HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Tizer]

Hot drinks too - it's `central heating'!

[Stanley]

Dead right Tiz. Whisky in tea and rum in coffee help as well!
The Scots know a thing or two about keeping warm.... One trick I learned was that three digestive biscuits (Or small oatcakes) crumbled in thin vegetable soup made with pearl barley in it and sprinkled with pepper warms you up a treat on a cold day!

[Stanley]

This is a repeat tip but worth mentioning. You can't take too much care when negotiating slippery pavements like we have today. You may take a bit longer to get round your walk but that doesn't matter. Always think about six weeks or more recovering from a broken bone. In the worst cases of course, with some old people, it's a death sentence. It's that serious so take your time and think what you are doing.

[Stanley]

One gumption trap that I sometimes fall into is when I do something outside the normal run of the mill. Yesterday I put my big cast iron casserole on the hob and switched the ring on to warm it to make sure it was perfectly dry. I forgot it and cooked it! Last time I did something like this was when I left the frying pan on and set fire to it while I was out in the yard waterproofing my Barbour Solway!
Funny thing was that when the pan got hot its colour changed to brown, it's almost reverted to the original red now. It must have been bloody hot!

[Tripps]

This is a repeat tip but worth mentioning. You can't take too much care when negotiating slippery pavements like we have today. You may take a bit longer to get round your walk but that doesn't matter. Always think about six weeks or more recovering from a broken bone. In the worst cases of course, with some old people, it's a death sentence. It's that serious so take your time and think what you are doing.

I read that and took heed - I really did - but still managed to have a spectacular fall whilst bringing the bins in today. What looked to be crunchy snow had an ice sheet beneath it. I could not believe what happened was possible. I felt as if I'd been lifted up and dropped on the ground including quite a crack to the back of the head. No one about and my phone was in the house on charge. Main concern was the hips, but having watched a lot of A&E programmes, I lay for a couple of minutes, and slowly checked myself out. I realised that I wasn't injured. Managed to get back up via hands and knees with help of the wheelie bin which had also fallen.

It's OK knowing the theory, but it still happened.

[Wendyf]

Pleased to hear you survived a nasty fall ok Tripps, take it easy for a couple of days!

[PanBiker]

I had a similar fall coming off Penyghent a few years ago, no bins involved just a slick bit hiding on a sloping path under snow. Fair shakes you up as well as taking the wind out of you. Take it steady for a while Tripps.

[Stanley]

Easily done David and always takes you by surprise. Light duties for three days......

[chinatyke]

...It's OK knowing the theory, but it still happened.

Take it easy David. My wife is one of those people who always says "Careful" and "I told you to be careful" in the event of something going wrong. Does she think I deliberately set out to fall or cut myself?

[Stanley]

The old adage 'One hand for the ship and one for yourself' springs to mind. It has served me well over the years and the times when I have slipped up have always been when I forgot to take care.....

[chinatyke]

David, this is what happens when you least expect it. No ice or drink involved.

[Stanley]

Bloody Hell China! Not a pretty sight! Still it looks to be healing well.....

[Marilyn]

Is that a new encounter with the bathroom floor, China?
I think you need some new slippers with good grip.
Gosh! That is a "doozie"!

[Tripps]

Thanks for your good wishes - appreciated. just a bit of stiffness this morning. All snow vanished overnight.

I remembered last night, that this had happened before - at RAF Changi, almost exactly fifty years ago, as I was being marched in to the OC's office to face the grave charge of losing my ID card. We still had the steel hob nailed boots which didn't work too well on smooth concrete floors. Same result -' collapse of stout party'. I think I got away with a reprimand.

[chinatyke]

Is that a new encounter with the bathroom floor, China?
I think you need some new slippers with good grip.
Gosh! That is a "doozie"!

No, that was just before my wife took the stitches out last June but it was just as David described "I felt as if I'd been lifted up and dropped on the ground"...
Since then we've got super grip shower mats in the shower rooms and I've protected the razor sharp external corner edges of the tiled walls with corner trim. Locking the door after the horse has bolted!

[PanBiker]

it was just as David described "I felt as if I'd been lifted up and dropped on the ground"...
Since then we've got super grip shower mats in the shower rooms and I've protected the razor sharp external corner edges of the tiled walls with corner trim. Locking the door after the horse has bolted!

Same with me but I just got a new pair of boots, Vibram rules OK.

[Marilyn]

My hubby got knocked off his feet a few weeks ago (it was hilarious). He paddled calf deep to rinse his thongs ( flip flops) after a long walk on the beach. A wave knocked him to his knees. Before he could get up, another one knocked him flat.
That was the end of his mobile phone that was in his pocket!

[Stanley]

If you have a daughter feeling under the weather after a day-procedure operation that was more painful than she expected, send flowers.... Doesn't help the pain but it sends a clear message.....

[Stanley]

The flowers worked their magic and Susan is improving. I have told both my daughters that we all need to pull ourselves together and get out of the sick bay! So that's today's tip, someone has to have a positive attitude no matter how bad things get!

[Stanley]

As you know I have a well established routine in the mornings which involves boiling water and bleaching my pot, the sink, the outlet of the faucet, and my washing up tools, the Scotchpad and brush. I found myself wondering how many billions of microbes I kill every morning and whether I actually make a difference to my environment. I can't see how it can do any harm so I shall carry on doing it......

[Stanley]

A thought that struck me this morning as I opened my finger up to the benefits of getting wet was that in today's world everyone wants instant results, patience is in short supply. One of the best universal solvents we have is water and it's quite amazing what it will dissolve if you leave something to soak overnight. So today's tip is don't load the environment any more than you have to. Enlist time in your cleaning methods!

[Marilyn]

How does one leave their finger to soak all night?
Has it suddenly become detachable? Or do you hang your arm out of bed and dangle it in a bucket all night?

[Stanley]

Sorry I was unclear! Not my finger, just things like bowls and dishes.
Topday's tip is, if possible, arrange to have a grand daughter who is a paramedic! Very handy for medical advice.

[Stanley]

Recognise when a necessary repair is beyond your scope! This is the time to call in an expert and bite the bullet, pay for service. I had a problem with a complicated locking system on my back door. I called in the locksmith and found it was the right call. It's a serious fault in the actual lock and can only be cured by a new unit. I couldn't have fixed it anyway. They return today to fit it, replace the door handles on both doors with better ones and service the front door as well. £200 but a problem solved!

[Marilyn]

Sounds expensive but so long as you are pleased with it....