Swine flu …

… is spreading quite quickly in the UK.  In fact, almost 30 people have died after contracting the disease.  Therefore, the NHS has updated its  Choices website with advice on how to react in case you get sick–for example, don’t go to a hospital or your GP, as you might contaminate others.

One of these tips especially caught my attention, as I found the question slightly strange …

Should I have a ’swine flu party‘ or try and catch swine flu now, so I will be immune to more serious strains that may emerge later?

(a swine flu party?? How mad are these British ??!!)

No – it is irresponsible to purposefully catch the virus as you may perpetuate the spread. (Oh, really …) Also, as we don’t yet know the profile of the virus, it is too soon to assume it is only a mild infection. And catching swine flu will not necessarily protect you from strains that may emerge later (see Is it possible to catch swine flu twice?).

That’s quite a pity though.  As, I do feel quite sick today and am wondering if I haven’t contracted the dodgy disease.  So now, I am supposed to suffer all by myself–without seeing a doctor or having a swine flu party, sniff.

L.

„Für Dich haben wir extra geputzt!“ …

…sagt Jack, einer meiner neuen (zwischenzeitlichen) Mitbewohner. Drei Monate lang werde ich im schönen Wandsworth in Greater London wohnen, im Haus von ihm, Simon, Tom und Paul. Während Letzterer der Einzige der vier ist, der mit mir und Alfredo, einem Spanier auf Besuch in London, die Stellung hält, hat der Rest der Jungs das Haus auf den neuesten Putzstand gebracht … oder so. Continue Reading →

„Welcome to Garrat Lane“…

…, Tom wrote in his text message, „It’s not the Ritz, but there’s a lot of love there.“  For the next three months, I am going to live in Tom’s room in Wandsworth, Southern London.

With me in the house: Simon, a passionate mechanic, and Paul, some kind of graphic designer and painter (I haven’t met him yet and will get further explanation on his job later on, I am sure).  The third in the team is Jack, a stage constructor.  But he is only staying until Monday–afterwards, he will be touring through Europe with Madonna …

And, there is another visitor (or inhabitant?): a little rodent ran through our kitchen last night, just when I was talking about the sense of life with Simon.  But well, I am used to mice after Villejuif, ain’t I?

L.