Thanks to the good workings of the National Health Service I get a call to attend the clinic in late Autumn and have a flu shot - a wise precaution as I get very ill with anything that impedes breathing or starts me coughing.

The first one made me feel ill, but each one has had less effect so I hardly notice it now. I don't know if it is the vaccines being made less virulent or me getting used to it.

I can thoroughly recommend it, even if it has to be paid for, as it is one of those viruses that mutate all the time, and you never know when a really bad one will be produced.

Any flu is bad though, but as it is preventable - have the jab.

Anne the Pleater