h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Have got a cold - I've been fighting it off for a couple of days and refusing to be ill, but today I felt really awful, and gratefully accepted when my boss offered to take over one of my responsibilities this evening so that I could come home early.

It really is very bad timing - interviews started today (only one subject at the moment) and really get going next week. Monday will be an extremely busy day. We normally have excellent undergraduate helpers, but I'm seriously worried about this year's group, if today is anything to go by. Far too laid back, and the group leader is not really assertive enough with the others. Anyway, had a serious word with her this afternoon and hope she will have been sufficiently shocked to get her act together.

I'd been planning to go away for the day on Sunday and visit a couple of friends (one from ML, the other I met through my Spanish evening class last year and has now moved away from Cambridge and is having a birthday/housewarming party). When I got home from work today I ached all over, and I really have to go to work tomorrow, so I'm sure I won't feel like getting on the train at 8am on Saturday, to London and beyond. I've phoned them to say I can't go, but I'm pretty fed-up about it.

Will have to have another early night, dosed up with Lemsip, and hope I feel a bit better tomorrow.

Sorry if this is slightly incoherent - Lemsip and red wine probably don't mix all that well ...

Oh, Annie, look after yourself! I know you must have a tough week coming up and it's a shame you're missing your weekend away. Take good care of yourself and rest up.

C also has a cold so maybe it's doing the rounds over there. Not in the best form at the moment. I think this first term has left her exhausted and she's beating herself up over a few comments on her reports. They aren't anything major but she's always very hard on herself. She needs to get home and rest.

Anyway, here's some to cheer you up! You may not be able to face it now but save it for later!

Eilis

Annie

Huge sympathies from here - I'm still suffering with a cold which is now over 2 weeks old. It started as a head cold, spread to my chest and brought on a cough and has meant that I've been feeling achey limbed and tired beyond all belief for several days (it also involved v disturbed nights). Nothing seems to shift it altho' a couple of paracetamol as I went to bed helped me get a few hours sleep.

Hope your's is no-where near that bad - timing is always carp isn't it? I had two lovely friends staying for the w/end, much anticipated and planned for but ultimately with me as a bit of a bystander. Hope they still enjoyed themselves and don't catch it.

Hot honey, lemon, whisky and ginger wine helps - if it doesn't help cure it does help you feel better! Otherwise stay warm and hydrated.

Jx

Sorry to hear you're unwell. Both O/H & I have had a bug recently and it's horrible.

The best thing you can do is go to bed or at least rest, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids.

Hugs & sympathy. =^..^=

Thanks Eilis - sorry to hear that C has a bug too. You're probably right, it will be something going the rounds, plus being a bit run-down at this stage in the term. I usually manage to keep going until the Christmas break though!

I sat with a couple of our students at lunchtime yesterday who had just had appointments with their DoS to discuss their reports, and had obviously been feeling a bit apprehensive about it, although they are 2nd years. Anyway, it seemed to have gone well, and they both said "She was sooo nice, even though normally she's a bit scary!". I think they are very lucky to get so much individual attention.

Thanks for the sympathy Jane! Were your visitors from ML's Celtic fringes by any chance?

I seem to have got confused between Saturday and Sunday in my journal entry yesterday (put it down to the Lemsip!). I was supposed to be going out for the day tomorrow, Saturday, but have cancelled.

Anyway, felt a bit better today, although now have a very runny nose, so trying to stay in my office, away from the applicants - don't want to put them off! Got quite a lot of next week's admin organised and my lovely boss sent me home early. Planning an early night and a lie-in tomorrow.

Thanks cookiepuss! Will try and get some rest over the weekend, in preparation for Monday's onslaught (interviews in eight subjects!). Have been trying to drink lots of water and fruit juice at work, but it can be quite difficult as I have to keep rushing off to different places in the college.

Hot toddy. Lotsa honey. Lots more whisky. Early nights. Hot water bottle. Get well soon.

Douglas