Wednesday, March 7, 2007

One positive thing

If anything can be taken as a positive after New Zealand's disgraceful loss to Bangladesh in a Cricket World Cup warm up match yesterday it is this:

"New Zealand is better than Australia, Bangladesh is better than New Zealand, therefore, Bangladesh is better than Australia."

Well that's the kind of thing we used to study in my Philosophy 101 paper. Of course its a load of bollocks, but we have to try and take solace from somewhere!

New Zealand, England, Kenya and Canada are all in Group C, and the cup starts in just a few days. Did I mention this is going to be a brilliant year for New Zealand Sport? Firstly we are going to take out the cricket world cup with a run chase that goes down to the wire. Then we are going to make a clean sweep in the Americas cup, and finally we will take our glorious rugby world cup home after smashing France in the final at Paris. Just remember you heard it here first!

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Well I have been babbling, so onto more serious matters. After returning from Egypt, I continued to have fairly "interesting" bowel movements, cramps, nausea and headaches. I went to the doctor yesterday morning and after a bit of prodding and poking, he advised me to go to the University College Hospital A&E ASAP and get seen by one of their tropical diseases specialists. On arrival, at the mention of the fact that "my doctor sent me here because he thought I might have Typhoid", the doctors and nurses swung into action. Ok, well a phone call was made and the TD expert turned up. I got my own room, I guess so that I didn't infect others, and had various blood tests, my blood pressure taken 2 times, and various other poking and prodding.

Eventually I got shifted to my own room in the wards. (via wheelchair, policy apparently!) This room was pretty flash, it even had a flat screen TV with phone, radio and Internet capability, like a high tech version of what you get on a plane! But at 4p a minute for the Internet I wasn't going to try. More waiting around and eventually had the first result - a negative for Malaria. (Unfortunately I have to do this test again today and tomorrow as it has false negatives and positives). The test for Typhoid takes up to 5 days, but the specialist thinks I instead have Giardiasis. After being given the all clear to leave hospital, I had to stay around for another 3 hours to provide a sample to test for Giardia. I can report that hospital meals are beyond terrible!! But sure enough it helped me provide a sample and I was on my way after 8 hours in a hospital with some medicine to combat the suspected parasite! Unfortunately this medicine has made me feel a bit crook, but it seems to have done the trick in eliminating stomach cramps for the most part.

Finally I think I might write a book on my OE. Sure its not the most interesting OE, and neither is my life, but its the easiest option for a lazy person like myself. No research, plenty of content, scope for "creative" additions. And I don't think there is a book out there about peoples OEs? Not that I know of anyway. Plus I have plenty of content already from my blogs, and when the book eventually catches up with "today", I can write it as things happen. Brilliant. I have wanted to do this for a long time, but never been able to think of a decent subject. Now I best be off for a shower and more yummy blood tests.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Less of the graphic details Mike (we don't really need to know them!!) and more photos please. Can't wait for that book to be published.

Anonymous said...

Have to agree with Mary....more photos...honestly most of us probably still like a story with pictures :)

Time and Tide said...

There have been many books published about peoples overseas travel experiences MD but I am sure yours wopuld be just as entertaining and informative as the best of them. So I say go to it if you have the time and inclination!

Anonymous said...

My other thought was to publish a book on guns, the history of them, their use, the role in conflicts. The only thing is I don't think I have the commitment to sit down and write a book!

Anonymous said...

It is not the commitment you lack, it is the time. You are just too busy with all your travel and other things. Until then,keep blogging - we are all enjoying it.