Looking back on my time in France and my return home it seems that during this time I have encountered more than one accident, my painful finger being only the latest. Now I am wondering if this is because I am becoming more careless? Or possibly my reactions are getting slower? Or maybe I am just becoming sillier as I grow older and doing things I should stop doing?
It was just before Christmas that I fell and almost certainly broke my shoulder. I cannot tell for sure because knowing that they do nothing for such an injury except give you painkillers I never spoke to my doctor until I had to see him about the flu. He assured me I was correct that that was all that would have been done and that at my age it would take much longer to heal. Maybe I need to have a serious rethink of my lifestyle? But I probably will not.
I was telling my daughter about another injury while on holiday this time it was my friend falling from his bicycle and fracturing his arm. I was suggesting that his reactions were getting slower. She reminded me that during the whole forty or so years we have been friends he has fallen from bicycles and even horses so many times.
Accidents happen it is life. Maybe I need to reconsider my views on horseshoes and lucky white heather?
But all of that said and done nothing that has happened to me cam match this true story.
In a letter to his insurance company, a gentleman wrote the following account.
I am writing in response to your request for additional information.
In block #3 of the accident form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient. I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building on the 6th floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick.
You will note in block #11 of the accident report that I weight 135 pounds. But to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up against the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone.
Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel then weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block #11.
As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs, and lower body area. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain . . . unable to stand . . . and watching the empty barrel six stories above me . . . I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope, so it came back down on me and broke both my legs.
I hope I have furnished the information you have required. Now here is a man who needs a whole garden of lucky white heather.
Have an accident free day as I also hope to have. A bit more work today with the Freuchie in Flower but I hope to have a walk before then, as long as I do not fall out of the back door.
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