Thursday 9 June 2016

Accidents will happen.

This morning I decided to attack the study window - wash down the paintwork and wash the window.   I did the bathroom window last week so this week it was the study's turn. (I do have a cleaner who comes each week, so these are just extra jobs I like to do to keep things smart).

The farmer took the steps upstairs for me - they are jolly safe ones with a platform on the top.   I spent about an hour on the window and was very pleased with the result - very satisfying.

I came downstairs, had a coffee and did the crossword in The Times, as I usually do mid morning.   Then I thought I would just have a stroll round the front garden to note which was the next spot to be tackled (couch grass or ground elder anyone?).

I walked down the concrete path to the front gate, Tess at my side, and then I tripped over my own shadow and fell heavily on to my left side on the concrete!

Nothing broken, just a hard bang to my elbow (I think - but time and bruises will tell).  Shaken up, I lay for a few minutes and then came the major job.   I had to get up again.

If you are over seventy and can still get up easily from a prone position on the ground then please, please, please keep practising the manoeuvre because if you don't then sure as eggs are eggs you will lose the ability.

Slowly but surely I rolled over and got into a crawling position, watched quizzically by Tess throughout, but then came the problem.   Concrete is very hard and I was quite a long way from the front door.   The only option was to crawl there slowly (I have a bad arthritic knee) 

I did this.  There are two big steps into the house.   I managed to get an elbow on the higher of the two by going round the side, and, using a concrete tub holding a rose bush as a lever, I managed to get to my feet.

Actually very little damage done apart from a few bruises, a bit of stiffness, a slight feeling of being a bit shaken up and maybe a bit of hurt pride (although does it really matter - I am still here and I didn't break anything) but the moral of the story
is to take my walking stick when I go outside and to jolly well look where I am going.

Actually Tess quickly lost interest once I started to crawl up the path.   So much for her telling me each evening at feed time just how much she loves me!

I have just noticed that this is my 2,523 post - I can't believe I have found that many things to write about.

30 comments:

libby said...

Ouch that sounds nasty...perhaps a warm bath and some arnica for the bruising?.

Derek Faulkner said...

Well I certainly agree with your last sentence, unlikely I'll ever reach that number. There's every possibility that you will ache a lot more tomorrow and in places that you didn't think that you'd hurt. Let's hope that nothing is broken.
And you have a cleaner, I didn't think that people had cleaners these days.

Virginia said...

Oh goodness! You will be sore and stiff tomorrow, as sure as eggs are eggs! What a horrible thing to happen, especially after successfully completing what should have been a much more dangerous assignment! Tess should have been much more solicitous! I presume the Farmer was at the other end of the estate!

Get better soon.

John Going Gently said...

Old ladys and window washing do NOT go together

Barbara said...

Oh dear! That sounds like it really hurt. (and I'm sure you will be sore tomorrow)
I'm glad you were able to right yourself and get back inside!
I managed to get my foot stuck in the watering can and fell flat a couple of weeks ago and have had a sore neck ever since. So, I understand how you hurt...and not just your pride!
Here's to your quick recovery!

Sue said...

We don't bounce so well as we get older. Pamper yourself tomorrow and take care.

Rachel Phillips said...

My mother decided to kneel on the arm of a chair to hang up the Christmas cards. She ended up toppling over. It was the cleaner who found her.

Expect to feel worse tomorrow before you feel better but a hot bath and a couple of Nurofen before bed will help.

Heather said...

I do hope you won't discover too many aches and pains tomorrow, and am so glad you didn't do any real damage to yourself. I always have to find something to help me heave myself up from the ground and a little voice inside me says: 'She rose gracefully to her feet' as I struggle to get upright!

angryparsnip said...

I hope you will feel better tomorrow, So lucky you didn't break anything.
When I fall I have to roll over put my knees up push off with my hands and walk them back, and then lift up very crab like.
Not great fun and I look terrible.

cheers, parsnip and thehamish

Judith said...

Ouch! Do take care of yourself. Walking sticks sound like a good idea. (aged 76 and fearful of breakage.)

donna baker said...

Oh Pat, I am happy you didn't hurt more than your pride. You must have meant to say 60, because when I fall, it's ugly. Really, it doesn't have to be a fall, just getting up from a prone position. I can't get on my knees (one replaced, so I have to do a yoga pose and walk myself up. As I say, I am glad you made it back to the house. I can step on the smallest divot and go down. Guess it's time for a cane for me too. I think I'll call it my walking stick.

Joanne Noragon said...

I felt each jolt and stab. I should always take my cane, "walking stick" every time, but I would need one at every exit, and they would simply accumulate at the re-entry door, not replace themselves, or circulate.

Doc said...

I never go anyplace without a good walking stick and I still manage fall now and again. Do take care Weaver we just don't bounce like we used to.

Tom Stephenson said...

Weave! Take care - and surely you can afford a lad from somewhere to come and wash your windows?!

Mary said...

I tell you dear Pat - this aging stuff is for the birds! That's really a silly quote when I re-read it!!!
Thankfully you have no broken bones - hopefully - just be sure to get checked by the doctor if things don't feel quite right.

Must admit, although I find it hard to kneel now, I did really well on the Irish trains and buses these past three weeks. Slung that backpack on, and made sure to "mind the gap"!!!!! Did I mention Ireland? OMG - I'm besotted by the country, the people, the seafood chowder, the brown soda bread, the music, the water, the air. . . . . . . . in fact everything. We almost feel we should move there, haha!

Take care dear - Mary

Dawn said...

Oh dear thats not good, take care and use your stick

Penny said...

Oh dear Pat, I feel for you. I am like you, fell the other day and had terrible trouble getting up. Do take care.

Terry and Linda said...

OH! I'm so glad you didn't break your wrist, or your elbow, or your shoulder, or your hip or your knee! OH! MY! Heavens, I sure hope you didn't.

I have to roll over to get up and I'm not 70. I will be in three years. Getting down and up is a trick in and of itself!


Linda

jinxxxygirl said...

Oh Pat!! I hope it holds true that you didn't break anything my friend. I'll be thinking about you in the coming day hoping all is well. Hugs! deb

Hildred said...

The bane of my life, - the prospect of falling! And the other bane (lesser) is the solicitous children who are always after me to 'use a cane' - "use Dad's walker" "don't ever, ever, ever take your life line off"!!! (the one you can push for help in case you are distress) I understand their concern after losing Charles so quickly after a fall, so I try to be especially careful. Besides, one looks like such a awkward idiot trying to get up again!!!

Take care Pat, - I hope you don't find yourself too stiff and sore....

potty said...

I think that I would blame the cleaning of the window. I fell over my feet on the dog walk last week and closely inspected the grass, having dropped the lead, the dog stood there looking at me and was of little help. I thought a legendary Lassie would have run home for help, my dog just stood, 'told' me to get up and get going again.
All we can do is take care.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for all the kind comments. I am fine this morning apart from a few aches and pains. I am sure nothing is broken as I can still move freely. Just a few things:-

1. About age - I am 83 but inside feel about twenty three and refuse to make allowances for my age.
2. Sadly, because I am diagnosed epileptic (five years ago and seems to be well under control - I am driving again for example), I have no bath to soak in - we just have a shower upstairs and one downstairs.
3. I only use a walking cane if I have a particularly achy day.

Thanks again - really cheered me up.


thelma said...

Oh dear, commiserations, but you have survived with just a few aches and pains. Do take care. X

Elizabeth said...

So glad nothing broken! ah the joys of aging!
Please keep on thinking you are 23!
Feel better soon!

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I am very pleased that you appear to have survived the fall Mrs Weaver. It's funny isn't it - when we were kids we fell over all the time and just got up and carried on but in maturity a fall can be life changing. You got away with it this time.

P.S. It's a shame that no one was around to take a photograph of you crawling up the path! Some bloggers might have giggled about it - but not me.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I'm glad to hear you are "o.k." today, but no doubt achy and bruised. I did not know your actual age, and for all the running about you do, and exercise class, and meeting up with friends, you are a very young 83. My own mother didn't do half the things you do in her mid 70's! Take care. -Jenn

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone. For tips on how to stay young see Friday's post!

Mac n' Janet said...

So sorry for you fall, that's so scary. When I fall, which is oftener than I would like, I always worry that I'll break something and of course I bruise like the dickens.

Terra said...

I am glad you had no serious injury from that dramatic fall, it sounds like the worst part was the ordeal of getting up again.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Ouch! I was worried that the fall was going to be while you were washing the window. Glad it wasn't any worse than it was. By all means, take that walking stick while enjoying the outdoors.