The Flu Vaccine - Protecting Your Children This Winter

The bugs are back in town. That's right; it's that time of year again when the tissues come out and the coughs creep back in. Flu can develop quickly and leave us feeling quite unwell indeed. With many of us not wanting to miss work or school and definitely not wanting to be poorly over the magical festive period in particular, it might be worth booking your family in for a flu vaccine today. 

Facts about flu

• In an average flu season in England, flu affects up to 10% of children aged 0 – 14 years

• Children are the main transmitters of flu and pass the virus on for longer than adults. For every 10 children who missed school because of flu-associated illness, eight household members subsequently became ill

Reasons to be happy

My reasons to be happy

With two poorly children off school with flu and tonsillitis it has been a bit tricky to think of reasons to smile this week. I guess the fact that so far the Mr and I have remained well is worth being cheerful about though.

I have a child free weekend ahead so I'm looking forward to relaxing a little without the constant need to fetch tissue, drinks and medicine! We were originally helping family relocate to Liverpool but they have altered their moving date by a day so don't need our assistance anymore -  I can relax.

We had a lovely meal out on Tuesday evening, the poorly Mini Mes went to their dad for a few hours so I didn't have cabin fever. The Mr and I went to Red Hot for a complimentary meal to review. We have been a few times but it always tastes better when their is no bill at the end!

What reasons to you have to be cheerful this week?

The importance of pet insurance

Pets quickly become part of the family and many of us build unbreakable bonds with cats and dogs in particular as they live in our homes for many years - even if they cover it in fur!

Our Border Collie Spartan has just turned one and despite the stuffing being pulled from cushions and little puddles being left on the floor in the early days, he is very loveable, a wonderful companion and we would not want to be without him. The Mini Mes have become very close to him and are often found sneaking him upstairs for cuddles in their rooms and they are keen to come along on walks too which is beneficial for us all.

So far we have been lucky that he has never been ill or needed treatment from the vet bar his annual boosters, but if something more sinister did occur we would like to know he would receive the care he requires without a hefty bill at the end.

Illness and accidents can be costly but paying a small monthly payment can help to ensure your pet will be looked after if or when the time comes without fear you can't make payment. A lack of funds could result in your beloved pet being put to sleep or being re-homed, as harsh at it may seem, which none of us would want.

After searching online for pet insurance I came across this cute advert of a comparison site, so I headed to the Choosi website to see what they could offer.

Choosi have a variety of pet insurance plans to select from to suit your individual financial and pet needs. Insurance helps you cover the fee for unexpected trips to the vet which can add up to hundreds, if not thousands of pounds. Even a small wound or ear infection can ring up a bill that will make you cringe to look at. They have accident and illness cover or a lower premium alternative of accidents only. If you wish to include routine care within your insurance you can opt for that too which helps with the cost of micro-chipping, de-sexing and vaccinations.

We cover our household appliances from breakdown, our vehicles and our own lives too so it's important not to forget the little balls of fluff that are so important to us aswell.

Are your pets covered?