I've been high on Panadol since Sunday. I not only finished the strip of Panadol Extra MLB gave me a few weeks ago, I also finished the ones my sister left in the fridge. PLUS, my retail neighbour gave a me a whole new box of Panadol Regular (30 tablets) and there's less than 10 left of them by now. No wonder I feel so drugged-up.

At first it was for migraine for all that mental stress I gave myself unnecessarily. It came, died down but never completely went away until Wednesday morning. I thought I had a brain tumour or something.

I was on halfday on Tuesday. The trick was to slack around. I planned nothing for myself. Just went home straight after work to veg around and had an early night.

I was planning to do some retail therapy on Wednesday. On my hitlist were to borrow some books from the library as well as purchase a box of disposable contact lenses, a sports duffel bag and a pair of cargo pants. All from within 3km of my workplace.

The area around my workplace is an evil place, rain or shine. There is no shelter building to building. When the sun's shining bright, get ready to be roasted. When it rains, get ready to swim.

I swum. The rain was pouring heavily. However I was determined that nothing would stop me. I just put on my jacket and walked in the downpour.

At lunchtime, from Suntec City I walked to Shaw Tower, then to Bugis Junction, then to Bugis Village, then to the National Library and then back to Suntec City to make a complete and systematic loop (sorry I'm Leo). Each time exposing myself to the evil weather.

But I was happy.

At Shaw Tower, the moment I laid my eyes on the black High Sierra duffel bag at Sports Connection, I knew it was love at first sight. It has found me. Look no further. This bag was going on sale at only $29! It's spacious, it's got a compartment for a water bottle, a separate compartment for shoes and get this - there's even a compartment for a ball! It was also the LAST piece. If THAT isn't a sign from God, I don't know what is.

I got my box of Focus Dailies at Bugis Junction. I'm trying to maximize the God-given beauty of the curliness of my hair by growing it longer and I felt my glasses were getting in the way. I'm going for the Julius Caesar look. So there.

I was with MLB last Saturday when we saw this shop that sells cargo pants at $30 at Bugis Village. It was the most I'd pay for cargo pants. I vowed to return when I got paid and what dya know, the shop was having a special on Wednesday. Selected cargo pants were going at half freaking price! Woo!

I changed to my new pants immediately and proceeded to my last stop - the library to borrow my books. It was a covert operation. I had to make it fast. In and out within five minutes tops coz not only was I drenched to the bone, I was also eating into my lunchtime. I had to bear in mind to spare enough time for the walk back to work. In such an unforgiving weather, more time than usual needed to be factored in.

I made it. I was only a little late, otherwise I achieved all my objectives. Except one.

Shopping in the rain, of course there was a calculated risk that I would fall sick and indeed I have. That's the price to pay when you are pressed for time. Serves me right.

I don't know which one's worse, a 3-day migraine or a 3-day flu but hey, I've got them one after the other. How more rotten can my luck be?

There's only one way to go from here. To the warmth and comfort of my little bird. We're going for a massage tomorrow (on top of everything, my lower back is just about to fold in half due to old age) and then we're having Japanese for dinner and then we'll cap it all off with a trip to the movies.

PS: Just came back from a run. Hopefully that'd help improve the flu situation - 8.52am