Sleep is that most precious of things. It is the gossamer thread that keeps our lives and our minds from unravelling.
Anything that interrupts our precious downtime is scorned, then vilified before finally prone to serious maiming!
Take, for instance...
Snoring!
Now, I snore. It's no secret - I'm sure my immediate neighbours can vouch for that.
I snore most when I'm very tired or I've had a few units of alcohol. Apparently I also snore because I've gained a few kilos in weight.
But this is where the vicious circle comes in - and it's insidious in its evilness. It is a torture that only a twisted mind of pure genius could have conceived.
I snore. My wife wakes up. She wakes me up to get me to stop snoring. She goes back to sleep slightly grumpier. I go back to sleep.
I snore. My wife wakes up. She wakes me up (slightly more agitated this time) to get me to stop snoring. She goes back to sleep more grumpy. I go back to sleep.
I snore. My wife utters something obscene to herself. She wakes me up (very agitated by now) to get me to stop snoring. She fails to go back to sleep. I daren't go back to sleep! I do however instantly drop back off because now I'm also very tired.
I snore. I wake myself because I'm by now so petrified that I'm on a hair trigger. I hear my wife's exasperated mutterings planning my death. I apologise. I strive to stay awake at least long enough to allow her to go back to sleep. I'm resolute. I'm determ
I snore...
So, 7am and we both awaken. My wife is angry, upset, tired, frustrated. I'm tired and contrite.
But this is where the evilness of this vicious little circle comes into its own.
The next night...
I'm very tired, so I snore even more!
