Bad timing

Poor Mum has a ghastly cold. She's been feeling lousy for a couple of days but it got really rotten today and she's worried she might not make it to see PTerry on Sunday.

Her voice is amazingly deep and croaky and she's been, in her phrase, barking like a seal all day. Her friend Dee said, 'Get Venetia to make some lemon barley water with honey and ginger!' Friend Roz agreed and suggested adding garlic as well (Mum thought not.) But I made a half-batch of barley water with some minced ginger we had and Mum said it was helping her sinuses.

Roz brought groceries around since Mum didn't feel up to driving. Milk and bread plus more lemons and honey and she also brought a big chunk of ginger root.* Made a full batch of the barley water this time and it's really quite nice and very easy to make. (I drank a couple of glasses in the hopes that it will act as a preventative measure.)

Before Mum went off to bed, she was saying, 'Everything hurts! My sinuses hurt, my nose hurts, my throat hurts, my shoulders hurt ... oh my god, tell me to shut up and stop complaining!'

Nope. I try not to bitch too much when I'm feeling like hell but given how often that is, Mum's listened to plenty without ever telling me to shut up! I think I can listen.


*Roz also brought me some fresh chestnuts and a few walnuts as well, for 'inspiration.' She took two of her grandkids to a pick-you-own chestnut grove so they're very fresh ... I'm not sure if I've ever had chestnuts before. I'm thinking not. *pokes at google for recipes* Inspire me!