Well, I seem to be on the mend. My fever was way down yesterday, even without aspirin -- it only got to about 99.2º F in the late afternoon, when fevers are usually at their highest, and that's not even really a fever. I also felt much better. I was able to read and spend some time outside, as opposed to Monday, when I could only lie on the sofa and watch back-to-back movies ("The Core," "Moonstruck" and "Working Girl.")
I also ate both lunch (peanut butter sandwich) and dinner (rice and scrambled eggs), in addition to my normal morning cereal. So today I'm headed back to work.
What a peculiar little virus. A roaring fever for one day, no other symptoms to speak of, and then BOOM -- gone.
We had a bit of excitement in the morning when I found this creature (above) crawling across my blanket on the sofa. You can't tell from the photo, but it's ENORMOUS, at least as British spiders go. Probably two or three inches long. I'm not an arachnophobe but it gave even me the willies.
Dave and I picked up the entire blanket and shook it outside, depositing the rather stunned spider in the garden. I think it's a wolf spider, and although I wouldn't want to harm it, I also don't want to live with it. Hopefully we haven't consigned it to death in the cruel outdoors, but after all, that's where it belongs.
And then, a few hours later, I was reading on the sofa when I heard a persistent buzzing. This usually means a bee is trapped behind a window in our house somewhere, so I got up to find it and free it. Instead, I found these two bees, locked either in passionate embrace or mortal combat, on our back patio. I tend to think it was the former -- I watched them for a while and then, when I went out a few minutes later, they were separated but lying near each other. When I moved closer, they both flew away, clutching tiny cigarettes.
Bee mating is not something I understand -- I thought there was a queen involved? And the male bee dies afterwards? Maybe that larger bee above is a queen. I have no idea.
(Top photo: Our shirts drying in the bedroom. A lot of my clothes do tend toward the blue end of the spectrum.)
Completely cracking up here at "flew away, clutching tiny cigarettes". My bee knowledge is sadly lacking so I'll go with your interpretation :)
ReplyDeleteI think that spider would have caused me insomnia for at least a week.
Glad you're feeling better, and so fast. Hope Dave's mending as well. And Olga.
This post cracks me up -- I thank you for the late night giggle.
ReplyDeleteThere's always something fascinating in your posts Steve. I have never seen bees mating before, just looked it up on youtube and it would seem that that is what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteBrill
Briony
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But you do have other coloured shirts, I presume - I see you are in pink in your profile picture. (But maybe that was a long time ago!)
ReplyDeleteI have heard about people like yourself - those who like to watch others having sex. I think they are called voyeurs but they might also be known as doggers. "To bee or not to bee - that is the question". I guess it takes all sorts.
ReplyDeleteI'm chuckling here too...Your swift recovery means a wonderful immune system. How are Dave and Olga?
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw the top photo, I thought, 'What a guy household!'
ReplyDeleteYes, like Jenny o, you made me laugh out loud.
As far as the spider, had that happened here there would have been much shrieking and leaping about, which would probably resulted in me losing the spider in the house and reliving the whole experience again at some later date.
I see that even in London there can sometimes be a plethora of nature. That is an impressive spider.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad you're feeling better.
Blue suits you. You've made a sort of laundry prayer flag.
You made me laugh. I’m so glad you’re on the mend.
ReplyDeleteHappy you're feeling well enough to entertain your fans!
ReplyDeletethat's probably a wolf spider. they tend to hand out around doors or under eaves or on window sills. they don't make webs like garden spiders but more like a clumpy mass in a corner.I had one that lived for a couple of years on my windowsill inside. glad you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteGood that you're on the mend. I wonder if anybody else from the party got the bug you had.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was young there was something about a 24-hour virus. Makes me wonder if that's an actual illness. That's a big spider! I'm glad you moved it rather than ending its life. Interesting bee behavior there.
ReplyDeleteThere is no better blogger than one who can rise from his deathbed and make us all laugh. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteGlad that your feeling better, yikes that's a big spider give me night mares for sure. That is a nice photo of the shirts drying, enjoy the rest of your week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the links back to older posts , which I somehow missed, so -good job!! Sorry about sugar, sorry about John, foul play- suspicious circumstances- none of that sounds good. What a weird little virus- just building your fighting power, I reckon! What does not make you stronger...kills you...
ReplyDeleteI also think that is a wolf spider. They are very impressive! I do the catch and release too. Usually with a glass or cup and then slide a piece of cardstock underneath and carry the whole contraption outside. Glad you're feeling better!
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