Bad Cold! Naughty, Bad Cold!

Some of you remember I got a sinus and ear infection right before I came to England. Yep, I was in Washington, DC, just getting ready for that fun, eight-hours-because-of-a-layover flight, and spent the morning at the doctor's getting anti-biotics. Everything but the coughing wasn't so bad, but I'd cough and cough like an old man in church, and all for naught. Nada. Just this horrible cough that would bother people and scare children.

I finished the pills the second day I was here, and I was good to go. Or not.

It's back. Why? I'm not a frail fragile flower. No one has ever described me as sickly. But dang. This morning I sounded like I was dying. Like my spleen was coming out. My neighbors must think the American next door has swine flu or something worse.

Nope. Just this nasty, nasty cough.

I'm going to lunch today with some women from work; what an impression I'll make on them with my hacking. Why don't I go to the doctor, you ask? See my earlier post. I have to prove I live at my address (got it now, I think) and I can only register at the office on certain days and after 2 o' clock. Weird, eh? So officially, I can't be sick because I'm not registered. Then, when I do register, I have to make an appointment.

All I want is to not cough. I'll put up with everything else, but no coughing. Such a charming way to start the school year. Hey now... I have heard that they sell cough syrup with Codeine over the counter here... there's a thought. I certainly wouldn't be coughing because I'd be passed out.

My books I mailed to myself were waiting for me at the local post office. 25 pounds of them. I'm glad I have them though; all teaching books but for one novel (Bel Canto) and one cookbook. Oh, and Dorothy Parker's poems. They're comforting to me.

I still have to figure out how to pick up the clothing rail; it's on a road I'm not familiar with. I'm going to head out this morning to try and track it down.

Wish me luck!