A Life Well Lived

Did you have any serious accidents as a child?

The Cow of the Cow and Calf rock formation on Ilkley Moor. I fell top to bottom when I was abseiling down!

Whilst at junior school I fell down the quarry in Calverley Woods. A favourite haunt of our” gang”, we had purloined a rope ( the one we use to use for group skipping?) and tied it to an overhanging tree.  We would take turns swinging out over the disused quarry; great fun and we’d play for hours. On this occasion it was drizzling and, undeterred, we continued pushing and swinging, our hands and rope getting slimier and slimier… my next go, I was pushed out over the quarry only to feel myself sliding down the rope,  landing on the quarry floor some seconds later. Rescued by my pals, hobbled home, said nothing. I was black and blue the next day and in great pain for some time, but never told anyone. Years later as I was leaving home, Father told me he’d heard about the accident in the pub that very evening it had happened but said nothing. He said that was my punishment _ to have to suffer in silence.

As a” fearless shooter” I sustained numerous injuries playing hockey for Pudsey Grammar School, usually ending up at The Dispensery at LGI where I would be cleaned up, drenched in witchazel and sent home with a friendly smile and a ” see you next week”.

As a young adult, 32/33 I ran a branch of NHS in Southsea. This was a discussion group for likeminded Mums and we revelled in debates etc. For a change I booked a private session (ie empty rink) at Southseas roller park for us all as an end of term activity. Boots on, we took to the rink: I was confident, I’d  been a pretty good skater in my childhood and I’d confidently told the group not to worry, skating was like riding a bike, you never loose the skill. I lead the way, the mother goose at the head of her skein only to find my legs, very swiftly parting until I came to a very painful stop, legs akimbo on my posterior! I think that was the reason I developed arthritis within  a few years.