Just a Common Cold and Old Sayings

On Saturday I had a headache. On Sunday too. Monday it continues, but too the migraine stage; so bad I totally collapse after work. Tuesday I do the same again. Wednesday I'm like death warmed up, wondering around work like a zombie; my throat is like the bottom of a cocky-cage. Thursday I'm at home, with head feeling like a member of the All Blacks has kicked it several times, now drinking fluids by the litre and forcing myself to sleep with mouthfuls of codeine. Friday I drag my sorry corpse to the doctor, who promptly perscribes a course of antibiotics, more painfillers and off work until next Wednesday. *sigh* Not the best way to start a new job, eh? This really is the sickest I've been since I caught dengue fever.

Trying to put a bright spin on it all, I am reminded of when a friend came around to visit looking very ill. "Whatever's wrong?" I inquired. "Oh, just a common cold", she responded. "It started on Monday but has gotten much worse. I've been following the old saying: feed a fever and starve a cold". "Ummm... I think you've that around the wrong way." Of course, it isn't so much feeding a cold that can defeat it, but by constantly refreshing one's liquids. Because a fever operates with a virus and a cold with a bacteria the old saying makes sense. However, I therefore hearby rename the old saying to the significantly more intuitive: "Starve a fever and drown a cold".