The hangover tale

Merinda Hats Hobart was owned by my mother in law and her friend Kath Crawford. They were close friends as well as colleagues and in 1981 decided to take a holiday in England.

As it was the time of the Royal wedding there was a two fold purpose for their holiday: to enjoy seeing the pomp of the wedding of Diana and Charles and to enjoy being with Mrs Crawford’s son Adrian and his family.

Another friend offered to mind the shop and came to Hobart from Burnie, as she needed to leave to go back home on a specific date their plans were put in place to come home the day before then.

As sometimes happens ‘the best laid plans of mice and men…’ meant they were unable to get back on time.
Mother rang to ask me to retrieve the keys and to open the shop until their return.

At the time I had a very bad sore throat and the chills etc associated with it but agreed to do as she wished.

To get me fit my husband John suggested some Senega and ammonia cough medicine and our daughter Elizabeth went to the late night chemist and bought it and some Lucozade.

During the night I finished both bottles and next morning felt even more ill with a bad headache and a tremor. No thought entered our heads that I shouldn’t go. My mother in law was a force to be reckoned with as well as being a wonderful person.

There weren’t any after hours doctors those days but ringing around John found there was a Dr Salter who would see me even though his practice didn’t open until 9am. So at 8.30am I was in his rooms. He asked me how I was and I told him I’d tried to get well urgently over night …and why.

Then he asked what I’d had. When I said about the cough medicine he nodded and said he knew what was wrong… I had a very bad hangover as the cough medicine contained alcohol and was meant to be taken over time not overnight.

He then made me a hot drink and gave me a little tablet and said to relax for a while. After about 10 minutes I felt ready to face the day and was full of gratitude. He managed to keep a straight face.

What’s your hangover cure?

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