Life at No.22, Musings, Snapshots of Tauranga

The Forged Sick Note

Suzanne

It’s winter, the westerly and southerly winds have united to create a depth of cold that penetrates the bones of the hardiest of us, and the bugs are out in full force. With that in mind, here I am, snuggled under the old family blanket, wrapped in a warm cocoon of comfort. I’m pretty content to have my backside glued to a lovely, comfortable leather seat for hours on end, unlike me. I’m not the most patient person when I’m under the weather. There are always things to be done.

One positive aspect of being confined to a chair is the opportunity to tap away on my computer when my eyes aren’t watering, allowing me the privilege to express myself creatively or simply sit with nothing to do but snooze. Not forgetting the box of tissues, which I’ve managed to empty after five full-on days.

It hasn’t been a pretty picture: me, tissues scattered around, missing the paperbag target, the blanket, and a steaming cup of ginger tea (never underestimate the benefits of fresh ginger with turmeric) in a small corner of our lounge. While I’ve marked this time for my recovery, I know I’ve been missed by others during my self-imposed exile from real life. I’m talking about my basketball team; we all make it a point to check in on those who haven’t been able to show up for a session or two. It’s not just about the exercise; it’s about the conversation and the shared camaraderie among the survivors of whatever life has thrown our way, whether good or bad.

Among the concerned enquiries about how I was doing was one from our team leader, the ever-inspiring Jill. Despite reaching elder status, she remains an integral part of the team, leading by example with her unwavering dedication and passion. After hearing what was wrong, she exclaimed that she supposed a head cold was a sufficient excuse not to be on the court. I replied, ‘Does that mean I didn’t need to bring in a forged sick note from home?’

Did I mention the best part of our team is our collective sense of humour?

It’s not just a coping mechanism; it’s our buoy in the storm, our life jacket in rough waters. May it always help us keep our heads above water and keep the ball going into the hoop.

The best part is that I’m feeling much better, and the sun is shining.

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

51 thoughts on “The Forged Sick Note”

    1. Jo, we all survive one way or another. I may have to wait for a few more days before venturing out for a longer walk. As Les has succumbed to it now which can lead to more serious implications than my bout. I’m watching him like a hawk.

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  3. Oh dear sorry to hear Les has now got the dreaded lurgey (not sure of spelling 🤔) There’s a lot going round over here too. Lovely to hear your basketball buddies keep in touch.

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    1. Yes, not good for Les, my immune system can deal with it. I’ve been vaccinated so limits the chance of the flu.
      I’m very lucky to have my B/B team and a few other special women in my life who unfortunately don’t live in Tga. Women are especially good at nurturing. There are a few siblings who need to be more considerate and stop being so woe is me.

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              1. Absolutely. Another of my Mum’s favorites was during school holidays and my brother and I would complain that we were bored. She would say “Oh good, you can help me with this XYZ job”. Bang! We would be out the back door and disappeared in a blink of an eye! 🙂

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                1. Funny how our generation’s upbringing was so similar. Not much money to throw around, though that “Stick around the house and you’ll get jobs to be done”, we were fast out the door too and never returned until dinner time. Even played around in the gorge with no adult supervision. How did we survive? Little siblings to rat on us 😉

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                    1. Big difference is in the gap between the privileged kids who have love, shelter and food plus the wants than those who haven’t had that from day one. That is very sad for our societies.

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    1. Hey, I’m a generous soul, it would be mean not to share as we’ve always shared everything. At least, it’s only a cold as I’ve had the flu vaccinations. The sun is shining, but it’s a cold morning for us in the temperate Bay of Plenty, so it’s going to be a lazy Sunday.

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  9. You’r4 right to just hunker down and ride out a cold, and yes, ginger tea is wonderful! I’m glad you’re feeling better now but sorry to read in the comments that Les now has it. I hope it doesn’t hit him too badly.

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    1. Thanks, Ally. I don’t usually express my feelings on my blog. This was a light hearted attempt to make people smile than incite sympathy. It’s even better that you and others read and reply; that’s always a treat.

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  12. I hate being ill. The cold/flu/covid I had at the beginning of the year made me very miserable. It seemed like it would never end, especially the coughing. I am glad to hear that you have come out of the other end, but sad to hear poor Les has succumbed. Not good for someone with a compromised immune system. I shall keep my fingers crossed.

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    1. Me too, Jude. I dislike not being able to enjoy my walks and just generally being out and about. Yes, it’s not good regarding Les. Hopefully, what immune system he does have will fight it. He’s continuously on antibiotics due to having no spleen. We shall have to wait and see. Thanks for caring.

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  13. Sorry to hear you have both succumbed to the seasons ills. Unfortunately the flu jab only covers certain strains of flu but it is imperial to have some protection. You guys have certainly had your share of rain as well. Take care and love to you both.

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  16. Glad you feel better and hope that Les is also feeling better soon.
    Ginger tea is great, but also, you can’t beat a hot lemon and honey.
    My mum used to boil up a weird concoction of onion, honey, and something else, which used to stink the house out. We were made to drink it when we had colds! I’m not sure what got rid of the colds, the strained mixture, or the fact that we knew we had to drink it by force!

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      1. The thick syrupy mixture nearly made me gag; it was awful!

        Hmmm…that, I don’t know as I never wanted to ask. My mum was one of the first registered Naturopaths in Sydney in the 1970s, when it was still considered witchcraft. So, aside from constantly studying a plethora of everything natural, she experimented a lot…on us!

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          1. Ha, ha, she definitely did. Especially, as she also was a beautician, did massage, Shiatsu, Iridology, and Homeopathy. this was in-between raising 4 kids, running her own business, sewing for us kids, cooking and preserving everything possible!
            Looking back, sometimes, you don’t realise just how much parents did for you. 😦

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