Speculation, Fact and Fiction

In common with quite a number of other writers I know, I have a stinking cold. But I know I didn't catch it over the Web - I got it from younger son. So has husband. We had one of those 4.30 am conversations about whether or not we should continue trying to get back to sleep or just give up and make a pot of tea. We opted for trying to sleep - without much success.

Well, it was kinda inevitable this would be a bad snot season for the family. Younger son starting a new school means he's been mixing with all sorts of new and exciting germs that mix themselves into new and exciting combinations. As my assorted medical pals tell me, this is why kids are always more likely to be ill in the first terms at new schools - and why Freshers' Flu at university is a real phenomenon, not just a euphemism for hangovers.

But with self and husband both up to our ears in work with deadlines in mid-December, we could really do without this. He's gone off to work today - he has to since he's deputising at a crucial meeting for a colleague who's dealing with an emergency in Spain. I shall attempt to do some work but am not overly hopeful.

I only felt minorly out of sorts yesterday morning, was sneezing by lunchtime and clobbered by the evening. So with luck this is one of those rapid onset/rapid passing bugs. It does seem to just be a head cold. Fingers crossed. And hot lemon and honey.

**update** It's 4 pm and I've done about half a day's work which has at least brought me to a natural break point so I am calling it quits. Not least because I've realised I've been going over the same chunk of chapter wholly unproductively for half an hour now. Still feeling grotty but not feeling worse, if that makes sense. All this support and fellow feeling is definitely good for morale, so thanks for that.