lot when I started school.

Sick when the class went to the zoo. Sick when they went to the agricultural show. And then again when they went to the circus. Colds and more colds. Mumps, measles, some strange viral rash. Tummy bugs. The poisoning from the rhubarb leaf. All the usual stuff.

It continued right through to high school. Chicken pox, appendicitis, influenza. Then there was the time I supposed to be going to a camp to rehearse for the school musical. I was in the orchestra and it was going to be a hoot. Me and all my brass and woodwind mates. I clung on for the whole week before the camp: sweating it out, as my sandpaper throat gradually closed up. It was a valiant attempt. But finally, I succumbed to the glandular fever and they took me straight to hospital. Bummer, that.

For your common-all-garden malaise of course, I convalesced at home. And you know, I barely recall a detail of actually being ill.

I do, however, remember the fresh crisp linen mum put on the bed. And the extra pillow. The big mugs of Milo. The view out the window, with the curtains pulled back. Reading mum's old books. How I loved that astronomy book that spoke of the day man might walk on the moon. It pre-dated Pluto too (a short-lived planet, if I ever saw one).

The big treat though, was to leaf through the Very Special Book of Baby Cards. Oh, it was wonderful. All the pretty, lacy, glittery pink congratulatory papery confections sent to my parents on the arrival of me, their firstborn. It was very special. And almost made being sick worthwhile.



A little look, definitely made the griping tummy a little calmer again this week ...


PS. Thank you to everyone who left kind wishes last week. I am feeling much better now.