@osiris: I don't think it is a muscle... It reminds me of old smokers who try to cough. 

@atari: Thank you.

Hopefully everyone here is fine.

I was reading about this Chinese author and thought I would share.

She Kept a Diary of China’s Epidemic. Now She Faces a Political Storm.

“If authors have any responsibilities in the face of disaster, the greatest of them is to bear witness.” Here are excerpts from the author Fang Fang’s controversial chronicle of life and death in Wuhan.
As Wuhan was engulfed by the coronavirus, the Chinese author Fang Fang worked late into the night, writing a daily chronicle of life and death in her home city that gave rise to a global pandemic.
Her online diary, though sometimes censored, became vital reading for tens of millions of Chinese readers — a plain-spoken, spontaneous view into Wuhan residents’ fears, frustrations and hopes during their 11 weeks under lockdown in their homes.
Her account has recently drawn bitter condemnation from zealous Chinese nationalists who have called plans to publish a translation in English an effort to malign the government and undermine the heroic image of Wuhan.
Fang Fang, who uses her pen name rather than her birth name, Wang Fang, said that she did not want to be cast as either a cheerleader for the government, or as a reflexively embittered critic. She called herself a witness, highlighting the bravery of doctors, street cleaners and neighbors helping neighbors, while vowing to hold to account officials who let the virus spread.“If authors have any responsibilities in the face of disaster, the greatest of them is to bear witness,” she said in an interview. “I’ve always cared about how the weak survive great upheavals. The individuals who are left out — they’ve always been my chief concern.”

Continued at link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/worl … uthor.html

I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Batchelors for their wonderful instant noodles that keep me going.

I now realise that a lot of my go to food for health crisis is absolutely disgusting. It's so sweet it's horrible. I may as well have 10 spoonful of sugar in my tea rather than a 'healthy' R&J flapjack. I don't think I'll ever want a R&J after this.

Some awesome news:

Centenarian out of hospital after beating coronavirus aged 106

A 106-year-old woman – believed to be Britain’s oldest Covid-19 survivor – has left hospital after shaking off coronavirus and suspected pneumonia.

Connie Titchen, who recovered from a hip operation last year, was applauded by staff at Birmingham’s City Hospital as she was discharged on Tuesday.

The grandmother-of-five and great-grandmother-of-eight, from Birmingham, battled the virus for just under three weeks before being given a clean bill of health by medical staff.

In a statement released by the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, the retired department store sales assistant said: “I feel very lucky that I’ve fought off this virus. I can’t wait to see my family.”

Her granddaughter Alex Jones said Connie loved fast food from McDonald’s, but was not yet aware their restaurants are currently closed.

Describing her grandmother as someone who bounces back from anything, Miss Jones said: “She has had a really active life. She loved to dance, cycle and play golf.

“She has always cooked for herself too, although she likes a cheeky McDonald’s every now and then.  I haven’t told her they are closed.

“I think the secret of her old age is that she is physically active and very independent. She had a hip operation back in December and within 30 days she was walking again.”

Miss Jones added: “She really is amazing and I know all the family can’t wait to see her. She has quite a few fans!”

Connie, who was born in 1913, was admitted to City Hospital in mid-March with suspected pneumonia and was diagnosed with coronavirus soon afterwards.

Praising NHS staff, Miss Jones, 40, added: “The care she has received at the hospital has been brilliant and I can’t fault it.

“During her stay I was kept up-to-date constantly by the nurses looking after her which made me feel so happy.

“I want to thank the staff for all they have done for her during her stay.”
Ward sister Kelly Smith added: “It’s been fantastic to see Connie recover. She is amazing and we’ve been doing our best to nurse her back to health.

“We were really pleased when she was given the all-clear. It’s nice to see patients leave our ward after having beaten this virus.”

Stay at home to stop coronavirus spreading - here is what you can and can't do. If you think you have the virus, don't go to the GP or hospital, stay indoors and get advice online. Only call NHS 111 if you cannot cope with your symptoms at home; your condition gets worse; or your symptoms do not get better after seven days. In parts of Wales where 111 isn't available, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. In Scotland, anyone with symptoms is advised to self-isolate for seven days. In Northern Ireland, call your GP.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavi … ailsignout

Thank you, ID

And I thought my avatar was girly enough....

This comes a bit late

So...

I have it, I think.

It's been a weird week. I have symptoms but not the typical ones such as fever. I called a GP before Easter. They didn't diagnose it, they said I must have something 'viral', though. They told me to keep myself hydrated and take paracetamol. I tried self medicating with Vicks to clear my lungs  and I felt it was making me feel worse so I stopped straight away. I stopped coughing after a couple days  but now the cough is returning and I am not sure what it means. Am I getting better or not? Everything feels so unfamiliar.

Food has no taste whatsoever. It's been about 7 days now. I can feel pepper and salt, as well as sweet things but the taste is gone. My sense of smell has disappeared too.
I am starting to have enough. During the first few days, I had to force myself to eat because I didn't feel hungry anymore.

I am very lucky to be still here after over a week of symptoms.  So many people end up very poorly, so many people die... I wish I could tell why I never got this high temperature described in articles I have been reading. It seems so unfair, somehow. Why do some people have to suffer so much because of this virus? My thoughts are going to all the NHS staff who died in the past few days. RIP Donna, Melissa, Janice, Becca, Thomas... It is not a joke. I wish I had taken this thing more seriously.