Risen from the Dead

I'm currently fighting the urge to kick Puppy in the head because he's biting and chewing everything these days. I can't really blame him because all his puppy teeth are falling out and his new teeth are growing in, which I know is probably pretty painful. I've been wondering if it's okay to give him aspirin or something for the pain, but can't find anything about it on the internet so far. So, I've been giving him ice cubes which he happily crunches on. Also, he's in his crate all day because the minute I let him out he knaws on my hand, or foot, or arm, or any appendage of my body that he can sink his teeth into.

Apart from dealing with puppy growing pains, I've been pretty sick since getting back from London. I don't know if it's because I caught something from the kids of the friend I was staying with, or because flying always makes me vulnerable to colds. In any case, yesterday I was barely able to move because my body was so sore. I called D at work at 6 p.m. and begged him to come home and take care of me because I couldn't even get up to make myself food. Pathetic, I know.

I had a fantastic time in London, though. Just to be able to understand what people are talking about around me and to go into a Starbucks and order what I really want (Grande Non-Fat Chai Latte) was totally amazing. I bought many fantastical things from Boots, shoes for D (they don't make his size in China), and some Jo Malone cologne for me. Other than that, I hung out with my friend and her two lovely boys, met up with Bluesoup (who lives, in a weird twist of fate, two minutes away from the friend I was staying with), and wandered around Sainsbury's like a child in a candy store. I would seriously consider living in the darkest, dampest flat in London to be able to shop at Sainsbury's everyday. Seriously.

The down side was that the damp cold literally crippled me. I don't remember feeling so cold in my whole life. I mean, obviously I lived in London for four years so I know how cold it gets, but I just wasn't used to it anymore. I was constantly having to borrow sweaters from my friend because I didn't pack appropriately. Now that I'm back in Beijing, I've noticed the dry air even more keenly. I wake up in the middle of the night with cracked lips, a bloody nose, and a throat so dry I can't even speak - and that's with two humidifiers running.

I picked up a little treasure in Boots that's been a lifesaver for dry skin though. Organic Body Nourishing Body Oil. I slather it on after a shower and it leaves my skin really soft and moisturised, making the need to re-apply lotion again during the day unnecessary. I should have bought 10 bottles of this stuff: