Ugh.

It looks like I have caught the cold off Gypsy Boy. He's been sick for a week now but has not taken any time off work, which drives me mad because it takes him ages to recover, and of course he spreads the germs. Hmrph!

I'm baa-ack!

Ok, so I know I've been AWOL from blogging over the last 6 weeks or so, but I've had a valid excuse. I've been feeling very under the weather over the last month, and I'm still not quite over it.

Nevertheless, while I've not been snug under the covers in bed (or veg-ed out on the couch) feeling like absolute hell, I've been pretty busy. So here is an update of what's been happening in a Gypsy Girl's world:

1. Completed Arabic Language Course for beginners
2. Worked from home on proofing some exciting new travel guides soon to be realeased!
3. Finally got an iPod
4. Found out some very, very exciting news

More on all of this later...

Oh so tired.

Over the last few weeks, I've been exhausted. Not from doing anything in particular which was what puzzled me and caused me to think perhaps I'd come down with some tiredness virus. I'd simply wake up after a good night's sleep and feel tired. Getting on to doing my normal house chores left me feeling exhausted after a few minutes. I was even down to having afternoon naps and having no trouble going to bed as early as 9pm!

It's fortunate that just downstairs we have a specialist medical centre. It's sort of tucked away into the back of the building, but once you find it and go in, it's amazing how we never knew this place existed all this time. It's large, clean and well, like its name alludes to, has specialists. There's a paediatrician, an opthamologist, a dentist as well as a gynaecologist.

I ended up having to get a blood test and scan done. The results showed that there were low counts of everything. Is that even possible? How is it that Gypsy Boy whom I share the same diet with [well, almost the same diet], is fine according to his recent blood test results and not me. The weirdest thing is I've been on a detox over the last 3 months with no alcohol and no coffee [ok, maybe I've had a couple of coffees], and we eat tons of healthy home cooked food with loads of veges everyday.

Anyway, now I've been prescribed a special diet. Ugh, I hate diets!!! Although I guess this is not so bad - I have to have extra vegetables particularly spinach, pomegranates and bone soup. The Dr did say liver, but I think I'll try to manage without the liver for now.

BTB

Back to Blogging after 2 weeks of having MIL stay, and a whole week suffering the effects of food poisoning!!

This is the 3rd time I've had food poisoning in the 6 months we have been in DXB, all from dining out on chicken. The first 2 times were a lot milder, but last week really put me out, and I can only put it down to 1 of 3 reasons:

a) I'm getting a weak stomach [due to lack of exposure to outside bacteria] from eating home cooked food 90% of the time

b) Some really suspect hygiene/food storage/preparation standards - especially in 40 degree heat

c) Rotten luck!

Saudi honey & Thai lime

Mixed with hot water, this is a little concoction I'm taking right now to shake off a cold and sore throat I think I'm coming down with.

The Saudi Arabian honey tastes quite different to New Zealand Manuka honey which I'm used to having with lemon, but all the same I think it's working! I hate being sick, so fingers crossed...