Dear Dr. Mudcat,

Every winter I see more hardy people battle through the winter with sniffles that are inconvenient, but which don't radically affect their ability to function. I *always* and *every* year go down with flu and a whole host of other bugs that make me bed-ridden for weeks. They put paid to weeks of music-making and other work and I have just about had enough. I have never had a very strong physical constitution (I have a weak chest, get this from my family, and every bug I get goes onto my chest) and so anything that's going, I tend to get it. The two years I had the flu jab were my two worst winters of all. Never again. (Did you know the NHS has conducted NO studies to measure the efficacy of the flu vaccine? Radio 4 last week.) I have asked various GPs if there is anything at all I can do, perhaps all year round, to strengthen my general constitution: chest strengthening exercises, diet (my diet is already good), general fitness, anything? I have never had an answer: 'Just live with it.'

Well, Dr, Mudcat, I don't want to live with it. I got out of bed to type this. I've had enough. Please give me some suggestions. I promise to do anything that sounds like it will work.

Yours in hope,

Ian cookieless