Thomas Lurghi

As inner beings go, this one is one of the less favourable to make an appearance. Although he doesn’t make an appearance as often as some of my other inner personalities, this one certainly lets me know when he’s around. No words spoken, no thoughts urging me to do something odd, different, or indiscreet, and with the ability to zap even my inner superhero of all powers, I can quite honestly say he is far from welcome.

Not being welcome doesn’t stop him from turning up from time to time.

He’s a little like the pointy-moustachioed-beady-eyed-black-clad-hooded-cloak-wearing villain from the silent movies of yesteryear. The ones where the heroine, and sometimes the hero, have been unceremoniously bundled up and tied to the railway tracks, with the impressive steam engine hurtling down the tracks, indicated by the steam that is rising just over the brow of the hill.

Obviously, in those olden-day films, the picture quality can be quite dark. Mostly black and white with blobs of white appearing here and there. And grainy images. Plenty of grains flashing here, there and everywhere.

He’s like the sinister music that is heard in suspense movies, is Thomas Lurghi. The dramatic sounds when a shadow walks passed a window. A presence, but without any clear indication as to what kind of presence.

He’s also like the smell of something gone off, with a hunt needed to find where the pungent odour is coming from – the smell doesn’t exactly hold a clue, but you think you know where it’s coming from.

At least he makes his appearances subtly, which, if one is needed, is a good thing.

And knowing that he is here, has answered my questions as to why I’ve felt so tired the past couple of days.

Yes, Thomas Lurghi is back. Back from wherever he goes when he can no longer hold anything over me. He slipped in on Monday this week. He caused my neck to ache a little, and my legs. On Tuesday, he’d turned his attention to my arms, and the left side of the back of my neck.

He’s hanging weights off my eyelids, making them look red and heavy. He’s pushing out huge bags under my eyes – it’s possible that this is where he is keeping his spare eyelid weights. He’s diverted the natural flow to the front of my nose. And he’s making sure that he keeps me awake at night.

He hasn’t given me any other cold-like symptoms, and instead is going for the over-the-top tiredness. Unfortunately, for Thomas Lurghi. When I reach a certain level of tiredness, I sleep very well.

And after sleeping very well, I feel well. Well, I feel better, and that’s a start.

After a good night’s sleep, my aches in my legs and arms will go. My neck will be better. The eyelids will have more strength. And the bags under my eyes will be packed with Thomas Lurghi’s belongings, ready for him to take them to wherever he disappears to when he knows I’m feeling good.

Thomas Lurghi doesn’t like me feeling well.

All of my other inner personalities like me to feel fantastic. They too have no time for Thomas Lurghi when he calls in for a visit. They are doing their very best to keep me awake when I need to be awake, and giving me the space I need when I need to try to sleep. And, I’m sure, they are also battling away trying to block Thomas Lurghi in his attempts to bring on another symptom.

Yes, there’s a full-scale battle going on within me. With fanfares, battle cries, and uplifting music, and scenes filmed in glorious Technicolor. Tender scenes and breath-taking scenery replace the ferocious battles – I’m all for peace, not war – and, on occasions, Gods and Goddesses of the many ancient worlds even appear to take my mind off the heated battle that is causing all of the mayhem just over the brow of the hill, or just left of the stage, or just beyond the window. Or to highlight it a little further – you know what these Gods and Goddesses are like (they need their fun too!).

There’s no point having flu if you can’t be a little dramatic, is there?

I get the feeling Thomas Lurghi likes this post.

Whatever.

I’ll let him, this once.

Tomorrow he’ll be gone.