I am quite colourful today.  No, not my clothes, my legs and arms. They are
purple, blue, black and red.
I had the idea yesterday that I would clean out my wild bird nestboxes of
this years nests, ready for next spring.  I usually do it in October as
there isn't any chance of it being in use at this time of year.
So..I carried my pair of tall metal steps to a tree with a box on it, quite
a long way down the garden.  They are the sort of steps that can also be
adjusted to make a ladder, and I *did* toy with the idea of changing them
into a ladder to lean against the tree trunk, but in the end I decided I
couldn't be bothered..it'll only take a minute or two to nip up the steps
and do the deed, I figured.
I set the steps against the tree.  The ground wasn't very even but I thought
I'd be ok if I held on to the tree as I climbed up and I was quite ok until
I got to the top step and reached towards the nest box.
Then the steps fell sideways.  I grabbed the trunk of the tree but it was no
use as my feet were still on the steps and I was spun round and down.
I landed on my back on top of the fallen steps.  The first thing I thought
was "how many times have you been told to take your mobile phone down the
garden with you and why do you never do it?"

I'm lucky though.  I had to lay there for a few minutes because of the
initial pain, but I realised I hadn't broken anything.  Phew.
I got up eventually and limped back up the garden to the house, leaving the
steps where they fell.  No-one even knew I'd done it.
I have some spectacular bruising and a few cuts but I'm fine.

Tweed
(just call me clumsy)