I can't get no medication

Being on the homestretch of our smuggled Aussie Codral Day and Nighters, I went in search of some non-caffeinated cold relief.

I pop down to Pops (our local "drug store") and ask what is good for a cold.... but that I won't be requiring anything with caffeine. The pharmacist looks momentarily perplexed, then grudgingly points to the Contac Day and Night tablets. Relief! She then goes on to say that only the night tablets don't have caffeine, but hey! the daytime tablets are chockful of it! All I want is a flu tablet that doesn't have caffeine in it! Is it too much to ask?

I don't know about you, but when I have a cold I really don't feel like bouncing off the walls during the day. I want to exist in a nice antihistamine-filled inertia. Unfortunately, here, the concept of rest when you have the flu is met with confoundment. Which is weird, cos the Japanese I know, trot off to the docs if they have even a sniffle. How about trying to get some REST, people?????

Excuse my diatribe - I am feeling a little miserable.