Still Poorly

Had hoped to wake feeling better but it seems it is not to be, if anything feel weaker and more tired than yesterday. This may take longer than I originally thought. On a more positive note I slept well after the hot bath. Although I don't feel like it, make and eat a full English breakfast, washed down with strong black Italian coffee. After breakfast phone my wife to let her know that I can't take the dogs and then Leslie to cancel our weekly coffee morning at Caffe Nero in Beverley. Felicity phones to see how I am, it's her daughter, Melissa's birthday and they are all going to the Westwood restaurant.
Outside April continues, sunshine and showers under a cold northerly wind, in the field beyond the garden hedge, the rabbits play unperturbed by the elements. Play a recording of Simon Schama's interview with the 94 year old historian, Eric Hobsbawm, on the BBC I player. I have his four part history of the 19th and twentieth century, despite his advanced age he remains remarkably lucid, and I can't help but agree with his belief that we should hold on to enlightenment values, liberty, equality and fraternity. Despite their contradictions. Having cleared my diary there is little for me to do except read, prepare lunch and get well. On Friday I bought a smoked ham in Tesco's and soaked this overnight to take out some of the salt. I put this in the oven after draining it and bake it slowly over a low heat. Then peel potatoes and take out some carrots and broad beans from the freezer to defrost. Realise that I'm out of potatoes, onions and fresh vegetables so put on my coat and drive to Tesco in Beverley, whilst I'm there pick up some more Italian filter coffee and paracetamol as well as a bottle of Hock to accompany lunch. I have supplies for a week if I don't get better, feel very tired as I get back to the car and drive home. Have to rest for a while when I get back but then set too and prepare lunch. Put the vegetables in a steamer in the microwave and whilst they cook make a white sauce with milk, butter and flour. Slice the gammon, plate the potatoes and veg, and then chop fresh parsley and mix it in the sauce, pour myself a glass of nicely chilled Hock. The slight sweetness of the wine and compliments the gammon, and the parsley sauce helps bring out the flavour of the broad beans and carrots. If only my sense of taste wasn't buried beneath this cloying catarrh. After lunch clear the pots and cover the left over gammon slices with cling film, I have reserved the crackling to go into a lentil soup in the slow cooker for later in the week.
After lunch meditate then sleep until five. Make tea and a couple of my homemade, sultana, oatmeal biscuits and then read for a while.