I’ve taken to my bed with the ‘flu and, mostly, it’s been an unpleasant affair and I’ve not been nearly as productive  as that most famous bed-loafer, Marcel Proust (1871-1922)  who lay propped up in bed all day writing  the later sections of his seven volume novel À la recherche du temps perdu.

It doesn’t do for neat writing as you can see in Proust’s bedroom style – messy. He might have had even worse handwriting than mine. I’ve done some writing in my notebook but I may not be able to read my handwriting when I recover.

I started out in this bedroom exile with just some drugs and a glass of water but as I’ve begun to feel better, it’s felt right to use my bed-ridden state the Proustian way and to continue my reading of his massive novel on my Kindle (In Search of Lost Time translated by Monchrieff/Kilmartin/Enright, 1992).

I think Proust got up in the evenings for some gentle socializing so, continuing in Proustian style, well, I have to get into the spirit of the book, the last couple of evenings, after finally finishing one of his extremely long sentences, sentences that can meander along with many sub-clauses for page after page, after  finding a final and much needed paragraph ending, I’ve descended to the bottom of the house for some other medicine, discovering that a fine full-bodied red wine in front of a log fire can produce all sorts of pleasant sensations.

I hope that this style of recuperation will work and that I  shall feel better long before I get to the end of Proust’s 4215 page epic.

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It is typical isn’t it! I get great news about my health (see yesterday’s blog) and get all excited about getting back to normal life after two years having to be careful about what I do and then what happens – I get the ‘flu!

I was planning to start my return to fitness today but instead I just have to dream about it and return to my bed for the comforts of paracetamol,  a mug of tea, striped cotton pyjamas, a warm duck down duvet and a good detective story recommended by a friend.

I hope to be back to see you all again when I find out who done it.

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The temperature dropped dramatically here in Lewes, in southern England last night and we even had a ground frost. It was too cold for a flu-infected wolf to venture outside but all was well because it was the perfect excuse to light the wood burner and curl up watching recorded tv shows about Himalayan tigers. The picture may be blurred but so was I after a medicinal glass of whisky. Sometimes being ill on a wintery night can be just great.

As for those Himalayan tigers, they are truly magnificent creatures and, even though they are supposed to live in jungles, here they are right up there in the Himalayas. Until I am better though, I think I would rather be in front of my fire. Here is a news clip about these amazing creatures as filmed in a three part BBC natural history series:

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