Hungry cat

Make sure you have your speakers turned on - the soundtrack is half the fun....

The randomness of physicality

Just as I thought I was getting better from the nastiness of last weeks bug it comes back to bite me on the ass... or the ribcage as it seems to be. A trip to the Doctor's yesterday has diagnosed me with Tietze's syndrome, an inflammation of the cartilage in the ribcage. It has a number of possible causes, one of them being some kind of after affect of a recent viral infection... taa dah!

So I decided not to sit for 60mins on a train, then 20 mins on a bus to haul myself into work today. But now I've had about 2 and a half hours working at the computer at home and I'm starting to seriously hurt. I think a cup of tea and a hot bath are in order.

On other news it's been a weekend of visiting parents. My Mum and Dad made the trek over for the first time in a year. I admit I had done a bit of emotional blackmailing to get them here as I was a little miffed at hearing of all their holiday excursions but not actually receiving a visit from them since just after we moved into the house. It's just nice to spend "normal time" with Mum and Dad. Things were so strained in the couple of years before Husband and I got married, as Gran took more and more of Mum's time and the rest of us were pushed out. Rebuilding relationships through normality seems a good way to go.

More family arriving for a pit stop tonight as my cousin and his new girlfriend arrive for a night's stay on their way from south-west to north. M has changed so much in the last few years - he's "returned from orbit" as my Aunt puts it. He was always a nice chap but I think had a hard time growing up the kid of an incredibly geeky wholesome couple. I guess you have to learn to accept who your parents are just as they need to learn to accept who you turn out to be. Anyway, M has now grown up into a mature, caring, gainfully employed individual who would make any parent proud. The last time I saw him was my Gran's funeral so it will be nice to meet up under happier circumstances. I think some chocolate chip banana muffins may be in order.

Lurgy

And so it struck, as it does occasionally, but it always comes as a surprise. I thought I was getting a cold. Nasty as they are, I can cope with colds. But after a couple of days of sniffing and coughing but still coping with daily life.... the lurgy hit. I spent yesterday with a cracking headache and throwing up. Due to the throwing up I couldn't keep any painkillers down to lower my temperature and take the edge of the headache. Today I've just got the headache and slight queaziness, so the worst has passed. But it was a horrible day. I suffer with my CFS but I'm so glad I don't get days like that as part of it. Blurgh!

Re-freshment

And so the annual cycle of renewal and re-invigoration has begun - the freshers are upon us. It has now been eight years since I was one of those wide-eyed bright and perky (or scowly and greasy) young people trying to make sense of this strange new thing called "University". Actually, I don't remember very much of my fresher's week... no.... I wasn't too drunk to remember.... I think it was all too much for my little brain to take in. I remember endless pamphlets, booklets and flyers thrust into my hands, 90% went unread. Trying to find my way around this enormous campus and living in this tiny little room. Oh, and queuing, endless queuing.....

I thank the great green blob in the sky that I had the fortune to meet a few good people that week - we banded together and survived the experience. Many of them are still my friends today, and I'm even more grateful for that.

My University do seem pretty organised with endless volunteers in fluorescent orange jackets giving directions and a band of returning students recruited as "Fresher's angels". So far I've heard that one Junior Year Abroad student has turned around and gone home, but I hope the rest of them manage to stick around. There is also plenty of "Re-freshers" events to offer some help and opportunities to returning students.

Our trip to the USA is helping me do a little more thinking about my future educational goals.... another Master's anyone? So maybe I'll be a fresher again before long....