Antibiotics, the last resort.

Wake at five thirty after a really bad night, coughing keeping me awake and cold sweats. It doesn't help that the night was warm and humid either. After giving Norman his breakfast and opening the garden room doors to let him into the garden, I take a couple of Paracetemol and manage to sleep until eight. Outside it's another hot day already, the sun blazing out of a clear blue sky and no wind. I make myself a full English breakfast and a pot of tea and eat in the kitchen as the Garden Room is too hot. I give in and call the doctor's surgery for an appointment, as this chest infection doesn't seem likely to clear anytime soon. They can fit me in at ten to eleven and as its ten to nine now, I will have to get my skates on if I am to take the dogs on the Westwood first. A quick shower and I arrive in Cherry for nine twenty and on the Westwood for half past. Dolly and Teddy enjoy their time off the lead but the heat is tough if you are an old dachshund like Norman and only a couple of inches of the ground! I offload the dogs at Cherry and tell Pip that I will pick Norman up after my appointment with the Doctor. It is now half past ten and I have time to call in at Sarah's before driving to the surgery. In the event I arrive five minutes early but then wait half an hour to see the doctor. Dr Martin examines my chest and then prescribes a course of aurethromyacin, which he assures me will do the trick. I collect the prescription from the pharmacy and take a tablet straight away, before driving back to Cherry. The lawns are really in need of a trim, the weeding and pruning can wait, so I set too and mow front and back. It only takes half an hour but it is hot and I am whacked when it's done. Although I prefer to use handshears for pruning, I dig out some old electric ones with a faulty lead, that I can fix back at Tickton and try to tell Pip that I am taking them, but she is in the bath. Andrew comes down instead, so I chat to him for ten minutes and he agrees to help me with the garden at the weekend. Normy and I arrive back in Tickton for twelve thirty and I make a pot of tea and some beef sandwiches for lunch and eat them in the garden. After lunch, I fix the electric shears and then get on the phone to Holland to pay the balance of the invoice on our holiday flat for September. Whilst I'm on the phone I also arrange insurance cover for my car on holiday. It is really hot and the only cool room in the house is the lounge, so I lay out the futon and lie down and meditate for an hour. Despite being interrupted by my cough I feel better afterwards, and when I get up make a batch of cinnamon and apricot oaties and a Caprese for dinner. Afterwards I sit in the garden with a pot of tea and a couple of biscuits, and read my book until it is cool enough to take Norman down the lane. We have only had three hot days, but already the muddy paths are drying out. The hot weather must be sexy as we pass some dogs going at it down the lane and see some pigeons mating in a tree. When we get back I drink a cold beer in the garden and read a chapter or two before dinner. The Caprese is spot on and I eat it with crusty bread and a glass of claret. Go to bed at ten thirty.