Linda Hall - Famous last words.
On Friday afternoon a work colleague and I decided we would nip out for lunch.
It was raining and cold but we were rugged up and had a brolly.
Over a very enjoyable lunch we talked, among other things, about how many nasty bugs were going around and the fact that we both "never got sick".
We were congratulating ourselves and being rather smug about it. You can guess what happened next.
On Saturday I felt a bit "off" but nothing I could put my finger on.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, the first nice Saturday I could recall for a while so I intended to make the most if it.
I did the housework, went grocery shopping and even went for a walk with Mr Neat in the afternoon.
Later in the afternoon he said, "You are getting sick, I can hear it in your voice".
"Nah, not me," I replied. "I never get sick."
In the early hours of Sunday I woke with a headache. Then I felt really cold, then my body starting aching. By 8am I knew without a doubt I was unwell.
According to Doctor Google, who supposedly knows everything, I had all the symptoms of the flu - sudden onset, shivering, aching, headache, loss of appetite.
I haven't had a flu jab but I know several people who have done so also have symptoms of flu.
For a few days I stayed away from everyone except Mr Neat, who went about the house with his hand over his mouth any time he got within six feet of me.
I had lots of advice on how to beat it, or at least get over it. I'm pretty sure it had me beat in those first two days.
One was whisky, lemon and honey - a hot toddy.
I tried this one, can't say if it helped but it at least tasted better than coffee, which for some reason I couldn't abide.
According to Mr Neat and my sister-in-law a hot toddy was the best cure for the flu.
I also heard some amazing prevention steps people take to avoid the flu.
Here are a few of them in case you want to try them. Good luck with this first one.
"I semi-overdose on lemons and garlic so nothing can survive. Chop up a couple of cloves into quarters and slug it down with some water. It's not the most romantic move you can make but then again you can't be romantic if you are sick." - True
"Grate ginger into a hot bath and it goes into your pores." - Interesting.
"Take a high dose of Vitamin C." - I've heard this one before and have increased my intake, probably too late now.
"Sweat it out. Get under the blankets and stay there. Don't throw them off if you get hot."
"Have vegetable soup, not tomato as it's acidic." - Didn't know that.
"Don't talk yourself into getting it. Telling yourself that you are going to get it just because everyone else has is a sure fire way for 'symptoms' to start."
And if all else fails the advice from a former colleague could just do the trick: "Drink some cement and harden up."
Maybe not the best advice.
It is flu season and Hawke's Bay Hospital's emergency department has been under pressure with people presenting with flu symptoms.
It's a tough one, really. On the one hand the ED is for emergencies and people's first port of call should be their GP. But some can't afford to go the doctor.
I also feel for single parents who have no support - they have no choice but to get out of bed and carry on.
Last week Hawke's Bay DHB chief medical officer Dr John Gommans said it wasn't too late to have a flu vaccination. "Especially if you are at risk but also if you are living with people who are at risk."
Maybe that's the best advice of the lot.
* Linda Hall is Hawke's Bay Today's assistant editor.
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