As I recline in my sickbed dictating this post to my youngest niece a la Dame Barbara Cartland style but obviously without the pink, Pekingese dog, bouffant and full make up. My niece reminds me that having been confined to my room for the past week I have big bed hair so actually my bouffant is probably larger than any the grand dame ever sported and I usually wear more slap than her on a night out. Who’d have thought we had so much in common although obviously she sold over 750 million copies of over 700 books so that’s where the similarity ends.
The house has now been disinfected top to bottom, including light switches and door handles, by the cleaning tornado aka my mother in true Carry On Matron style. Woe betide any virus that decides to laugh in the face of danger and venture into our home as Mum will single-handedly be defending Dyson Abbey from the threat of any further germs in true superhero style.
Despite not looking my physical best, my Dad has endeavoured to raise my spirits with hot Ribena; banana sandwiches having been withdrawn from the menu for the foreseeable future.
The sun is shining here in glorious Devon, so it’s a hot bath followed by a snuggle down on the sofa in front of the television to watch the “Scarlet & the Black”; could life get any better.
Happy weekend my friends, life is short so do whatever excites your spirit and makes your soul sing with joy!
Welcome back to the land of the living…keep getting better. Sounds like a good start already.
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I feel on the mend well and truly now; fed up with soup and scrambled eggs! Any news on your house?
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(shhhh) sold it! will have the signed contract today. all that’s left is passing all their inspections, and that should be a breeze. (yippee)
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You make being sick sound like fun! Get well soon 🙂
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I can laugh now but I feel I’ve a few days that I can’t account for!
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Dallas – it is so nice to see that this wretched virus has done very little to your sense of humour! Can I send you a hug? Get well really soon. Carina 🙂
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Hugs always gratefully received Carina! Think I may have turned a corner today so it must have been all your kind thoughts and btw I loved your orchid
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Did you realised that particular post was for 3 sick blogger friends, one of course was You – I only know one Dallas 🙂 So happy to hear you are getting better and hope you received your signed contract today.
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Oooh, Barbara was so very scary. 😯 I sympathise fully with you and hope you get better soon. That virus is no fun at all, but I’m glad to see that it hasn’t affected your wonderful sense of humour. xx
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ha ha you haven’t seen me this week! I most certainly look more zombie than princess but it’s hard to take yourself seriously in this family even when you’re feeling so sorry for yourself
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That’s just scary! … Get well soon 🙂
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And I have looked every bit as scary!
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My word, you’ve been ill a week? That’s one heck of a norovirus you’ve got! Glad you’re starting to feel better. Being from across the pond, I had to Google Ribena and “Scarlet & Black.” Enjoy!
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It was a completely self-indulgent afternoon and just what I needed
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I’m so sorry you’re sick, and for so long too! It must be one heck of a virus. Having an excuse to hunker down on the couch watching something good on TV and having someone wait on you is sometimes a luxury though! Can I say, “Enjoy being sick!” ??
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Cathy how are you – are you enjoying being home? I had the best afternoon but it’s back to work as normal for me now
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I’m fine, thanks, Dallas and yes, for the most part enjoying being at home. Having a little reverse culture shock though. I’m glad you enjoyed your afternoon and are feeling up to getting on with your work!
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Happy weekend to you too! And get well soon!
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Thank you and I hope your weekend is outstanding too
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Drinking “pink bubblies” at my favorite cafe in Prague along the Vltava after an intimidating visit to the Prague Castle complex… You should be here. Hope you feel better soon! As usual your post was fantastic!
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How envious am I? Pink bubblies will be off the menu for sometime for me but I can dream! Thank you for dropping by
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So glad to hear you’re finally on the road to recovery! I giggled at the Barbara Cartland comment. She was one of my mom’s favorite romance authors. Apparently the ones I liked were too “steamy”.
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I’ve googled her and she had a very interesting life herself! I have to say my mum read her books and whilst they’re not quite my taste you have to hand it to her, she was one successful author
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She was!
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Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well, Dallas… Drink plenty of tea and feel better soon!
xxoo
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Sat here Maggie, with a cup of Earl Grey in the sunshine sadly next stop work – did you have a great summer holiday?
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Yes, we did thanks for asking. But it sure was sad when I had to send the little one back to the US…
I hope you managed to have a little fun this summer too 🙂
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Ah hot Ribena, just the ticket. I do hope you’re on the mend and am glad to hear you’re looking after yourself and indulging in a little afternoon comfort.
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Hot Ribena is one of my Dad’s “cure alls”, not sure if that what makes you better or the comfort of having something made specially for you – have a splendid weekend
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Be well Dallas.
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Cheers Val – happy weekend!
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you just can’t beat hot Ribena! hope you’ll be fully better v soon xx
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One of my Dad’s better suggestions – I don’t think I could have tolerated and shelf erecting suggestions
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Such a long list of fans hoping to see you feeling good enough to return to your story-telling. So good to hear you’re on the mend. Sounds like you’re being well taken care of.
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It’s so nice to be back in the land of the living & hearing from everyone
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I sing every time I stop by your place. Hope you are feeling better!
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How fab is that! I am well and truly on the mend now
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So glad to hear!!!
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Feel better. There are plenty of times I wish I could get the princess treatment, though I draw the line at the Pekingese…
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I think Babs was the Paris Hilton of her time!
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I”m so glad you have them to care for you! What’s Ribena? Also, I would say “That’s where the similarity begins!” As I know you are going to sell, well, maybe not quite that many copies, but a lot! So, get to feeling better soon, and get yourself an agent! 🙂 Hi, to MUM and DA!
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PS, I suppose Barbara did her own makeup as she got older?? Yeowza.
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Ribena is a blackcurrant cordial and my Dad always serves it with hot water when we’re poorly – Barbs and I share the same make up artist. If fortune does indeed favour the brave and Crazy Train makes it as a screenplay I want you to play my American friend Nia
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Glad that you are on the upswing!
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Cheers Laurie – have a great weekend
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Hey, Dallas, so sorry to hear that you have been sick. Love the idea of someone to take dictation! I might keep an eye out for a willing minion!
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ah but if she were willing and could stop herself from making all those wisecracks at my expense
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Here’s to next week. May your hair stand out on ends, but for other reasons.
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Thank you muchly!
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Dame Barbara, first time I’ve heard her mentioned in many years! On your sickest day I’m sure you didn’t look as scary as that.
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Sadly, I think I may have Hayley. Everybody who was brave enough to stick their head around the sickroom door, hightailed it pretty quickly after looking at me!
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If they ran screaming I’m sure it was due to fear of germs 🙂
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Firstly, I am glad you are feeling better. I wanted to thank you for “liking” my post on Didim. I am flattered and a little surprised. I really enjoy reading your blog which is both interesting and funny, but of course, I forgot while I was in Turkey that you were based in Altinkum. Despite it being a bit of a British outpost we really did have a wonderful time there. After two years of coming back to GB and suffering the rain, 3 weeks of sunshine was fabulous. And Turkish hospitality is amazing.
Anyway, do keep writing. Best, Mark
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How spooky I was just settling down to write a comment on your Didim post as I feel it’s a fair assessment, however, like most expats I prefer it out of season and the areas away from the main tourist track – thank you for your kind words Mark
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If you want another spooky coincidence; last year we had our holiday at Challaborough Bay! I guess, coming from Devon you are used to managing the on/off season ups and downs.
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What a small world! We live in Yealmpton on the outskirts of Plymouth but is beautiful when the sun shines but boy does it rain!
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Yes, I have memories of eating ice cream last year on the Hoe in the pouring rain! Hence, the choice of a warmer climate this year.
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Oh no, I’ve been falling behind with my blog reading lately, so I hadn’t realised you were poorly. Hope it’s cleared up now!
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Ah Dame Barbara. I think I read 100 of her books as a kid (my mothers cast offs). Love her.
Hope you’re better soon! But keep the stenographer, she can follow you about noting down all your observations as they happen!
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Feel better! I’ve missed reading your posts. I feel like my house has been infected too. My sister and her friend who is visiting are sick. And I’m pretty sure I’m coming down what is shaping up to be my third cold this summer…
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Make sure you look after yourself, I feel much better but also that I have lost a few days of my life
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Dame ScaryLady freaked me out a bit. I’m glad you are starting to feel better, you’ve really gone through it.
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Get well very soon please – we certainly don’t want you to look anything at all like that Dame 😀
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To tell you the truth, having not heard of Dame Barbara Cartland before, I am still in shock over the accomplishment of writing 700 books. Would you recommend any? I always knew I had holes in my English education, but this is something I’m sorry I missed.
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If you read one,you will find out why it was easy to write that way.I sincerely doubt that you will like them unless you interpret them as irony…however she demonstrates enormous emotional and mathematical intelligence about how to get rich.Many folk would be intrigued to read your version of her romances.. ..If you do like them you will be happy for all your life.:)
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Well to be fair whilst they wouldn’t be my cup of tea, you have to admire an author who has that much commercial success, however, I do think her viewpoint is a little outdated in today’s world but then again maybe that’s why so many people like them
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Hope you are feeling better this week!
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Have no doubt you will get there……at least 70 if not 700 🙂 And being sick doesn’t sound like such a bad thing in Dyson Abbey!!
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