it's only a cold..

but boy - is this the mother and father of all colds - and all this stuff on the bathroom windowsill only helps a bit! the sun is shining, I should be going out to enjoy it, but I just feel so ill!!

the last time I had a cold like this was six years ago, during a long-anticipated visit to Tibet. I felt the tell-tale tickle just as we were leaving Kathmandu to fly to Lhasa and within a couple of days I almost wished I was.. well, certainly not at that high altitude.

my friend Moira was a life saver. just like last night here, the nights were the worst, I couldn't sleep for the blocked up nose and coughing, so most nights found us drinking tea at 4 or 5 am. luckily most of the hotels we stayed in had a hot water heater or provided flasks of water. Moira would hear me groaning and snuffling and get up and make the tea and bring it to me in bed. what a pal!

I was ill pretty much the whole time we were in Tibet. on this day in 2006 we were here in Gyanste and a few days later, at one of the highlights of the trip here at Everest Base Camp. if you flick back from that you can see a couple of other pics, including the Potala Palace in Lhasa, one of the most stunning places in the world.

during the trip I consumed 36 strepsils, a packet and a half of Fishermens' Friends, some vile Chinese cough mixture and gallons of tea. but at the end of the day, a cold will just run its course. so I am off to lie on the couch and read the papers.

have a good weekend everyone.