It's COVID.

Took a RAT, saw a doc and got a medical certificate written and some medication to treat the symptoms - they don't have free antivirals as of six months ago, dammit.

I'm vaxxed up to JN.1 (whatever the most recent version is) and that's good, because it hopefully means it'll be mild. But it still sucks.

Still trying to work out what I need to collect on the travel insurance for medical situation causing disruption to travel plans.

Probably a PCR and that's going to be the tricky part around here.

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Had taste and smell (well, relatively, other than blocked nose) up to this afternoon. Mostly I'm feeling fluey - and tired.

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Things I did not need: the eastern european friend who has a tendency to be upbeatedly-depressing telling me she hopes I don't get Long COVID like she did 8 weeks after she got COVID... I mean, I hope I don't, too, but I didn't need something else to think about...

Sometimes I feel like I am the only person in the world who fills up on water, however temporarily.

Right now, I'm sitting at a table with an entire bottle of sparkling water, and I'm not going to manage to drink it all in one sitting.

Singapore has been beautiful, but also tiring and hot. I have mostly stayed in the hotel, where my room has an absolutely ridiculous view. With the exception of today, when I went out to meet a friend and we walked through 30C heat-and-humidity, fit to broil me in sweat. I was sincerely slick across the skin by the time we reached the place we were going to lunch.

I'm happy to report that Singapore isn't entirely given over to the modern, flash, and fancy. In a little street of restaurants and bars, we found a place that doesnt look like it's changed its decor since the eighties. And I don't mean bright and tawdry neon; I mean lino floors, melamine tables, and the old 'Chinese' paintings and ideographs on the walls, framed beneath glass.

Chin-Chin runs a brisk and cheap business with an extremely simple menu - the height of the 'if you're good at it, ride that train all the way down'. That said, most westerners wouldn't dare eat there for fear of food poisoning - it's got that look about it. Although honestly those places generally have the best food. We had a meal for two, it was filling, and it cost about the same as one meal would have cost elsewhere. Which, on this street where the buildings look like they were built during Singapore's early years of colonisation by the British - complete with wooden shutters - probably means they own the shop and space outright. Because the rent on that street would be absolutely RUINOUS.

Granted, to get there, we had to emerge from the modern, flash, and fancy shopping centres that...sincerely? Look like something straight ouf the Australian 00s (possibly the American 90s) - bling and lights and colours and EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.

UGH.

Anyway, it's been an excellent couple of days. Even if I've been battling this damned virus. That, or the air-conditioners are drying out my throat something ferocious.

Tomorrow, I wake early and fly to Hong Kong where I will be seeing my half-brother and the niecelets.

And dealing with Dad, who I suspect has an "offer" of a business proposition.

And I am busily reminding myself it is not up to children to fulfil their parents' dreams.

Damn. I had half a post typed out and now it's all gone.

The holiday has crept up on me super-fast, and rather stressfully.

Most things are booked and sorted, I need to set up tours in Portugal and in Toronto, but otherwise...I think I'm set. I hope I'm set.

Today has been a change in the weather, occasioning runny noses and sore throats. At least, I hope it's the weather, cause I'll be absolutely furious if it's COVID or a flu.

I've been called in for Jury Duty in the middle of my holiday. I've submitted my flight details, which have been booked since April, but which were rebooked in August - luckily beforfe they sent the notice of the Jury summons. Ugh.

I suspect at some point, though, I might have to use the work situation as a defence against being called up.

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It's now just past 11pm and I think I've managed to pack all the things I have to pack. PHEW.

A couple of things I haven't managed to do - update my will, and get my power of attorney sorted.

Just sent the itinerary.

Okay, time for a wash and bed. And hope this sore throat is just the weather. UGH.

In theory I like the idea of crossworks exchange: crossover two fandoms.

In practicality...I just know I won't get anything I like, or something along the lines of what I'd like to write.

*sighs and passes*

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I haven't really written (or re-written) any more of the novel. Still struggling with the rewrite and the fear that the story just isn't interesting enough.

Wondering if I should switch over to Queen Of The Night (vampire urban fantasy) or over to the ElVeeHu universe - Elves, Vampires, and Humans, oh my!

I don't think I quite have the ElVeeHu plot quite sorted out, other than the romance.

That's usually the problem. I know how the relationship sorts out, but I feel like the plot needs more oomph.

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Trying to improve on my bus-pass of Just Married. I know there's something missing in the denouement, I just have to find it.

*squints at her pages*

And I ended up on the pinch-hit list. Not entirely surprising, I guess.