Ow

[essayel]

One of the highlights of the British winter is black ice, which on tarmac looks identical to wet tarmac. Consequently, while walking the pooch this morning I marched merrily out of a puddle onto the ice and fell flat on my back. I must've lost a few minutes because an elderly lady who was in the distance when I fell was standing over me when I opened my eyes. She didn't know whether to laugh or be worried. I have bruises everywhere but the dog thought it was great fun! He loves it when we get down on the floor nd he can reach to lick us.

Another ow! Himself has decided to put a loft access in my writing space. I can understand the sense of it. When the plumber plumbed in the radiators on the top floor he made life easy for himself by putting water pipes across the other loft access so we can't reach anything that is stored up there [the man was an idiot]. So yes, it's a job that needs doing. But I wish he'd used dustsheets. Now I have books, papers, PC etc smothered in gritty Victoria plaster dust and bits of loft insulation, and a big hole in the ceiling through which a deluge of icy air streams and warm air wells up. I'd probably be more amused by this if I wasn't sore and achey and still a bit damp with dog spit.

Comments

[charss.livejournal.com]

Eeek! *hugs gently*

If you were out for several minutes, it might be worth getting checked out. If you're not inclined to do so, I link you to this head injury advice leaflet (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Head-Injury-Instructions.htm).

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Thanks hunny. I can't feel any tender bits on the back of my head - I landed pretty much flat on my back so the impact was well spread. But I've read the leaflet and will be mindful of what it says. Thanks for linking to it.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! Not good. Seconding the advice above, might be wise to have a quick check up. They could at least help wipe the dog slavers off!

I did a very impressive impersonation of bambi when I went out this afternoon. Legs went skedaddling in opposite directions and only clinging on to the park railings saved me!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Oh the Babmi thing! I sort of wish I'd been there to see, only I'm glad you didn't fall over. Park railings can come in very handy.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I have no idea if anyone saw me, if they did they must have been howling with laughter! :}

[jessie-lansdel.livejournal.com]

Oh dear dear dear. My advice honey is to take more water with it in future. Lol. No really hope you're ok amd yes you should probably get a check up. :-) x

[essayel.livejournal.com]

More water with it? I hadn't even had tea at that point! *hugs* I think I've proved to my own satisfaction that levitation doesn't work.

[yakalskovich]

Definitely what Charlotte said -- at least watch for those symptoms? Please?

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Oh I will. I'm too much of a baby not to yell if I feel poorly. :) now I'm walking like a robot.

[yakalskovich]

**hugs**

Well, injuries to the bottom hurt, but injuries to the head are seriously dangerous.

Like my colleague who fell on her head while skiing a few years ago, and when her headache didn't go away, she was put into one of those holo-x-ray tubes (dunno if CT or MRT; the latter probably as it was about soft tissue), and they found some raspberry-sized spongy blood thing. At first, they didn't have to do anything, but she had symptoms again a few months ago, and then they found the thing had swelled and already bled twice, and was dangerously close to the brain stem so it might bleed into the cerebrospinal fluid, which would mean severe damage, if not the end. So she had to have brain surgery last Monday. I was very worried about her until I heard on Wednesday that she had made it and was back from her artificial coma, and yesterday evening she called me on the phone and chatted for a few minutes and was quite herself again, even though she said she still has motoric difficulties and won't be allowed to drive for half a year -- and she lives in the country, so things are going to be difficult! Also, in her absence, her cat Frieda refused to eat anything but tuna. I was so happy to talk to her, though!

Anyway, you have two cats who might demand tuna in your absence, and really need your car, so please take care and get yourself seen to if anything changes for the worse as described in the leaflet Charlotte linked!

[theofenraven.livejournal.com]

I was riding a horse in full gallop across a field when the bitch sidestepped and I flew off.

I don't remember hitting the ground. I was out for several minutes. A woman driving by pulled over, ran across the field, and was standing over me when I regained consciousness.

I think the first words out of my mouth was swearing. Then I realized I'd lost my glasses and we looked for them. The guy I was riding with brought the horse back to me. I thanked the lady, got on, and rode the mare back under such a tight rein, her chin was pressing against her chest.

I had a headache all day, but otherwise, suffered no long-lasting effects, though certain friends point to this incident as the explanation for so much....

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you weren't badly hurt. I did that in my younger days. There's that wonderful, if heart-stopping moment between leaving the saddle and hitting the ground that's more like flying than anything else [apart from sky diving which I don't fancy at all]. If I fell off now my old bones would probably shatter like glass.

Thanks for the reassurance.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

He is a big black dog with a big pink tongue. The colours go together beautifully. :) Thanks for the sympathy and giggles. Giggles are good too.

[kayberrisford.livejournal.com]

Ow indeed! Hope your bruises get better soon!

Your icon is very cute :)

[essayel.livejournal.com]

:) thanks, babes. That's my hedgehog icon for when I'm feeling prickly! Today I'm walking round a bit like a robot but otherwise fine. But I'm very wary of my footing. The dog had a boring little walk this morning. I'll take him out properly once the ice has melted.

[isis-lives.livejournal.com]

Oh, no. Take care of yourself. I have had a hard time staying on my feet lately, too. Don't know what that's about.

The writing space sounds lovely!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I'm being very careful. I've reached the stage in life where I no longer bounce if I fall.

Having a little space of my own is essential if I'm going to write properly. I can blog or chat by IM in front of the tv but novels require too much concentration. So I requisition odd unused corners and install books and a tatty old PC then shut the door on the real world so I can inhabit one of my own making.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Wishing you recovery from bruises. Dog spit is good for those. :D

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Thanks :D I certainly had a good wash. This morning if I want to look round I have to turn round but no lasting ill effects. Dog and I are sharing the sofa, minding the fire and waiting for the rest of the family to regain conciousness. They were on champagne cocktails last night - silly so and sos!

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Black ice is also a regular feature of US Pacific Northwest winters. Usually a whole lot of spinouts and slide offs the first time or two we get some of it. And yes, walking can be an adventure.

Hope you recover quickly and that there are no lasting or hidden complications.
Dave

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Black ice is horrible, sneaky stuff.

Thanks for your comment and you take care too.

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

That must've been an awful experience. Hope your bruises heal quickly and you don't get any annoying after effects.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I think I was lucky. It was so fast I didn't have a chance to try to save myself. I'd have landed much harder if I had been tense. As I was I hinged neatly through ninety degrees and landed with more of a flop than a crash. Plus I had borrowed the husbands furry Russian hat so that cushioned the back of my head.

Looking at it from the old lady's POV it must have been hysterical.

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

yeah, we hates black ice (which Missouri locals, with pinpoint accuracy, call 'slickice') I broke my arm on it last winter*. Eric bought me metal ice-grippers to put on my boots, for Christmas.

*Doc Martens may be oil-proof, but they are useless on ice.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Ice grippers sound a good idea! I have crampons somewhere but I think they might be a bit extreme.

Crocs and converse are pretty useless on ice too. In fact I'm not sure anything that hasn't got hobnails is any good.

"Slickice" is such a good word for it that I think I might import it :D

[clmiles.livejournal.com]

Oh geez, hon, that's not good. I hope you're doing okay. *hugs you gently*

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetheart. Bruised but unbowed. I'm more annoyed about not being able to write to be honest. It's absolutely perishing cold up there with the hole in the ceiling!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Oh, you poor lamb. *big warm hugs*

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Warm hugs are nice :D thank you.

[melanietushmore.livejournal.com]

ouch mate :(

hope you're ok xx

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* ta love. I'm fine now, but next time the dog needs walking when it's icy I think I'll make himself do it. He still bounces if he falls over.

[melanietushmore.livejournal.com]

or here's an idea; sledding!

be careful. ive tripped over the bloomin cat in the garden! no one is safe!!!! lol

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Ouch!

Poor you!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

awww Garfield! This is the time of year that I would love to hibernate.

[surexit.livejournal.com]

Oh poor you. :( Black ice is tres horrible.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

It's thoroughly nasty. But at least this year we aren't up to our oxters in snow. That would be worse.