After running around like headless chickens, we’re now dropping like flies and I’m the third one in our small team to go down with a stomach bug. I felt fine Thursday, went home for lunch, went back to work, started to feel very hot and queasy, and by mid afternoon had to go home to bed. I slept for a solid 8 hours before pins and needles in both hands woke me up. I’m staying home today to ensure I’m over whatever is going around and wish other colleagues would do the same. A colleague in my room has been coughing and sneezing all over the place, and now both my son and I have a sore throat. Work has been non-stop with relentless pressure, and now we’re paying the price. I could ‘manfully’ struggle in, but what for? So that I can work even harder, make myself more poorly? No thanks. I’m going to have a ‘duvet’ day and take care of me.

This week the toilets in work have run out of toilet roll or hand towels, and sometimes both! How hard is it to keep stock well supplied? I’ve had to play tour guide to people who were ‘lost.’ Slam windows shut to keep out fag smoke from people who ignore No Smoking signs. Run around sorting out IT issues. Hunt for a parking space. Constantly shut the front door which is being left wide open despite being chilly... Oh yes, you can tell the students are back! I miss them during the term breaks, and long for their return to bring some life back here, but once they start back I wish they’d p*ss off and give me some peace. It’ll calm down around November; it usually does...

I’m supposed to be going out with my friend on Saturday to a market town for a mooch around the shops. At this time, I can’t see that happening. I also desperately need to get some groceries and wish my son could drive; I could send him out. I could do it online I guess, but I hate that and would rather go myself. Hopefully I’ll feel well enough and could leave it until Sunday if needs be.

Take care, have a good weekend, and keep away from hob nailed, vicious, germs.