I have had a rough-sounding throat since last Wednesday, which has been quite good, because I've sounded really ill, but felt fine (great for the sympathy vote) and from Friday onwards I started losing my voice (more sympathy) but by Sunday night I was starting to find my breathing felt not so fine and then I kept waking up in the night fearing my lungs would collapse and/or my throat would just close, there would be no time to save me and I would just die instantly.

There is no doubt about it - I am a bona fide Drama Queen, but in the dead of night thoughts that by day are fleeting and laughable suddenly become a realistic foregone conclusion and a spiral of self-induced terror begins. By 8am I was at A&E explaining my fear of imminent death by breathlessness. I was embarrassed to note my low, healthy pulse rate and blood pressure, but they were very kind to me, and assured me that I was not going to die ('well, not of this anyway') and sent me on my way with a diagnosis of sore and slightly swollen throat.

When I got home I felt very sulky at Mark (he is a bit crap at giving me any sympathy) so did not give him the exact diagnosis (for fear of sneering) and told him I had a raw throat and inflamed windpipe. Feel fully vindicated - this is only a tiny exaggeration and I was scared......

Have scrapped this photo of Finlay for the weekly SLYMI:

Last week I was invited to spend the afternoon with my niece Daisy, being a 'special person' at her school. This was a surprise as I was quite sure she didn't like me at all - but in truth I think I was not top of her special list anyway - the other, infinitely more desirable candidates, were unavailable. As a result, I found myself standing in the school reception with hundreds (30) other 'special' relations dragged out for the occasion and feeling quite sick with nerves at the reception I would get from Daisy - she was just as likely to ignore me totally as give me a warm welcome - it could go either way.

As it happened, she had decided to play her part perfectly and was very sweet and lively. She seems to have a very good teacher and I was impressed with the school.

This is not a drawing of me by the way - this is her 'Scary Teeth' drawing. I have to agree. I would be very afraid if I had teeth like this.

After this I had arranged to meet my old school chum in town, which I was really looking forward to. She has not changed and made me cackle with laughter just as she did when we were at school - lovely to spend time with her. You'd expect people to be different after 25 years - but it is so easy to slip back into the personality of carefree schoolgirl.....