I am still at home in bed today. :) There are some advantages to being home sick though- it really makes me thankful for the good health that I usually have. Last evening I was stuck here in bed instead of at the Camera club meeting, and I was blessed to hear the church bells ringing for over 2 hours- Thursday is the practice for the bell ringers' society. Bell ringing is quite a to do here in the UK, and there are groups all over who do it for competitions. Anyway I enjoyed the lovely bells ringing. I also enjoyed a nice full moon, and seeing how brightly lit our neighbor's garden was by the moonlight. As my nose has stopped being stuffed up I'm enjoying anew the wonderful smells to be had around me- just opening the window it's amazing what you can smell here! Our eucalyptus tree, smoke from nearby woodburning fireplaces, and just the unique smell of English countryside. And even sounds- there are so many kinds of song birds here, many more than we have in Ann Arbor at any rate, and all day as I've been in bed I've enjoyed their beautiful songs. Here there really is a dawn chorus and an evening chorus- SO many birds are singing that I just can't believe it! So it's Day #4 and I'm still here in bed, but I'm blessed by the father above to be forced to slow down and enjoy his wonderful creation again.
I'm also thankful for modern medicine- I've been reading Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell this week and being reminded of how dangerous illnesses were 200 years ago. I never feel afraid that if a friend has the flue that they might die- I don't feel worried that this flu might kill me either. And yet influenza is in fact a dangerous illness that does still kill those on either ends of the age spectrum, and still kills people in the prime of life in 3rd world countries for lack of appropriate medicines and basic care. I'm glad that I planned ahead in bringing generic Nyquil and Dayquil with me from the States, because although they have "equivalent" things here, I don't have the benefit of knowing what will really work. Having had the flu 5 or 6 times in my grown up life I've sorted out what medicines work for me and which ones don't. But here they don't always have the same medicines.
Now for a mini language lesson. :) Did you know that here they use the word "sick" to mean vomiting? People don't say "I'm sick today" or "I don't feel good" and they don't "call in sick." Instead they say "I'm unwell" or "I'm feeling poorly." I've had loads of thoughtful texts and emails from friends here, saying "I'm sorry you're unwell" or "I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling poorly." I even hear little children say "Teddy is feeling poorly today." That sounds so very formal to an American ear. :) They don't say "I don't feel good" because they use the word good to mean good as in good and evil. So in answer to the question "How are you?" they say "I'm well thank you" and never "I'm doing good" or "I'm great" because good and great aren't words that describe your state of being here, they describe your character. :)
That's enough writing for me- time for some more rest.
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