.
There is saying about pants that goes something like: “well if I get run over and end up in A&E I want to make sure I have clean pants on” as a reason why pants should always be clean and semi decent. And shameful pants should be ditched, or only worn when you are not leaving the house. It’s a saying I have muttered a few times in the past. Followed by a gleeful giggle of “it’ll never happen but it is a good reason to wear semi decent pants at least”.
So it is disappointing that there have been two occasions recently when I have not heeded that advice and now bitterly regret it.
Firstly, Sunday morning. Tired. Hot. Rushing to breakfast having only woken up half an hour before it ended. I wouldn’t have bothered if I hadn’t been desperate for a cup of tea (there were no kettles or tea making facilities in the hotel rooms). Talking to a friend, walking side by side down steps (oh god the steps in this hotel, sodding steps everywhere) I missed that one particular step had a slight ramp on it to make it join a little patio to the right. And yes, you guessed it (or have seen it on twitter as I haven’t shut up about it). And my right ankle went from under me and I ended up spread eagled across said little patio.
Unable to move. Unable to stand up.
Unable to cover my substantial arse with the short sun dress I was wearing as it flashed my pants to the world.
My not posh pants.
My “I have pulled them up a few too many times and the waist band is coming away from the pants bit” pants.
The “white bits are no longer white” pants.
The “black bits are no longer properly black” pants
The old pants that I had thrown in the suitcase as I needed eight pairs and couldn’t find any others so they would do pants
The pants that you hang behind the big towels on the washing line so the neighbours can’t see them when you put the washing out.
I was only going to breakfast. I didn’t need shorts and a t-shirt. I needed tea. The sun dress would do, I could change later
The old pants would do, I could change later. After I had drunk some tea.
So as I rolled over on to my back in absolute agony the ever caring Mr B gently pulled my dress down to cover the front of said pants and at least try and restore some kind of dignity to this very much dignity-less situation.
There was then much scurrying for ice and painkillers (top tip travellers, NEVER leave home with out a bag of co-codamol and other assorted pain killers) and muttering about how to get my sorry arse and the sorry pant situation down the rest of the flight of stairs. And then up the next flight back to the hotel room. We got there in the end and a sheet saved me from any further pant shaped embarrassment as I lay on the bed whimpering all day and people dropped in to see how the accident prone idiot patient was doing.
The second pant episode came on the way home. Still unable to stand up I had perfected the art of directing from the end of the bed as Mr B had taken charge of packing and getting us home. He asked which clothes I wanted so he could dump them on the bed to allow me to get dressed, and he could pack the rest before jumping in the shower.
As I pulled on the pants I realised whilst posh, they weren’t mine, they were Ellie’s. She is a size six in the pant department. I am a size 18. Given that Mr B doesn’t really pay much attention to ladies undergarments he hadn’t noticed. Nor had I when I went through the laundry basket to find clean things to take away. So I threw them back in the suitcase and unable to rummage for another pair, and with Mr B in the shower, I thought “sod it” and just pulled on my leggings. Sans pants
It wouldn’t matter, we were only doing the airport and going straight home.
Nobody would ever know.
Except Mr B had decided we were going straight from Gatwick to A&E
Where I needed an x-ray.
And the very likely possibility that if the swelling continued I would have to remove the leggings or have them cut off.
The need to not have to lose what was left of my dignity was more of a relief than learning I didn’t need to take the leggings off, or that the bones were not broken.
That some dignity might now be restored felt almost as good as finally getting home.
The temptation to buy you a ‘I went to a Greek Wedding and all that I smashed was my ankle’ t-shirt is strong…
Seriously though, rest that bad boy up and do the foot exercises they give you as they make a huge difference the recovery xx
Resist the urge Spratt. Resist the urge!
Thanks for all your concern whilst I was away and tips on how to make it better
OMG, I know I should not be laughing, but my mum always said “Make sure you have decent pants on as you might get run over by a bus” yes a blooming bus. I have been with you on the undignified flat on the arse slipped on holiday and broke my leg. Hope you are being lorded over and have a little bell to rinf when you need tea
EXACTLY JEN. I could hear all our mums saying it as I lay there spreadeagled for all the world to see. Ouch to the broken leg. I am so pleased this was all I did. If I had gone forwards I would have probably killed myself (not to be too over dramatic). I am being royally looked after indeed. Though I don’t appear to have a bell. * coughs in the direction of husband very loudly *
I’m not sure I actually own a pair of pants that fit properly, they are either pre pregnancy pants 2 sizes to small or maternity pants 2 sizes to big. *Must go out and buy new pants*
Lol this is hilarious (sorry!) A trip pant shopping for you!
Oh goodness Tanya what an episode. A friend of mine ended up at an ultra sound in her boyfriend’s y fronts so I can vouch that this is very sound advice.
As Annie said, do the exercises; ice packs, tubigrip and Volterol will also help.
Hope you mend soon.
All readers please note: “Henceforth T is to be known as Hopalong 2”. By order.
No wonder we Brits have a bad name abroad – if it isn’t the footie fans falling out
with the police or the “s
You are quite right about the reputation thing. We both made the point of explaining this was en route to breakfast. And not as a result of too much ouzo!! H1 and H2 from now on!
Sorry! Hit a wrong key. Now, where was I?
…..or the “Sun, sex and sangria brigades in Magaluf and other resorts we now have wedding guests overdosing on the retsina. I only have to turn my back for a moment or two and relatives are dropping like flies!!
Seriously though, I’m very sorry you are ‘hors de combat’. I really can’t imagine you confined to bed or armchair and unable to rush round doing good as in days of yore! I think the physical rest will do you no harm at all tho’
I am concerned for Mr B’s welfare. Have you been given any estimate of how long before ‘normal’ life can be resumed? Do you need food parcels – or bottled water?
All the best, Hopalong 1
Naturally as you’re a mum, you’ll have perfected the art of still running the house despite being incapacitated! I’m hopeful that the offspring are taking excellent care of you – or is that asking too much?