Day 72: “Happy Birthday to You”-<3 Laryngitis

November 11 is the day of my birth. My birthday rituals include going to mass, talking to the family, eating some form of long noodles, having cake with my friends and eating a slice of cheesecake with a latte.

Granted that I was losing my voice the night before, I woke up this morning with me being able to talk with a decibel of a whisper. Yep, laryngitis had officially taken over my whole body. I was lucky that my Marketing tutorial cancelled because if not, I wouldn't have been able to carry a conversation during our tutorial.

My day officially begun when I went to mass at 1:05 pm. There is a funny story behind mass but I'll save that for face to face conversation. Nonetheless, if you have laryngitis and the cold bug, I suggest you lug a bottle of water around. Fr. Simon gave me a birthday blessing afterwards.

I was walking towards the Bod when I saw the Thai kitchen in the Old Tom open on St. Aldate's. I don't really have an appetite. But I figure, if I can eat something from my usual birthday ritual (I can't have anything sweet or dairy because my throat is already killing me), I can eat the long noodles. Filipino tradition calls to have long noodles such as spaghetti or what we Filipinos call "pancit" for long life. I grew up with it and I've lived it every since so I walked into the place and ate Pad si eew and had some ginger/lemon tea.

I force fed myself. I was done after 2 bites. That's how sick I was. I was feeling a bit more sick by the minute. I needed to go home but I had to read for my essay due on Sunday and I also had the Adviser drinks party that night.

I headed to the Bod afterwards. When my coughing fit begun at around 5:45, I left the Bod, headed to Tesco and stocked up on ginger and cough drops.

I went to the Adviser drinks and was barely able to socialize. I can't talk and I felt bad for being a virus-carrying individual at that party. I left and headed home. I really didn't feel like celebrating. I wanted to curl up in bed and drink some ginger tea. I headed home, made myself some soup dinner and then boiled ginger tea (or, as we Filipinos call it, Salabat). I put my stuff upstairs as the ginger tea was boiling and I saw my door as pictured above, decorated by Suzanna with messages from my flatmates.

Thanks so much Suzanna, Joanne and Debra. Even if I didn't actually get to enjoy my birthday (nor was I up for it anyways) I was very happy inside. For everyone who greeted me as well. Thanks so much. Those who matter remembered and I'm so very thankful that you guys did, even if I'm way across the pond with laryngitis. :]