Preparedness for when

Memory_Girl

Frugalsod wrote: »

At least our police are not armed for now.

Ours are

MG

Bikingbint

kezlou wrote: »

Dont forget carers qualify for the flu jab, so personally if you are offered the jab, take it.

The only time I had the flu jab within 2 weeks I was in hospital, admitted Christmas Day (sorry for using that word at this time of year).

I was told that the jab had started a chain reaction with another infection. It took months to get over it, I sometime feel that I have never fully recovered.

I was told to not bother with the flu jab again, just in case.

Bikingbint

1Tonsil

I do not have the flu jab...the doctor scared me off from taking it the year they added the swine flu to it....he told me not to have it as he thought it might make me ill and would probably be useless anyway. As it turned out, Greece got a refund of about 12 million when they returned all the doses of the vaccine a few weeks later. I don't recall anyone here getting the swine flu, but then the local remedy for any kind of winter illness is to drink Tsipero ( like Grappa or moonshine) and to rub a bit on your throat and chest just before you fall into a deep sleep.

I pointed out to the doctor that my immune system is on overdrive with the allergies and does not need strengthening...he agreed with me. I very rarely catch any of the bugs that go around and can't remember the last time I had a cold or the flu.

There again, I avoid all the ex pats who come back to Greece in January, bringing the flu germ with them or catching it themselves from other victims on the plane ride back.

A Greek told me they avoid the germs by throwing open all the windows and airing the house no matter how cold it is in the winter. I see them do it every day in the winter months. Do you think there could be any truth in this?

kezlou

its so hard to know what is the best action to take.

Before the wine flu got its its grip on me i refused to have the flu jab. Then when my body was completely screwed and nearly ended up hospital with a simple cold. I just couldn't take the risk.

I think having the windows open to "blow away the cobwebs" grans saying, does help. As i think its allows better circulation and blows away nasty germs.

During the warmer months the windows and back door are open fully in the house. Right now i'm the house as the temperatures really dropped. So got the goulash on and i'll close doors about 5pm instead of 9pm.

My children don't have the flu jab instead they are fed warm milk with honey. Warm water with honey and oats with honey. Natural lozenge and my eldest son who is now 14 zand OH are very rarely ill. Oh and sometimes i mix lemon juice is with hot drinks, brings temperatures down.

GreyQueen

I have to admit that I am a big fan of fresh air and am pretty unhappy in stuffy, sealed places.

If any of you share my odd hobby of reading old style housekeeping manuals, you will have probably noticed that the old time housewives were very big on airing. Linens, rooms, people. Even babies were aired, out of doors, even in the winter, for at least half an hour in every weather except fog. This was still the custom in my early 1960s infancy.

Well wrapped up in the pram, of course, but out of doors in the garden even in the winter. Do that nowadays and people would prolly report you to social services.

I think a mainly internal life, with lots of dust and mold-harbouring soft furnishings, isn't too healthy. Get those windows open as much as possible would be my feeling, and get yourself out there in the fresh air. I spent a fun few days being blown around on the Pembrokeshire coastal path a few years ago in the autumn and it was so invigorating that it was as good as a spa break.

Have added back 6 more rice puds to the underbed inventory, so will be putting them in date order shortly. Got to keep the stocks up, don't know what the beggars will spring on us next. There's a Bank Holiday weekend coming up, has anyone taken precautions re cash on deposit? I have just liberated some from the claws of one of the major high street banks, which is a happy feeling.

[Deleted User]

In Sweden they still put babies out into the fresh air to have thier sleep, they don't put them out in more than -20 degrees though (yes, that is a minus sign!) they do this both at home and in the nurseries, it's the norm!!! Ever heard of an unhealthy Viking???

jk0

Thanks guys.

Interesting to hear all your stories. I do open the windows for 30 mins and take a daily walk whatever the weather, even though I don't live in Greece.

A few of you that agreed with me have clinched it I'm afraid. I won't be having the jab. (Last winter, for the first time I cracked a rib coughing, can you believe?)

The odd thing was that I never had a temperature, so assumed it could not be flu.

[Deleted User]

The continentals not only fling the windows wide but in Germany they actually hang the duvets and pillows over the windowsills for the day to air as well, it makes sense as most of the houses in the village we lived in had an big overhang of eves but here I wouldn't chance it unless I was in all day as if it rained they'd get soaked.

GreyQueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

The continentals not only fling the windows wide but in Germany they actually hang the duvets and pillows over the windowsills for the day to air as well, it makes sense as most of the houses in the village we lived in had an big overhang of eves but here I wouldn't chance it unless I was in all day as if it rained they'd get soaked.

I think I'm culturally attuned with Scandinavian/ Germanic customs. I'd do that but with a ground floor flat in a bad neighbourhood, I don't think I'd have my bedlinen for very long........:rotfl:

Nothing like walking out in a howling gale (avoiding trees, of course) for clearing the mind and the sinuses.

mardatha

Yes agree with fresh air here too, my bedroom windows never close ever, and the kitchen one only closes in a force 10 northerly... because the gas blows out lol