Friday 29 September 2017

Funny sort of day.

This is our gang coffee meeting day and this morning it was absolutely bucketing down with rain.   I walked from my car parking space up to the Dry Cleaners with my winter coat.   I am not sure it needed dry cleaning because by the time I got there (a couple of hundred yards) it was a pretty wet coat.

By lunch time however it was a glorious Autumn day, just like yesterday.   I spent the afternoon sitting with my daughter in law who has recently had a new hip then came home to take Tess for her evening walk.

Then I treated myself to one of my favourite snack teas - a brown roll full of crisply fried streaky smoked bacon.   It was bliss.   Flu jab in the morning.   Do you have a flu jab?    If not why not - I would be really interested to know as several of my friends just resolutely refuse to contemplate having one.

33 comments:

John Going Gently said...

The strains of flu change so quickly weave. Sometimes the vaccine can be obsolete

lynda said...

Yes, have a flu jab every year....the flu is not fun to have...
My mom refused to get them...landed in the hospital one year , for a week, with the flu and many complications....

Mac n' Janet said...

Never have one, don't believe they offer much protection. I do take a pneumonia shot.

Hilary said...

Have never had a flu shot in my life. I was a nurse for 30 years, and in my opinion.....they are never really that sure if the shot will cover the strain of flu that is out there. Last year, two friends of mine, in their 70's, had flu shots, and were deathly ill from it.
Not for me.....

Joanne Noragon said...

No flu shot in about 20 years. Allergic, probably to the manufacture. Did get pneumonia, though. That's the one that will kill ya.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I get a flu shot every year. My very good friend is a pharmacist and in Ontario, they are now trained to administer flu shots. She's very good at it! I'm in contact with a lot of people and can't afford to get very ill. Sometimes they are a good match to the strain of flu that particular year and I think it's worth the gamble. -Jenn

Chris said...

I get the shot and have never had the 'flu as far as I'm aware (touch wood!) Your weather today sounds exactly like ours although we also had thunder.

jinxxxygirl said...

Neither my hubby or i get the flu shot... Never have.... and as far as i know have never had the flu... knock on wood.... You know call me paranoid ... and i'm sure you will.. but i'm just a little suspicious about a shot they want everyone to get... You know they could put anything in that shot and no one would question it... so many people have been trained to 'just get it'... I think my immune system is stronger for not getting it......... Hugs! deb

Tom Stephenson said...

The specialists have just pronounced that most flu jabs are now so ineffective as to be worthless. Bacon rolls still work, though.

angryparsnip said...

I have to get a flu shot every year.
Even if it is not the "right" flu shot I think it helps. I really do not understand why people do not get vaccinated. When you do you protect more people than just you.
Arizona has a huge rise in whooping cough and all the childhood diseases that if caught by an adult can be deadly. I have to be very careful around kids sneezing green goop from their noses in winter. That can land me in hospital.

You bacon bun sound so good right now. I want one.
cheers parsnip


John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

If you want the honest truth - I don't like having needles stuck in my arm!

Robin Mac said...

My husband and I have bee getting the flu shot every year since we both had a bad dose of flu about ten years ago and have never caught it since. This has been a dreadful flu season in Australia with quite a few deaths resulting. Perhaps it is not always exactly the right strain, but i am happy to have some protection.
Love the sound of your bacon roll - I had neve heard of bacon sandwiches or rolls till we first visited England, then I became hooked on them.

Jill said...

I get a flu shot every year.

Bonnie said...

A few years ago I got a flu shot and a pneumonia shot and ended up getting both at the same time that year! I was still working at a medical office at that time though and exposed to everything. Most years I do get a flu shot even though I know it is a "shot in the dark" as to whether or not it will be for the strain of flu going around in that particular year.

Alphie Soup said...

As I am in the over 65 category I have the flu vaccine each year now, regardless of the possibility of change of strain.

Catching the common cold is bad enough come winter time. The flu is the last thing I want.

I would have an egg with the bacon in the brown roll. I just love egg & bacon toasted sandwiches.

Alphie

Cro Magnon said...

My wife pesters me until I say "All right, all right; I'll have one".

Derek Faulkner said...

I have never had the flu and have always resolutely refused to have a flu jab, one because I don't like needles and two because I've never been convinced that they work. Last year, aged 69, I got talked into having one as I was getting old, within a couple of weeks I had a really violent cold/almost flu that lasted for a couple of weeks. Probably nothing to do with the jab, but that's me finished with flu jabs now.
To be honest I think it's one of those seasonal habit things that comes round and people adhere too, like starting to buy Christmas presents and it's a source of conversation when you meet, like "have you had your flu jab yet".

Librarian said...

Thankfully, I have a rather strong immune system and rarely catch colds or other things that "go round". I am not even sure I have ever had the flu, as its symptoms so much resemble a big fat cold. But I have never had a flu jab and nobody has ever advised me on having one. The last vaccine I had was some years ago against FSME, and it made my arm hurt for two days.
I like your humour in the "dry cleaning for a wet coat" bit :-)

Sue said...

It's a tricky decision to make. So many different strains of 'flu I'm not sure a vaccine is effective but there again 'flu can be a killer. At the moment I don't.

Frances said...

Never had one and don't intend to. I prefer not to put stuff in my body that I don't need to, and as JG says, the strain of flu going round is unlikely to be the one vaccinated against . I eat well, and get plenty of exercise ...that will have to do!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

I am back to blog land after a break. I felt 'low' as my grandmother would have put it...a bit sad but I have worked very hard to get myself back to feeling like my old self again. Don't know if that worked or just some time did the trick. Very unlike me that feeling. I read all your posts this night during my bout of insomnia which plagues me from time to time. The country side in your new header is so beautiful. Loved seeing the photo of Tess-what a sweetheart she is. Glad all the kittens got properly sorted and that you have been having the usual wonderful lunches out with friends. If Bounty bars are the coconut ones, they are my favourites also. We said the same thing here during all those hurricanes...we'll take our seasons with the cold one too rather than live in a paradise with such possibility of destructive weather. The same debate rages here over flu shots or no. I have never had the flu so don't take it but Hubby never misses. You are doing so well, an inspiration to me!

Gwil W said...

Never had one. But I've had flu twice. The famous Asian flu empidemic and the equally famous Hong Kong flue epidemic both laid me low. I'm hoping I've now got some immunity.

Rachel Phillips said...

Like Gwil I have had flu only twice, 1974 Hong Kong flu, and 2016 when working in an office with 50 people and air con recycling the germs. It is very serious if you catch flu, your legs won't work and you are bed bound. There is no doubt when you have it, no legs. I have been offered a flu jab this year by my surgery but have not taken up the offer. Why? I'll risk it.

Heather said...

I have had flu jabs since I became eligible for them, mostly to protect my husband who had chest problems. I thought if we both had the jab he might benefit from not being exposed if I had flu. It is a horrible illness and I am thankful to only have had it twice in my life.
The sun has just broken through after several hours of strong wind and heavy rain. It seems we are all getting the same sort of weather just now. I would have enjoyed that bacon roll too - mouthwatering.

Midmarsh John said...

I have my flu jab every year as the virus keeps mutating. Had flu many years ago. Bed ridden for days. Only able to drink Lucozade which kept me going.

thelma said...

No flu jabs in this household, though we were reassured yesterday by a friend that the vaccine is dead and does not cause you to catch it from the vaccine. My worst bout of flu was when I was a child, several months being nursed by the nuns at the convent boarding school I was at due to divorce in the family!

Rachel Phillips said...

And a note of education to the Librarian above: flu is nothing like a cold, even the mother of all colds. Flu is aching muscles, being bedridden, being barely able to walk and sometimes accompanied by a deep dry cough. It does not involve runny nose or sneezing or any symptoms of the common cold. You will know when you have it.

Eleanor said...

I had a flu jab a couple of years ago and for 2 weeks after I felt very nauseous. This was horrible and I vowed never to have another. Funnily enough, I too had a bacon roll last night, mine was with some sliced mushrooms on top - delish! Not my usual kind of evening meal, but the only thing I fancied.

Mary said...

After having the 'flu, along with my entire family all at the same time many, many years ago, Bob and I have had a shot every year - including one a couple of weeks ago which was apparently concocted to include new strains. It was also the 'high dose' for older citizens which they give now. I will tell you, if you've never had the 'flu you are lucky, it's terrible and will knock you for a loop for many, many days. It definitely is not just a head cold! Yes, be sure to get a pneumonia shot too, that's even more important, especially if older - and it's only required once I believe.

Devon said...

I am a nurse and required to get the flu shot each year or I would have to wear a mask at work for the next 6 months.

Librarian said...

Thank you for clarifying this for me, Rachel. Considering your description of the flu, I have never had one.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rachel has hit the nail on the head. Flu - or influenza if you want the whole word - is absolutely nothing like the common cold and the older one is the harder it hits.
Interesting to read all your ideas. Thank you.

Sparkiedoll said...

Never had one despite being eligible but this year I am going to get a flu vacc. Dire forecasts and a year of getting everything going around has convinced me to get a shot asap.
Best wishes, Rose RGN