The flu virus struck our home like lightning. Now the three girls are down with fever, chesty cough, runny nose, and aching bones.We moved with aching slowness while we shuffled our way painfully against the strident winds to Safeway this morning, each as incapable as the other two to take of herself, much less the other invalids.

The two boys are away - one boy has gone home for CNY, the other has flown to the States to do the romantic, extravagant Valentine's Day thing.

The picture we three pathetic ill girls made would be funny if we weren't so miserable.