.....atishoo,atishoo............

Most teachers I now will understand the holiday illness.....we spend six or seven weeks fighting off dozens of microbes....delivered by several hundred pupils.......the immune system weakens....and then a holiday arrives....we relax......and wham! we go down with something for the first half of the break.

I'm used to it.....but I've never known anything like last night.

Went for a drink with hebs after work.......first time in ages......Chris, Gail, Helen, Michelle, Patrick and Gareth joined in......we had a good natter...told some funny stories....discussed plans for the week off........and then I left to get home in time for Lizzie Yarnold's last run in the skeleton bob.

Home....made a coffee....settled on the sofa....as she crossed the line and confirmed her Gold medal I leapt up and cheered....and I came back down and..............BOOM!........shivers....sneezes....burning face.....ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulders, back and neck aching....watery eyes....runny nose....thumping headache....instantly. I was in bed by 6.00....burning up.

Managed to sleep until just before 9.00...woke up still burning...downstairs for a drink......and paracetemol.....back to bed for 9.30....still rough as toast.

Woke again at just before 02.00....back down for a drink and ibuprofen....back to bed still red hot.

Awake again at 5.50........starving hungry....pain gone......cool......downstairs....coffee....toast....out to Tesco for the items in the photo....watched some Olympics....fell asleep on the sofa........woke again at 2.30.......all I have now is a runny nose....a cough and sneezes and a slightly fuzzy head.............sitting drinking lem-sip...and off to bed soon.....it's my birthday tomorrow and I refuse to spend it shut indoors feeling sorry for myself...so I think a hot toddy or three might be in order.

Das vidanya moy padruga.