Sick Week

All of last week, I was down with a cold, coughing lots and generally feeling sorry for myself. But I worked several hours every day (exclusively from home, of course), taking long and frequent breaks in between tasks and meetings, and feeling much better now - at 80 %, I'd say.

My first day back at work after our fortnight off was Monday (October 7). I was surprised to find I only had to deal with a total of 144 emails (as opposed to 288 after my July/August holiday) - until I learned from my colleagues that people were sick with colds and flu and Covid left, right and centre.

Sunrise last Monday, as seen from my kitchen

On Tuesday (October 8), my sister paid me a surprise visit, bringing me a beautiful bunch of sunflowers, fruit, cough syrup and a medical herbal tea. She didn't stay long as my boss kept trying to reach me on the phone, and eventually, I gave in.

More or less the same time on Tuesday morning.

I was getting stir-crazy by Wednesday (October 9) and went for a walk the first time since returning from the holiday. It wasn't strenuous, and I walked slowly, making it about 1 hour 15 minutes when that circuit would normally take me more or less exactly one hour. It felt good but I knew I was nowhere near "well" yet.

A bit of autumn mood in my kitchen on Wednesday, with the sunflowers from my sister.

On Thursday (October 10), my Mum and my sister came for lunch. My Mum had cooked a pot of delicious vegetable soup, and the three of us shared that. Afterwards, I rested for a bit and never went back to work that day. Instead, I went on a short walk around the neighbourd; after half an hour, I had enough (that alone tells you that I wasn't well yet).

Friday (October 11) was easier in that I did not have any appointments but could work very much at my own pace, which I did for a few hours. I then did the basic cleaning (no "extras" such as cleaning the windows, which is really, really necessary) and had a well-deserved rest afterwards.

The mild, sunny afternoon made me long for a walk, and I made it down to the lake and back, feeling alright throughout (still walking not quite at my usual pace).

It was the 2nd anniversary of my Dad's death on Saturday (October 12). After a quiet, leisurely morning, my Mum, my sister and I went to the cemetery in the early afternoon. Back at my Mum's, we had coffee and delicious home-made cake together before my sister and I went home. I was still coughing a lot but slowly feeling my energy return.

On Sunday (October 13) I slept in and spent the morning blogging, playing my favourite computer game and reading. 

Some time after lunch, I walked to the suburb of Pflugfelden where my Mum was having a stall at an indoors jumble sale. I sat with her for a while but like many other sellers, we decided to pack up about an hour before the official end - there simply wasn't enough footfall, and those who came, were more interested in plastic toys and clothes for babies and toddlers than in my Mum's hand-knitted and crocheted items. It was the least successful sale she's ever had, but it was a new venue for her, and next year she knows she won't need to participate.

My Mum's friend R picked her up and drove her home, and I went for a walk across the sunlit fields. 

It was windy, but mild, and a perfect "Golden October" afternoon. I spotted families flying kites, and there were a few cyclists, dog walkers and other people about, but not too many. At one time, five or six buzzards were circling above, and a young lady on a light brown horse was galopping past. There was almost a picture book quality to it, and I was grateful for feeling good enough to have undertaken that walk, arriving back home much refreshed.