What to do when sick.

I woke up with a scratchy throat yesterday, and this morning was considerably worse. I questioned whether to properly wake up at all, but eventually you just can't help it.

So here is my plan for today, as it was yesterday. Before or after a few hours of obligatory online job-hunting (job-hunting in person would be counter-productive in this state of health), I curl up on the couch in front of the picture window stretching out to the sea, take a cup of tea or water in hand, and page slowly and carelessly through Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters.

I have included a photo from Masterpiece Theatre's 2003 adaptation of the novel. It is one of my favourites, and not, incidentally, because of the inevitable romance. No, I am far more intrigued by the family dynamics (not to mention Molly Gibson's phenomenal hair). It is fascinating to see how behaviours which, on the surface, would seem to destroy relationships, ultimately serve to strengthen them. This is something it is hard for me to believe in my own life - but it works beautifully here. I am a little over half-way through - it is some 600 pages long. We will see how far I get before my throat clears, my head steadies, and my little stomach finds its ease. Feel free to join me.

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