Monday 25 February 2008

Of Coughs and Cornets

What is it with men and coughs? Last time he had one, two years ago, it developed into a really bad lung infection which meant X rays and all that. It turned out he has pulmonary fibrosis. Not too badly, but bad enough for the consultant to be concerned about his lungs.

At the time I looked it up on the internet and read: This is a terminal disease. You can imagine how I felt. Thankfully it’s not that bad, but beware of the internet for matters medical.

Anyway, last week he had a cough for four days and by Friday had coughed all day and night. Would he go to the doctor? Would he hell. However, having endured the coughing all week, and with a friend coming for the weekend, I told him that he was going to get cough mixture on the way back from walking the dogs Or Else.

“It’s not fair on Pam or me, or you,” I said, then delivered my trump card. “If you’re not careful, you won’t be able to play in the band on Sunday.”

That did it. I got the cough mixture for him and by that evening the cough had almost gone.

‘That cough mixture’s worked well, hasn’t it?’ I said.

‘Don’t be silly, Pop,’ came the quick reply. ‘I told you it was getting better anyway.’

Silly me.

However, the gig last night went really well. He had a brilliant time, was well applauded and is all fired up about it now.

Roll on the band eh?

12 comments:

rilly super said...

bloody hell, that sounds serious. Is that one of those industrial exposure conditions, asbestos etc? bad news for anyone never mind a brass band musician. You are right to lay down the law on this one flowerpot

Beth said...

Great that the gig went well! Sorry I haven't been around - needed to get my head down and finish off the book proposal - still haven't heard back from the agent and she's had it for a week. AGGGGHHH...
Anyway, I'd love to interview by phone - the email interviews aren't working for me as I need to be able to have a free ranging conversation. Can you email me at beth@ticktockcoaching.co.uk if you are still interested and we can arrange a date and time for the interview?

Flowerpot said...

rilly - how lovely to hear from you! Thought you'd vanished into the ether. In fact it's an idiopathic lung condition - which means that no one knows how you get it. His isnt too bad thank god but still needs looking after.

Flowerpot said...

beth - some agents hang onto things for weeks if not months so dont despair! Will email you re an interview.

Cornish Dreamer said...

I'm sorry to hear that Mr FP isn't well at the moment. I hope the cough medicine has helped clear it up altogether. RT

Lane Mathias said...

A cough and a cornet most certainly don't go together:-)

Glad Himself had a good gig:-)

Flowerpot said...

RT - he's well on the mend thanks, just tired.

lane - nothing like a gig to get the adrenaline going!

Philipa said...

Your heart must have sank when you read the internet info! Hope all ok.
My daughter has had a cough for a couple of weeks and she coughs so hard when asleep she's sick. It's so worrying when a loved one is poorly :-(

Elaine Denning said...

If that cough had stayed with him, he'd have had to give up the cornet and start singing the blues instead.

Men are hopeless sometimes, FP.

Ellee Seymour said...

Wait till he gets an ingrowing toenail!

Akelamalu said...

They just won't be told will they??

Glad to hear he's feeling better though.

Flowerpot said...

philipa - so sorry to hear about your daughter. Let's hope she recovers soon.

MissU - they certainly are!

ellee - oh no I dread to think!!

Ak - no why are they so stubborn?