(no subject)

My immune system must still be in the toilet. I seem to have developed a case of the galloping (not creeping) crud, with impeccable timing. Within a couple of days of having to admit that, indeed, I've come down with another cold/flu, it seems to be going into a secondary sinus infection and the old favorite asthmatic bronchitis (when my albuterol inhaler is almost empty). Normally, I'd be better off avoiding antibiotics, but not with a generally crapped out immune system. Sunday I noticed it wasn't "just" allergies, so last night I was getting the pervasive "moldy graham cracker" bacterial sinus infection smell and having to get up at intervals to gulp more Robitussin and use the inhaler so I could sleep propped up. My chest and abdominal muscles were already a mess, largely from never completely losing the cough from the last round of this. After last night, I feel like somebody has been whacking me in the ribs with a sledgehammer. By Christmas, it'll be trying for pneumonia, IME. Bah.

Not for the first time, I have to reflect on what a truly unpleasant survival strategy this hellacious cough is. Yeah, nobody under 90 in the family has died of pneumonia in centuries, AFAIK, but being able to clear one's lungs stupendously well is a pretty crappy substitute for, say, an immune system that's decent at fighting off viruses in the first place. Talk about arguments against Intelligent Design...

Today I need to pick up a package from the postal depot (thankfully close), and stock in more supplies to last through the end of the week--including tissues and cough syrup. With the other things, I don't think I can stand going through the rigamarole of trying to get into the GP clinic through A&E this afternoon. (Not a snowball's chance of getting in to see the regular GP, naturally.) I guess I'll have to devote tomorrow to trekking to the hospital, unless there's remarkable improvement overnight--ha.

With any luck I can also get an inhaler prescription, and one for sitagliptin. I had two more weeks' worth of Januvia samples left, but may have left them in the US. I couldn't find any more in my carryon luggage last night, so have already missed a dose. Yeah, the timing has sucked overall.

Edit: It really irks me that they stick all the cough suppressants behind the pharmacy counter here. The last thing I need is an expectorant (it ain't pretty, oh my no), and it would be nice to be able to buy several bottles at a time without a hassle. Ingvar, would you also pick me up a bottle of plain Robitussin Dry Cough (no decongestant, please gods no guaifenesin) on your way home? And probably some Nurofen Plus? Two bottles of cough syrup ought to get me through until Boxing Day, I was going to pick up one at Sainsbury's. Thanks!

On the brighter side, we do have five boxes of GF macaroni and cheese dinners that I brought back. With some frozen mixed veggies, that really simplifies supper plans, slightly junky or no.

(no subject)

Picked up the package, and got the new filter rinsed off and put in Skate and Canary's tank. This is the third filter, since the built-in one is just not up to dealing with messy carp (moves 600L/h in a 180L tank), and I underestimated the additional filtration needed. No, Skate is too huge and messy to limp by with 1300L/h in there, unless I want all kinds of particles floating around. Now they're up to 2100L/h all told, which isn't actually as overfiltered as the goldie tank in the bedroom--I had learned better by the time I set it up!

The water in there is already looking clearer. Yay.

AquaEra are the folks I bought the bedroom 150L tank from. The quality for money and the service were so good, I thought of them for a filter. These are the people who--when I'd missed their e-mails about being out of the color tank cabinet I'd ordered--sent somebody to deliver the tank in person, and make sure the substitution was OK! They're carrying a lot of SunSun products, which seem to be at least as good as the bigger brands available here, and a heck of a lot cheaper (especially considering a lot of the electricals are Chinese built, anyway). Next thing to order from them in a few months is a pond pump to replace the one that crapped out, as soon as it starts warming up some. I'd definitely recommend them to UK fishkeepers.

I also got a lot of shopping done, and managed not to tip the bike over at all this time. :>