Chris Maclean: self-employed and ill

I have been ill.

In fifteen years I've never been in bed all day and yet, yesterday, I was ill and stayed in bed. All day.

Being ill is unpleasant. I have always assumed local authority workers found it a useful additional holiday but being ill is terrible. I feel tired and beaten. My muscles ache and I lack my usual sparkle. Customers comment on it.

Being ill and being self-employed is also a different experience. There is no possibility of shutting because of "staff sickness", you either soldier on or persuade others around you to pick up the extra. My wife has been saintly throughout and tolerated my pitiful wailing.

I don't like being ill.

Many years ago I had medical insurance on my credit card. This facility would compensate me if in the unfortunate event of finding myself unwell. However, on closer scrutiny, I discovered it would do nothing of the sort.

There is no loss of earnings. There is no loss of pay. The pub runs, as it always does, but the burden simply falls on those around who are not ill.

So there is no compensation there.

When I found out I was furious that I was paying a hefty premium for coverage that could never be applied but the bank wasn't bothered.

I regard being ill as being weak. It is not something I am comfortable with. I drive myself very hard and have been behind the bar in situations when, frankly, I should have been in bed. But my great mentor, Chris, used to say that self-employed illness was a contradiction in terms. I will soldier on. But thank goodness I have the support of a great family.