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“Get a flu jab as soon as you can,” urges my mum, in anxious tones. I book the jab. The following day, I get flu.

With a toddler in nursery, I’m pretty used to having a perpetual cold. But this was a different beast. A lying horizontal and groaning softly kind of beast.

The household is taken out with it, but after two days I stupidly decide I feel well enough to work. This adds a few more days to my recovery.

After a week, our lad’s temperature spikes. I would call the GP but they’re closed for staff training. We’re informed of this via text in soothing block capitals and the calming tones of Corporal Jones from Dad’s Army . View 3 Images

In the absence of our doctor the advice is to call 111 - which I do against my better judgement.

“Have you tried the pharmacy?”

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