I'm writing this report on my students' approach to study and I feel awful because I'm basically slating one of them. I suppose I have to stop taking it personally on his behalf and actually see it as my job to help him to activate his own potential. Feels like a lot of work... I may have to attend their study skills lectures (which are happening far too late to be useful - partly my fault) so that I can get oversight of what they're being taught in all aspects of this module. The fun never stops.

Talking of chairs, I sat in an amazing chair yesterday at our local Comet store.   I wouldn't mind getting one to put in my office while I'm at the computer instead of the swivel chair I have now.  It was a "massage chair".  It was fantastic.  You can operate it to do just shoulders, lower back or whole back.  There are rollers that move up and down and side to side and you can adjust the pressure to suit.  I was making all sorts of pleasure-type noises that were causing people to stare.    I could perhaps get my mum one for Xmas because she suffers from a bad back - or I could maybe treat myself.  Or maybe could get us one each?    (Not!)

I didn't look at the price - I daren't!  They're going to be veryexpensive.

No, stress-relieving chairs for therapeutic purposes.  All the same, I'd like one here.  I might go back tomorrow and have a look at the price.

Although I am quite happy today, there is one thing that is annoying me - one of our neighbours has been having their house renovated for what seems like months.  The houses are only fairly new so i have no idea what they are doing.  There are noisy workmen around who leave the gates open to all and sundry and I am not happy about this (when I go out, i always close them and so does Heather).

Hope you feel better soon, Don.  Unfortunately there is nothing much you can do for colds and 'flu.  They just have to take their course. You feel really ill with them. Miserable things and mountains of tissues always!  It's much better to burn them really if you have any sort of stove.  That kills the bugs at least. 

Yes, just tough it out, Don. I got mine two weeks ago now, and I'm still piling up tissues. Mine go down the loo, since you ask. Nasty business. I hope you're at least being pampered?

Funnily enough, I  can usually concentrate on books when poorly - I read Bleak House during the last bout.


Thanks, martle.  No wine, but tempting dishes provided.

I read somewhere that we're not supposed to flush tissues down the toilet because of dispersing the virus into the sea.  What the heck we are supposed to do with them is anybody's guess.

I second the suggestion of hot toddies.  My family have always enjoyed good coffee, laced with Jamaica rum, when full of a cold.