The Sniff of Doom

[nineveh_uk]

I hear it on the top deck of the bus, the Sniff of Doom. Not the sniff of disgust at someone’s repulsive breakfast smoothie, not the tedious sniff of hayfever, not the delicate sniff of someone with a slightly irritated nose. The Sniff of Doom, of someone who has a streaming cold and won’t blow their nose. And I know. They are wiping it on their hand. Their hands are all over the handles and the stair rails. They are circling, these plague carriers. There were two of them in a meeting today, sniffing. Soon there will be more. And it will spread, felling all in its path. Did I think that because Freshers’ Flu is late this year that it would not come? That there was the possibility of escape? There is no escape.

Comments

[ironed_orchid]

Ugh.

This is a great bit of writing. But UGH.

[nineveh_uk]

Every time I get an out of office on an email I shudder until confirming that they were just having a day off!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

It could be worse. You could be in a Connie Willis novel.

[white_hart]

I have only read one Connie Willis novel, but it took such horrible liberties with the geography of Oxford and the structure of the University that I think being in it would certainly make nineveh_uk's life much more difficult!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I can't say much without spoilers ...

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

This is a different Connie Willis novel; it is less cheerful (I can lend you it if you like - it is quite a good read if you make allowances for it presenting as exciting new information stuff we did in second year primary school).

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

I am coming to the end of a cold, and have been doing my best not to sniff in public. Good luck avoiding the germs!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I am not unreasonable; I accept that sniffing in public happens. I do it myself. But I also wield a tissue in public!

I just need to avoid until Tuesday - I am flying and seeing infants at the weekend.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

Brave heart! Which reminds me, did you catch any of My Life with Flu (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04mb5z2)? Probably not the time for it...

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I didn't, but I will! Thank you.

[mobile-alh.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the flying thing...sick people are everywhere!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Apparently the incubation period of a cold is two days, so as I am flying up on Friday, back on Sunday, I should be OK to stagger into work on Monday if the worst hits! (I can be off from Tues. if required).

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Aargh! Barricade yourself behind protective gear.

I have been feeling slightly queasy all day for no good reason, but it hasn't turned into anything and I have no cold-like symptoms, so I am trusting it is just a passing thing.