HNY!

[AgentPete]

Here’s wishing all Litopians the happiest and most successful of new years

I was side-swiped by the flu in December, which means that Xmas was a dizzy, bed-ridden blur. It was a nasty-two-stage affair – just when you think it’s over, it comes back for a second bite.

However, rapidly regaining functionality now. Went across the road to see BIRDMAN over the weekend, seriously recommended.

I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that getting THE HOUSES going here will be a priority this month.

I’m also keen – don’t laugh – to start a separate section here about writers’ health. By its nature, writing is far from a healthy occupation, and any mutual self-help we can give will be useful, I think.

Lots more to tell you about, but it’s Monday morning and time for action...

 

[tabby3]

HNY! To you too!

 

[Carol Rose]

Happy New Year, Peter!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Happy New Year. Sorry you've been ill. Flu can really knock you out. Writing may well be bad for the health. It may also be good for the health...if you were ill already Health page, there seems a good collective general knowledge here, and there is your background as a food author.

 

[samantha maxfield]

Ooh, flu over Chistmas is particularly nasty. I had it a couple of years ago so can wholly sympathise. Hope you are back to full steam soon.

I think there's going to be a lot of discussion about backache and neckache for writers. I know it's a problem for me. Look forward to a health page.

HNY to everyone.

 

[Marc Joan]

Happy New Year to you. I too am struggling with a respiratory virus.....my suffering is acute, but draws only the scornful epithet of Man Flu, and Dad is a wimp comments, according to age of persecutor....But I soldier on, mindful of the curative powers of single malt, the golden lining to every influenzal cloud.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Single malt, is that hot toddy style with a liberal sprinkling of LEB SIB, honey and other virtuous things? Get better soon.

 

[Marc Joan]

Sacrilege! There's a place for hot toddies, but probably not in the same glass as a single malt!
Actually, this being ill thing isn't all bad, my wife brought me a cup of tea in bed this morning. Twenty minutes later, my son brought me another one. I'll have to try being ill again. Soon.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I had a Glenmoranje once, before going up on the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glen Coe. Going sadly a cheval across it while green as a lettuce.
An experience, as will be apparent, not forgotten.Was that a single malt, I wonder?
Perhaps the cider was to blame, that came first.

 

[AgentPete]

Very partial to an Islay, me. Lovely iodine! Didn't help the flu one jot, tho...

Spent 3 weeks in Campbeltown over Xmas many years ago. 21 days of Springbank and tatties, nowt else for vegans. Very, very strange times. Oh, and drinking water out of a local stream... with wriggly things in it...

 

[Nick Faulder]

Very partial to an Islay, me. Lovely iodine! Didn't help the flu one jot, tho...

Spent 3 weeks in Campbeltown over Xmas many years ago. 21 days of Springbank and tatties, nowt else for vegans. Very, very strange times. Oh, and drinking water out of a local stream... with wriggly things in it...

Many moons ago, I spent a week in Saddle castle, about 12k from Campbeltown. I remember the bathwater being brownish and having a strange aroma – kind of sickly sweet. The caretaker said the colour was the result of water passing through peat. Strange holiday.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

Well hope you shake that flu completely soon. Touch wood, haven't had it in years. The arthritis does notice the cold here, still adjusting I guess, after leaving behind 41 degrees (c) in Australia. Otherwise despite spending most of my time in a not the best chair with a laptop on my lap, I'm not having any serious back trouble (phew). But a section for those who could do with support and ideas when something ails them that is got to be worth doing. You scratch my back, and I'll kick your flu sort of thing; or at least come up with ideas how to do it. Actually, maybe that could be a book idea??? lol

 

[Island Writer]

Happy New Year to one and all!

Sorry you were laid low Peter.... Never fun being sick over the hols. It's almost as if your body knows there is time off and it just gives up!

Getting the Houses back up will be great! Looking forward to it.

 

[AgentPete]

Many moons ago, I spent a week in Saddle castle, about 12k from Campbeltown. I remember the bathwater being brownish and having a strange aroma – kind of sickly sweet. The caretaker said the colour was the result of water passing through peat. Strange holiday.

That's exactly right, it is the peat. Flavours the water and local local firewater, Springbank. Which is only drinkable after a decade, minimum (we we imbibing it at about 2 years, not recommended). I also remember the incredibly velvet sky... lying on our backs, watching the meteors rip thru the firmament... or maybe that was the Springbank, too...

 

[AgentPete]

Well hope you shake that flu completely soon. Touch wood, haven't had it in years. The arthritis does notice the cold here, still adjusting I guess, after leaving behind 41 degrees (c) in Australia. Otherwise despite spending most of my time in a not the best chair with a laptop on my lap, I'm not having any serious back trouble (phew). But a section for those who could do with support and ideas when something ails them that is got to be worth doing. You scratch my back, and I'll kick your flu sort of thing; or at least come up with ideas how to do it. Actually, maybe that could be a book idea??? lol

Back trouble is a classic for writers. Hemingway and many others would write standing, for that reason. Looks like we won't be short of topics

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I went to Eigg once, a geology trip. Arriving on the boat, it might as well have been the Maldives as the Hebrides. Warm and sunny, white sands, bright turquoise sea. Down on the beach at night, standing in a rock pool under the moon, empty beach, the whole place to myself, two shrimps came out and tickled my feet, curious to see what this strange thing was standing in their rock pool.
One of THOSE moments.

 

[Karen Gray]

HNY! Lang May Yer Lum Reek!

Exciting that the Houses are on their way

My household is another that has been smite by ill health :/ Well... more ill health than it normally has lol... Hence my absence from Litopia. I am lucky if I get 2 hrs sleep a night atm.. round the clock nurse maid haha.

As far as writer's health... em I have back pain but that's because of old injuries from horses.
Migraines but that's the dyspraxia caused astigmatisms at work.
Finger, hand, wrist, ankle and feet complaints... mostly horses again there plus the dysbraxia.

I think other than lack of exercise and over eating due to writing obsession... no... fatness is about it for me lol... everything else is horses and lousey genetics

 

[AgentPete]

I went to Eigg once, a geology trip. Arriving on the boat, it might as well have been the Maldives as the Hebrides. Warm and sunny, white sands, bright turquoise sea. Down on the beach at night, standing in a rock pool under the moon, empty beach, the whole place to myself, two shrimps came out and tickled my feet, curious to see what this strange thing was standing in their rock pool.
One of THOSE moments.

Even tho’ you’re pretty much guaranteed rain in Scotland, particularly on the West coast, the range of experiences is utterly dazzling. Big skies, vast (and empty) beaches, and water as impossibly cyan as anything the Med can offer. Magic is never too far away...

 

[Katie-Ellen]

The mozzies are imps of Satan, and a bite from a horse fly by Loch Linnhe on the mainland was probably the trigger for a major immune system reaction, but magic is the word. Places every bit as beautiful as say, the Bay of Naples, and empty. Walking out next day on a small road to the 'shop' my sisters and I met a bull, coming towards us, free as a...bird? We tried not to show alarm and he walked on quietly by. The lady in the shop said, aye, never mind him. He just goes where he likes. More magic!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Good grief...a pic of the 'shop.'

 

[AgentPete]

Looks very much like an Indian restaurant we discovered at the end of a mud road outside Ullapool! It was, of course, raining - and I was craving an onion bhaji... following my instinct (or nose) for a good ten minutes or so, came across The Indian Restaurant At The End Of The... Mud Track. Another little piece of Celtic magic!

 

[Richard Sutton]

Sorry to hear of your bout, Peter. I just survived one having had the CDC's flu shot for the season. No more January Travel for me.

 

[Richard Sutton]

Looks very much like an Indian restaurant we discovered at the end of a mud road outside Ullapool! It was, of course, raining - and I was craving an onion bhaji... following my instinct (or nose) for a good ten minutes or so, came across The Indian Restaurant At The End Of The... Mud Track. Another little piece of Celtic magic!

Sounds vaguely Gaiman-ish, somehow...

 

[Jennifer Stone]

Greetings!! I'm new here and looking for any help i can get! Happy New Year to everyone, hoping we all get billion £ deals this year.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Hello