Ugh. For the first time in my UK life I am falling sick S: I cannot help but wallow in self-pity because I have never fallen sick here before. Here. Away from home. With no family to fuss over me and make me "Take your medicine and go to sleep early. Ling/Bon feel her forehead in the middle of the night hor". Gosh, how pampered. On hindsight, getting sick at home was a really big thing and a sore throat used to bring on the full works of plain porridge/soup, leng yong and "Go and sleep! Go and sleep!" No wonder I would drag myself around the house slurring, "Ngeh... I feel saaaaack..."

Here whenever someone tells me they did not go to hospital because they are not well I either think "Really? I know what "not well" means... I invented the general malaise excuse..." *wigglewiggle eyebrows* or, if it is an honest, conscientious student I just give a superficial "Awww. That sucks!" or if there is a social obligation to make small talk/sympathise more convincingly, add in "Yea you should take the day off! Go home and have a good rest!" but really thinking they are fine.

Now I remember what it is like to fall ill :/

Hai. I had thought it was the overnight living room karaoke-ing last night that had caused my sore throat and the ngiam ngiam feeling in my mouth today. But as the day went on my sore throat has progressed from just sore to the painful-lump-when-you swallow feeling. I've also got a deep and mysterious voice now. The muscle pains (and my favourite excuse of general malaise) just started about an hour ago. Which makes me more and more convinced that my resistance to UK pathogens has finally been breached after my proud 4-year record of not falling ill (here). Will measure my temperature tomorrow. Good thing I earned 150pounds + a thermometer from my bird flu trial.