Knee-r miss
(Results of a fall: Glasgow, UK)
Yesterday this happened. I literally stepped out of the door, didn’t notice the slick icy patch directly outside and I fell spectacularly on the ground. I yelped, I think, inadvertently attracting the attention of a girl across the street. By the time she had more elegantly traversed the ice, I had managed to pick myself up from the gravel and was partway through surveying the damage. Firstly my tights were ruined – a small point, but irritating nonetheless. The upside of this situation was that I didn’t rip trousers or long johns as I wasn’t wearing any. I didn’t tear my coat either so really, I didn’t do so badly in the sartorial category. My left knee, however was a different story. I had slipped awkwardly with my left foot shooting behind my right one, tipping me off balance. I hit my left hip and right hand in the process and although they are tender today, there is no visible injury. The knee, framed in shredded black nylon was copiously pouring blood down my shin.
I thanked the girl for shuffling over and I immediately ran back up the stairs to my flat. I was on my way to meet a friend – knowing that I was short of time, I grabbed two fresh pairs of tights, two plasters and a tissue to mop up some of the mess – then left again, with more trepidation. It was quite a sight, other daring pedestrians were stealing glances as the torn knee and tights as I strode over for my rendezvous. I haven’t had a minor injury that looked so bad in a long time. I decided to use this photograph as the close up ones are fairly horrific. In one image, you can see the wound gently suppurating and dribbling down my leg.
Rest assured, today it is much less sore, still swollen, but I will probably live. It is another of my pre trip injuries I can tack onto my list. Two years ago, the day before taking a trip to Texas, I fell down some stairs and had a bruised, heavily grazed elbow and one completely black buttock. It made lavatories and sitting a struggle. Thankfully yesterday’s tumble is not as serious. This is proof enough that the cold weather here has not abated; we are still struggling with simple travel and outdoor tasks – it makes every small job more difficult. The only upside is that it hasn’t rained in a few weeks now which makes for more pleasant outdoor time, as long as one is heavily armoured with winter clothing and doesn’t fall over.
Now, I don’t know:
a) if we’ll make it to the Cairngorms to ski
b) if we’ll ever make it back from the Cairngorms to ski
c) if I’ll have internet access whilst I’m away skiing
but hopefully I’ll be able to update you. If not, expect news by Monday. If you hear no news on Monday, I’ve probably broken myself!
– Today Rosie is in a car of friends, headed for the Cairngorm mountains, UK –
Your knee definitely looks worse than mine did after I decked it on the ice! Ouch!