Wretched cold...

[byslantedlight]

...all I want to do is go to bed to sleep, and that was all I wanted last night too - what a waste of being in London (which I'm not any more...)

My cold just got worse and worse, and though I dragged myself out for a walk to the river after the course...
...and paused at Amico Bio for a veggie dinner on the way back, I was soooo tired, and I just took myself back to my hotel room and collapsed.

Today was almost as bad - though I was a bit more awake for longer, which was good, becuse I decided I couldn't possibly force an entire YHA dorm room listen to me cough and sniff all night, and so I drove home instead of having an extra free day in town.Drove through pastures new too - the North Circular (Hangar Lane!) out to the M3, which was going west not north. The sun was spectacular - after being grey and flat all day, it peered out for some evening drama. I reckon... a dragon! *g* Then it was all gorgeously mellow and misty all the way back to Somerset...

Got back to WH safely, even stopping at the big supermarket in nearby town to pick up some more tissues, only... I knew there was a music festival here this weekend, and that was one reason I was planning to stop in London. I figured I'd eardrop and cottonwool my ears and let the tinnitus take over. Not ideal, but hey-ho... What I hadn't thought about was that everyone would have nicked the parking! Gargh! So I've had to park in the carpark that threatens numberplate recognition and dire consequences on all who park there overnight. Cross fingers for me - they'd have to be pretty tight to punish me because the organisers haven't arranged parking so as not to disrupt residents, right...?

Turned out S was home too, and watching telly loudly in her room, but she didn't do more than call out hi when I did, and I don't want to breathe my Horrid Germs all over her, so I put my earphones in to watch Doctor Who on iPlayer, and hid with a medicinal glass of Drambuie (which I can actually taste!) I feel bad that I'm going to be coughing all night, but...

Also - Doctor Who!
I quite enjoyed that! The Doctor was fun - I liked his bickering with Robin, though there wasn't really time for them to do it justice, and I loved his spoon. *g* I liked that we're moving from angsty-was-I-evil-really-Doctor to maybe-we-can-be-a-hero-really-if-we-work-out-what-that-is-Doctor too. Robin and his Merry Men were brilliantly annoying - a sort of... gentle Lord Flashheart! (Oh, Rik Mayall...)

Clara started off quite real again, I thought - at last we see some passion from her! - but then she descended into I'm-so-clever-and-beautiful-and-clever again, which I was sorry about... I liked her in the first Capaldi ep, didn't like her again last week, nearly liked her again this week... I just... still don't know anything about her, except "pretty and sassy". Alan a Dale caught my eye - he looked familiar, and then I wondered if he just reminded me of Tristan Farnon (Peter Davison), so I googled - and it turned out he's actually married to Mark Gatiss! Not that he was at all familiar to me cos of that, but I love finding out cool things when I'm trying to find out something else entirely...

And right - let's see if it's late enough that I can open my window a bit for some air without the music festival keeping me awake (it's only in a pub down the road!), and if I'm tired enough that I won't keep waking up S. And tomorrow, after I've done some work, I'm going to see if I can nip out to something cool I've had my eye on, to make up for missing more London... if I do, there will be pictures!

Comments

[minori-k.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor you! I'm sorry to hear you have a terrible cold. Hope you'll feel better this morning. And I love the picture of the cloud... Yes, I can see a dragon!!! Beautiful.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Isn't the dragon-cloud lovely? I couldn't believe that nobody else seemed to look at it - and no one was stopped in the street to stare and point, which I'm sure I would have done if I'd been walking!

And thank you - it's been so long since I had a cold that I really shouldn't complain... but I was sorry to miss another night in London because of it. I'd planned to go out to Holland Park...

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Bad evil rotten smelly-poo cold! I hope you're feeling tons better today, and you can get out in the fresh air and have some fun.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Bad evil rotten smelly-poo cold!
Yes! Yes - that's exactly the kind of cold it is! But it's going through the stages, and fresh air sounds like a very good idea! Mind you, so does staying in bed for a bit and catching up on lj, cos it feels like ages since I did that... *g*

[ali15son.livejournal.com]

i hope you are fee'ing slightly better soon , i always said drambuie tasted like medicine , now i know why xx

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you - it's getting better, slowly.. too slowly! Didn't try any Drambuie tonight - perhaps I should have!

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

Been busy all week so just catching up with your doings. Really sorry to hear your cold didn't bugger off but just got worse. Also that it made you unable to enjoy London as much as you wanted. Rotten luck.

I quite enjoyed the Dr. Who too, like a bit of daft Dr. Who, but Hubby thought it was too silly and one FB comment I saw thought so too. Interested to see if there are any more opinions this morning. Same here with Clara and I'm trying ever so hard. Why can't I really like her?

Anyway, hope you get better soon. S is sounding like a not very friendly housemate and I'm sorry about that. Maybe use this as a base to look for something more suitable over the coming months?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It is rotten luck about the cold, but I suppose it's been a while since I had one at all, so I shouldn't complain too much... new pastures, new bugs to build immunity to...

I've seen mixed reviews on the DW too - and I'm a bit mixed about it myself. It could have been so much better, but on the other hand, they only had one episode! Hmmn - perhaps we should go back to the five-part half-hour episode stories!

For me I think Clara's too generic, she doesn't really seem to have a personality of her own. She touched on it in this ep - wanting to see Robin Hood - but I don't think there's been anything more of her since she was first seen as a dalek... Actually she seemed like a proper person then, even though she clearly wasn't, with her improbable surviving and souffles... but she had that spark of hope in her eyes when she thought they'd succeeded and the Doctor was going to rescue her. But after that she was just... the sassy and smart Victorian barmaid, the wise and loved Victorian governess, the generally sassy girl the Doctor picked up in London, the ordinary but sassy nanny, the responsible but sassy English teacher, just... Oh, and perhaps I don't have a feel for her because she came to us so unformed anyway, once she was human. Was she really a nanny? No, she just got stuck helping out. When did she become an English teacher? We didn't have any indication that she had the sort of background that would fit that - she didn't even get to gush over Shakespeare, like Martha did, or visit the Library, or anything... She just... who is she? She reminds me of the part in Amy Pond's story, where we're expected to believe that she went from being a stripogram (totally believable in that we knew nothing about her other than leggy and pretty), to a travel writer (when and how did she manage that? How much travelling on Earth had she done?) to a fashion model (what-what-what?!). Everything that got her there, all the things that we know you'd need, or that would be hard about it, were just glossed over and mostly not mentioned at all... Same with Clara - anything interesting about her as a real person has just been glossed over in favour of showing us how pretty and witty and good-natured she is... Oh dear, I do go on, don't I... *g*

S made a bit more effort tonight - she came home earlier than I was expecting, and we ended up chatting for a bit whilst she pottered in the kitchen and I ate vegemite on crackers for dinner (cos I can taste vegemite... *g*) I suspect she may turn out to be less friendly/companionable than I'd hoped (I hoped we might dinner-share occasionally, that sort of thing) but I think she is trying really. She's made a bit more space for me in the freezer and fridge too, so that's a start! We'll see - this next week will be a better indication, cos I'll be here properly, and working normally!

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

What a shame you had to cut your London adventure short - I hope your cold packs up and moves on soon.
I loved last night's Dr Who, sat and giggled all through it. And that IS cool, finding out about the actor who played Alan a Dale. Wasn't he also a lawyer / barrister in one episode of Sherlock?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh I know, I hate colds! I was also going to go out and try to work in the library today, but I'm all coughing and sniffy still, which wouldn't be fair... It's the first morning S and I are in the same house working, and she's just said that she usually uses both downstairs rooms and has a video on whilst she's working, and asked if I was planning to work down here all the time - gargh! We did talk about where I could work, and I said I'd work downstairs though I was hoping to find a library or somewhere to work part of the time, only she didn't say that she listens to films when she works... not helpful! Though she's also being reasonable and totally nice about it, but that really really should have come up when we were talking about it before... Sorry - you got the rant of the moment, cos this has only just happened!

I think chappy was in Sherlock too - and his website/twitter thingie has a picture of himself with Billie Piper too, which I thought was from DW, so it looks like he's done a few things...

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

What on earth does she do that she needs two rooms, and can do it while a film is playing? That will be a terrible distraction for you and I think she should have mentioned this beforehand. I do hope you manage to sort something out with her.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I know... she's a costume designer though, so she says she uses the table I'm now at to lay out her designs, with her mannequins against the wall opposite, and her sewing machine is at the table by the window in the other room, and she has her films playing while she's doing all this... She can't use headphones cos she's moving around between things. I knew she'd be zapping between rooms (which are only divided by a half-wall, so it's really one room) and I didn't think that was a problem, but she didn't say about watching films as she did it... that would have been a no-brain we're-not-going-to-suit then... *sighs* Well, she's out Thursdays and Fridays, and if we can both compromise over the other 3 days - I'll try and go out to work somewhere (which I'd like to do anyway). But I must admit that I'm not mad on the idea of constant films downstairs three days of the week if I happen to be home... That's such a big thing, why didn't she say?! Not on purpose, but... *sighs more* We'll see though - I'd like it to work out, cos otherwise we seem to get on so far... mostly... *g*

[giseerouchon.livejournal.com]

Get well soon- typical... we always get colds too at the beginning of Sept. Just as I think I'll be able to get stuff done as the kids go back to school, they all get ill and then I do too...:-/ Hope yours doesn't last long and really sorry it cost you a day in the Smoke..
xx

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's been so long since I had a cold that I've forgotten how horrid they can be! I wonder whether it's a leaving-Cambs. one, or a welcome-to-Somerset one... *headdesk* And yes - kids are the worst (bless 'em)! I used to have many more colds when I was teaching! It's on its way out now I think, so as long as it doesn't do an about-turn, hopefully the world will improve!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh you poor thing! At least you managed to see a bit before you came home so you will still have the memories! Your part of the world sounds so lovely - I can't wait to see it for myself. I've recently discovered my family in Australia only dates back two generations so I'm looking forward to exploring my English and Scottish ancestry. We're entering spring here but the weather has still been cool and drizzly -so looking forward to some warmer weather - it has been a long winter. Particularly as our houses aren't built for the cold weather so we freeze. They don't like to admit it gets cold here - bad for tourism [lol]. I have seen the Robot of Sherwood episode of Dr Who and I must admit - the new Doctor is growing on me. I found it especially relatable as I am in a play with the same characters called 'Babes in the Wood'. The one before that was Lady Godiva so feeling a bit trapped in a time warp [lol]. Kiashi

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

If you come and visit this part of the world you must let me know and we can meet up for a coffee and happy chat about the lads! Oh, and tracing your family tree is fun - I've done a bit of that (also Scottish!), and I want to get back and do more... *g*

I remember being a bit overwhelmed by all the heating over here - every house with central heating, or a coal fire, or the equivalent. I grew up in Australia in houses with just open fires, mostly. I remember one place had an oil fire, and we thought it was magic... *g*

Glad to hear the new Doctor is growing on me! I suspect he might take a wee while to settle in, but I'm looking forward to it. Heeee for your own plays - what fun to be doing that, too (you medieval babe, you)! I've always quite fancied joining in a local group, but I don't think I'd even be up to that standard. You never know though - maybe one day, and I could hide behind the scenes! *g*

[(Anonymous)]

Oh I reckon with your writing skills you'd be a brilliant actor - your love for words and skill at giving your characters life would translate surprisingly well into theatre. I'm still trying to get my head around playing a 12 year old but the bloke who is playing the female nurse is doing great so I'm sure I'll cope. Otherwise I would prefer a behind the scenes role - much less stress. I will definitely take you up on the coffee - I'll be loaded with maps and heaps of questions no doubt. I hope to have enough time to really explore and get a 'feel' for my ancestral homeland. I can get both a British passport as well as an Australian one and once I qualify next year as a counsellor I'm hoping I may even get a working visa if there are no age restrictions. It's cool that you've been here already and yes I totally adore open fire places and dream of having one in every room, including the loo [lol]! I love the comment about your cold being described as 'evil, rotten, smelly-poo' sums it up perfectly. I hope your flat mate thaws out in time too. It can be tricky particularly if it is their territory you're moving into. I'm in a tiny bed-sit because I couldn't handle sharing but it has it's limitations! I'm quite social and I'd love someone to chat to over a dinner every now and again. Good luck with it all. I really enjoy your page and love your writing especially about the boys - keeps the magic alive. ...Kiashi

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh bless you - but speaking things out loud is very different to imagining them in my head, I'm not even particularly good at ordinary speaking, never mind acting! *g*

Roommates are tricky, but if you can find the right compromises and common ground, then it can be really nice to have someone to chat to over dinner and so on, as you say. Mind you, new roommate doesn't seem to have any interest in dinner together, despite what she once said about a welcome-to-your-new-place dinner. Oh well - cross fingers about it all! She's vanished today, hopefully not cos she's feeling uncomfortable too, but I'm taking advantage and working at home after all. Which means I'd better get back to it so that I can do as much as I can before she comes back...

[(Anonymous)]

I'm studying conflict management at the moment and they say the four levels of conflict are: discomfort - a feeling that something 'isn't quite right', Incident - an exchange resulting in irritation or distress, Misunderstanding - motives and facts can be misperceived, tension rises and relationships are strained and finally Crisis - Normal functioning becomes difficult and extreme responses are contemplated. Hopefully you stray no further than the first stage[lol] and perhaps you use the experience as inspiration for your next story. Good luck..Kiashi

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hmm, from my perspective I'd say we were at the second stage - the incident being when S. came in and suddenly told me that she expected to have the entire downstairs to herself Mon-Wed, which rather resulted in my being distressed! We may even be touching on Misunderstanding, because I've not had a chance to talk to her about it again, and her vanishing could be construed as part of it - or might be completely unrelated, and just because she didn't think to mention that she was going to be out tonight! Hmmn... It's definitely all experience though - and I'll see what I can do about another story one of these days, I promise! *g*