There are some people who are easy to care for when they are unwell. They are gracious despite their discomfort, remaining cheerful no matter what.
It may surprise you to know that I am not one of these fabulous people.
Some say that women can bear more pain than men could ever take, and that a cold for a woman becomes flu for a man.
I like to buck a trend, me.
This week I hosted a cheery little gastric fluey virus, which did it's best to lay me low. Here is a short exchange between me and the saintly Sidekick, just to illustrate my point:
Me: "My head hurts." Pause. "My back hurts." Pause. "Have I got a temperature?"
Sidekick: (laying a kindly palm on my forehead for the nth time that day) "Yes, You are still pretty hot. Want a drink?"
Me: "No, I can't drink, I'll BE SICK!"
Sidekick: (Patiently) "Come on, you have to drink, you'll make yourself even worse."
Me: (Petulantly) "OK. Fizzy water. With the juice in it."
Sidekick: "Here. Try This."
Me: (Sipping a microscopic amount of fizzy water with the juice in it) "Bleiurgh! I CAN'T DRINK IT! I'LL BE SICK!"
Sidekick: You have to drink. I got you Ginger Beer, to settle your stomach, it's not the cheap crap either. Want a glass of that?"
Me: (Snappy now) "I can't drink it, when the fizzy hits my throat it makes me feel like I'm gonna hurl."
Sidekick: "OK, can I get you anything else? A bowl in case you throw up?"
Me: "I DON'T WANT A BOWL IDONT'TWANNABESICK! A damp towel?"
Sidekick: "OK....." (Rummages in the cupboard) "Er. Is a tea towel alright?"
Me: "YES whatever." (I slap the teatowel on my head and relax for approximately 30 seconds before...) "OH GOD now I'm too cold again."
Sidekick: (tucking me back under the covers again) "OK now? Just take it easy"
Me: (wailing and whinging, I disappear beneath the covers)
Repeat this endlessly until I feel better*, and Sidekick needs a week off work to recuperate.
Bless you. I think you are ace. And thanks for the teatowel, it was actually quite soothing.
*And I do! Today I could drop kick a horse.
