Which is worse? The fact that the workmen start at 7.00 outside our window giving residents an appreciation of what it’s like to live in a war zone or the fact that they appear to give up for the day at 9?
By the by, please see photo which proves, if proof were necessary, that Belgians regard parking restrictions as pplying solely to others.
There is still no floss in the supermarket.
My parentsÂ’ boiler has been repaired.
And would you like some information on my mystery illness? The touching concern of some friends following my recent post makes me think I should put them out of their misery. There are a few things wrong with me. Starting with the most banal:– I have a rotten cold. Let’Â’s move on to more exciting things. About two weeks ago something started biting me. Could we have fleas? But we have no pets and are reasonably clean and nothing was biting my loving spouse. An extensive examination of the sheets revealed nothing.  They were changed and the mattress hoovered nevertheless. The biting continued. My husband started to worry about me as I crept into the bedroom, pulled up the duvet and pounced on what always turned out to be an innocent piece of fluff (where is all this fluff coming from anyway?).
So it went on. And the bites got worse and worse. And, finally, last week, I consulted my tame medical advisor who, ever one to provide comfort, said that the spot distribution sounded like smallpox, but it was unlikely to be that. Since the tame medical advisor lives in Cork, he suggested it might be worth seeing someone locally who could actually inspect the damage. By this stage, my legs were red, raw, weeping
and swollen up in a most alarming manner and the rest of me was pretty itchy. Walking was painful and difficult. So on Monday, I went to the dermatologist who, conveniently, is a couple of doors down from my house. The result was most gratifying. She called in a colleague. They both oohed and aahed and tut tutted that I hadn’t been to see them earlier.I
held my breath for a photo in the Belgian version of “The Lancet”. They’Â’re not sure what it is and yesterday they sent me off to another dermatologist who isnÂ’’t sure what it is
either. And I have had lots of blood tests and a biopsy which has left two stitches and a glamourous bandage on my neck.
Because of further complications which will be revealed in due course, they havenÂ’’t really been able to prescribe anything except rest but IÂ’’m going back at lunch time to be hovered over by two dermatologists and two other doctors will be phoning in to give their tuppence haÂ’penny worth. More details to follow in due course. By the by, I’d like you to know, they say itÂ’s definitely not flea bites.
on 24 March 2005 at 09:47
Sounds like an allergy perhaps to something like fabric conditioner….? 
on 24 March 2005 at 10:32
Poor Waffly – sounds nasty.
I hope they get to the bottom of it and fix you soon.
on 24 March 2005 at 10:34
Poor you, waffly …
(FT hasn’t been bringing any little friends with him, has he? You know how scabrous his hands always are ….).
on 24 March 2005 at 15:41
Hey, I resemble that remark!
Further complications? Unable to prescribe. Hmmm…..mini waffle? Hope you get better soon!!
(Homepage)
on 25 March 2005 at 00:26
Possibly it is scurvy? I have no idea what the symptoms for scurvy are, but have always thought it sounded like an excellent illness to have.
Hmm…yes, it would have been easy to make flea jokes, but that acually sounds quite annoying and a wee bit serious. Anything that requires stitches can’t be good. Poor you. Feel better soon.One other thing, is it just me or does that peugeot look quite small compared to the two lads near it? Do they make mini-peugeots?
on 29 March 2005 at 20:38
Oh Heather, a sweetie, you are kind. Yes, JD, quite possibly, the experts are baffled. I am so proud. Thank you Norah. Thank you Pog, and yes, I have my suspicions about FT also, though I note he denies all. Thank you Sarah, you will be bored by details of my progress. OOOH Beth, maybe it is, cool. Locotes, feel much improved hearing from you – how nice that you are about. Will you come back full time when you’ve finished your degree?
on 30 March 2005 at 16:46
tsk, you should know I had my degree ages ago, your memory of me obviously faded quite quickly! 😉
This is my MSc I’ll have you know – the path to oodles of cash! Well, I can dream…
As for the full time, only time will tell – I’m trying to put a stint in now, but of course that could also be because I’m avoiding work. Maybe. Possibly.
on 01 April 2005 at 20:09
Yes I know you already had one and were getting a second for the hell of it…do keep avoiding work.-
on 01 April 2005 at 20:32
Oh I will, don’t worry. All part of the studenty job description. Glad you had a nice time in Ballycotton by the way – though surely Rocky Bay can’t be beat?
