I’ve not given up on research, I’ve just been very ill (for about 2 months) with what started off as a harmless bout of Fresher’s Flu. Then the sudden cold weather in Scotland triggered my asthma, and to 2 together meant it was all downhill from there.

For non-British readers Fresher’s flu is a fantastic illness that sweeps across the academic ranks in early September and October. All summer we work on research projects whilst the undergrads are off playing in the sun – sometimes we get time off to play too. With autumn comes the masses of new people to university towns, bringing with them all the bugs that have laid dormant while they played in the sun. It gets cold and the central heating goes on. Everyone goes from hot to cold to hot to cold as they run across campus, so combine that with the new bugs that have been brought into town, I am sure you can guess the scenario. This whole concept never occurred to me until I started working in academia in Britain. It just doesn’t happen in the same way in other sectors. In Australia when university starts it is still hot and continues to be so for another few months. By the time winter (if you can even call it that) hits people have acclimatized to their new environment and have more hope of staving off viruses.

Usually I prepare myself for the new students by slathering myself in Neal’s Yard Eucalyptus Salve (also great for avoiding colds on long haul flights), just the smell of the stuff is enough to keep anyone at a distance, but this year I forgot to get it out in time. Anyway, I'm well on the mend and now back into it all again.