Being 71

 I shouldn't be writing this. 

Like an email or text written when you're upset, it's best to sleep on it before hitting 'Send'. 

But this blog is nothing if not honest, and that has to include feeling awful as well as being up-beat. 

Like many people, C and I have had a series of upper respiratory tract infections dating back to October 2022. Mostly she's been well when I've been ill and vice versa, but right now we're both suffering from throats, colds, coughs, you name it. Fun fact: I've started coughing up green stuff today. C also had a vomiting session Wednesday night. It's like we're taking turns to be the poorliest! Of course I can't say for sure that being 71 is one of the causes of these infections, but I'm sure it doesn't help.

Being ill messes everything: social life, sport, trips, general exercise/fitness, motivation to write, play (guitar) or read. You let people down by having to back out of commitments. With the advice being "rest, paracetamol, and drink plenty of fluids" and no energy it's easy just to flop in front of the TV. But it wears thin when you have to rewind the video/tivo for the nth time because one of you has drowned out the dialogue or punchline by coughing. And I was looking forward to seeing a new band, the "Strange Doors", in Leicester tonight; The Doors' music is always good live and I'd been looking forward to this; too bad.

And this cold spell means that we only have 2 warm rooms in the house: a bedroom and the living room where I sit with a blanket over my legs like a house-bound nonagenarian. 

I don't remember ever cancelling a blood donation session before. I've now had to pull out of sessions booked for November 4th, November 22nd, December 14th and January 17th. The Transfusion Service must be desperate because they keep ringing me up to make new appointments; it's hardly worth it with my current record. 

These are minor ailments, yes, and yes I feel fortunate not to have underlying health problems. I know we're going to get better. And at least we were reasonably OK for both our 50th wedding anniversary in October and also for Christmas, thank goodness. 

What bothers me more, I think, is my experience at the Grateful Dudes concert last week (Fiddler's Elbow, Chalk Farm, London, 13/1/23). Yes, after nursing a voiceless C all week I took advantage of my booking.com points and a strike-free week to train it down to London for the night. The first 45 minutes of the gig I was in hog heaven, boogying away like there was no tomorrow. Then the sound got loud and I had to move to the side. Where I found I couldn't hear Andy. So back to the middle with ear plugs. Then by the end of the first set I found there was, to use a topical phrase, nothing left in the tank. Make no mistake the band was excellent. (None of these musicians would be out of place in Dark Star Orchestra should any DSO member decide to move on.) I just didn't have the energy to fly with them. Had to go and perch on an amp crate at the back. 

Is this how it's going to be from now on?