it's dark, and I'm wearing sunglasses...

....nowhere to be by morning though.

I've been wearing sunglasses for about a week now. It's the only way I can cope with the world right now. I've had viral conjunctivitis - 'pink eye'. And if you are wondering what that looks like, well let's just say they weren't up all night thinking of a name for it. What it doesn't describe is the swollen eyelids, the crusty 'sleep', infuriating itching, photosensitivity (and no I didn't want my picture taken either) and thumping headaches.

I hadn't really appreciated how much I used my eyes until I couldn't. All my usual curl up and feel sorry for myself past times were out - reading, films and of course the computer. I managed to sew all the pieces I had cut out already for the next quilt but ground to a halt when it came to cutting more cloth - I'd already sliced two fingers peeling pumpkin and the thought of weilding a rotary cutter when I couldn't quite see what I was doing... well blood doesn't wash off cotton as well as pumpkin so I gave that a miss.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about those I knew who have been losing their sight, no matter how frustrating this last week has been for me at least I knew it would all clear up again. How would I adapt if this was permanent? What would I find to do to pass the time?! I guess I'd get used to it and gain more confident within my limitations eventually but it's scary how debilitating it has felt. I'm not sure if it has filled me with more admiration for those I know who cycle or drive with poor sight or whether it now scares me even more to think of them out there on the roads!!!

wedding

My brother Jon gets married in a few hours time - hopefully I'll sleep through the ceremony but I expect I'll be awake for the reception.

Not that I'll be there, I'll be tucked up in bed on the other side of the world and then getting up ready to go to my early childhood teaching placement. Thanks Leo & Aunty Meg for filling in for me =)

It feels a bit surreal really - they've been together so long now (over a decade) that it's not like anyone new is joining the family, Rachel already is family. So much so that I've got forgetting her birthday down the same fine art as I have with everyone else... well not so much the forgetting it per se as forgetting to do anything about it in time - even harder now I've got to allow for an extra 6 days postage!

I'm sad I can't be there with them. But I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles and it's not exactly the first wedding I would have loved to be at that I've missed by having moved to the opposite side of the world either and won't be the only one this year. As the saying goes - you make your bed, you have to lie in it.... which right now seems like a rather good idea! Time for sleep methinks.

And when I wake up my brother will be a married man. Weird.....