January, sponsored by Lemsip, Benylin etc

Ah, January my icy friend.  Yes, we're still wading through seemingly the longest month, but in reality it's just 31 days.  Feels very different to those balmy August ones though, doesn't it?

If months were sponsored, like TV programmes on commercial channels, I think brand names like Lemsip, Benylin, Night Nurse, Beechams etc should have first dibs on January.

Do you know anyone who hasn't yet succumbed to the dreaded Christmas/New Year/most-of-January lurgy?

So many people have been felled by this bug, including those who've had the flu jab I'm told.  But don't let that put you off having the flu vaccination if you're in one of the at-risk groups who are recommended to have it - better safe than sorry, and proper flu, Australian or otherwise, is no joke.

They say you can tell the difference between if you've got flu rather than a horrendous cold by doing the '£50 note test' - please note, this is not a real medical test; I have no medical knowledge other than a First Aid course.

Imagine there's a £50 note just outside your house, in the garden - if you've got proper flu, you won't care and won't be bothered going out to fetch it in, whereas if you can be bothered to go and get it, you've just got a bad cold.

Having said this, my husband is adamant he would go and get the money even if he had to crawl on his hands and knees - I may just test this out next time he claims he's got flu!  I wonder if it works with lower denomination notes too, as I don't think I've ever had a £50 note.

I'm really trying hard to be more positive about the winter months, and January in particular though.  I'll sign off with an inspiring quote @RuralRootsPR shared on Twitter, something her Granny had said:

"Darling, did you know I'm an octogenarian?  And when you're an octogenarian you have to live for every day, so I'm going to learn to love January and February as much as April and May."