I’ve just read that Richard Thompson has had a ‘fall’ and broken three ribs. I was due to see him early next month so that’s not going to happen. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
But my post isn’t just about that as I was thinking only the other day at what age do you sustain a ‘fall’ instead of falling over? As a child you fall over, now we elderly have a fall.
I’ve had a few recently as my foot decides it doesn’t want to lift fully and down I go, luckily no harm done. I had to have a wristband with ‘Falls Risk’ on it when I was x-rayed.
I hope RT is ok. I saw him a month ago and he was awesome.
Saw him twice this year and was looking forward to this one as it was in a small village hall.
Fingers crossed he’s recovered in time for Folk in the Park in Sutton where we hope to see him in August.
Hmmm, he’s down for Warwick Folk Festival at the end of July. I suspect he should take his time.
At what stage the term “had a fall” might start being used could be related to someone’s general health. If a (say) 60 year old, very healthy, supple and active person who goes swimming and walking every week, and who does a Parkrun every Saturday morning takes a tumble, then surely you’d say “they fell over,” rather than they “had a fall.” On the other hand, if someone who was visibly overweight, had dodgy knees and whose activity consisted of watching sport on the TV whilst eating cheese tripped over…
I’m 58 and it’s used in jest mainly – I bumped my head the other day on a metal signpost causing a bump on my head, which led to a younger colleague to saying very kindly “oh…have you had a fall?” as if I’m 95.
@black-celebration you will find that changing in your next few years. I remember falling over in my 50s and people laughing. If it happens now in my early 60s, I get messages asking if I’m OK “after your fall”.
I first heard the term “had a fall” used about me a couple of years ago. I am nearly 58.
I think it’s a way of hinting that this may be where other complications may manifest themselves. As they often do, sadly. Some numpty diving in a footy match is not the same as an elderly person falling over the kerb.
It was a fall that predicated my mother’s death, though the autopsy found that the direct cause was pneumonia (and the chronic heart disease, the resulting head injury and many decades of ‘unwise’ lifestyle decisions didn’t help). A fall can be a symptom.
Exactly, I’ve heard it so often. Not saying too much but a close family member fell last weekend – age 89 – seems to be ok and is being discharged on Monday but it sets off all sorts of bad outcome worries.
Yep, “a fall” is often a bad sign as one ages, and may be indicative of decline in underlying systems, blood pressure, CNS, etc. might be treatable, but ageing is unavoidable.
It would be more worrying if he had a Fall L.P.
I’ve got a L.P. by The Fool, but that’s from 1968.
Phew! Seriously relieved, and I suspect Richard is too.
Yes but what is the timeline of Mark E Smith going from falling over to being in the fall to having a fall.
Extraordinary @hubert-rawlinson. I tripped and fell a couple of days ago. No damage fortunately, apart from a bruised thumb and a bruised ego. But the moment I was back on my feet I realised that I’ve reached the age where I no longer fall over. I had a fall. No doubt about it.
I’ve had a couple of falls and a fair few stumbles. A combination of a stiff, painful somewhat immobile right hip and vastly restricted sight in my left eye due to a pesky cataract is the culprit. I lead with my right foot and I can’t see where my left foot is with any accuracy. Thankfully up to now the most serious injury I’ve suffered is to my pride. I’ve been granted a new appointment early next month about my hip. Hooray I thought upon ripping open the envelope until it dawned on me that I have no obvious means of travelling the twenty miles to the designated hospital. Doh!
The latch on the door between our hall and kitchen broke yesterday necessitating what I assumed would be a straightforward climb through the living room window to open the back door.
While the69-y.o. me eventually made the – not especially high – ascent, I could only do so by using the house stepladder on both sides. The whole process was way more scary than I imagined
You did well. I couldn’t climb a stepladder anymore. It takes me half an hour to put a sock on my right foot. If I was a horse some kind soul would shoot me.
Don’t think I’ll be attempting it again any time soon.
Really brought it home to me the vast difference there is between what we perceive ourselves as being (35 – 40 in my case), and actual physical age (69 skeleton, 109 liver, lungs and other vital organs).
Just read your reply to Locust below. Hope everything works out and the ambo service comes through for you. Am incredibly lucky to have very kind neighbours
Talking of sock-putting-on difficulties, I stayed in an ultra-cheap hotel in Sheffield the other weekend while meeting up there with some friends for the first time in about 10 years.
At home I rely on putting my foot up on the back of the sofa to get my socks on. In my Sheffield hotel room there were no surfaces at a suitable height and thus socking-up was extremely difficult. Especially with hangovers, both mornings.
I am 74.
@pencilsqueezer Does the NHS have an equivalent to the Swedish system where you can be eligible for (in some cases) ambulance service or (in most cases when you have difficulty moving about) gettin appoved for having your taxi ride reimbursed?
I haven’t used it myself, but my parents have. You have to request it in advance, and regarding the taxi I think you have to pay a small amount yourself, but anything over that sum is covered by the health care system. Perhaps you could call the hospital and ask?
Good to hear you got an appointment, at least!
Yes NHS Cymru do have an ambulance service that can help those in the most need of help with travel to and from hospital appointments. My intention is to phone them tomorrow and hope someone answers. I’m not sure I will qualify for assistance though as from my reading online it seems to have a very narrow acceptance criteria. They don’t reimburse taxi fares at all, a taxi there and back would cost around £100. I phoned a couple of taxi firms to enquire, that’s out of the question. There is a train service to Wrexham from here but the train platform can only be accessed by negotiating a very steep, and a quite long and daunting ramp. I couldn’t manage that especially after a painful bus ride and a walk to the train station. In short I’m stuffed if the ambulance service turn me down. I’ll have no other option other than to cancel my appointment. It’s been on my mind constantly since I received the letter last Friday. It’s taking liberal doses of Sibelius just to stop me from panicking. Thanks for giving a stuff Lo. No bugger else does. x
@pencilsqueezer just checked the NHS app and I’m sure you fit the criteria.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/going-into-hospital/how-to-organise-transport-to-and-from-hospital/
Maybe @retropath2 can advise.
I give a stuff too.
Thanks. I’ll phone tomorrow and hope that NHS Wales are the same. From looking online they have a very restricted criteria.
I’ve checked there now and I’d say your medical needs warrant you needing their transport.
Good luck!
Diolch yn fawr. Hopefully I meet their criteria. I can’t walk anywhere, even around my flat without my walking stick. Maybe I’ll get lucky. Fingers crossed.
Generally it is down for you to present the problem and why there is no option; it is their job to believe you. And if they can’t or won’t you may be eligible for a paid taxi. Don’t be polite and “understanding”, stand (or sit up) for your reasonable right.
Given it is an orthopaedic clinic I will bet there wil be attendees coming by ambulance from nearer and with less deficit.
The down side is that they wil expect you to be ready at the crack of dawn and may still get you there late, as they pick up all the others that will fit in the van, along the way. And don’t expect to be home for tea. (Sorry)
I shall ask. I’m not expecting a positive outcome. I rarely have any luck in such matters. NHS wales won’t pay taxi costs except under exceptional circumstances and I’d require my GPs help to stand any chance of recouping such an outlay. As he’s as much use as a chocolate fireguard it’s not something I’m considering.
Any luck @pencilsqueezer?
@pencilsqueezer I don’t know what to suggest then it seems absolutely bizarre that they won’t do it especially as the public transport will only exacerbate the condition.
I always write notes before I call as I’m bound to forget something or get flustered.
Good luck and thanks Retro too.
@hubertrawlinson They advised me to use public transport. I explained how that was going to be extremely difficult but the person I spoke to was adamant. I’ll have to think of something else. I have just over a fortnight to find a solution.
I do know that they are covering a large very spread out and largely rural area. Maybe that’s it. I spent twenty odd minutes discussing it with the very pleasant woman who answered the phone. It doesn’t really matter anyway as I have my answer. I’m going to try one of my nieces maybe she will be able to help. I hate asking though. I don’t like imposing on others. If that doesn’t work out I’ll just have to attempt public transport. I checked out the train times and there is one at 7:47 that will get me to Wrexham with enough time to take a cab to the hospital. At least I get free travel on that train route.
My mother was often transported from the Welsh valleys to London (specialist hospital Royal Free) 140 miles away by ambulance for appointments. Was a very long day for her, but it made it possible
Last week, I fell off my bike on the ride back home* from a hospital appointment. I am 55 and, frankly, in denial.
(*) tbh, back to the car park (15 mins) as I am now too lazy to be cycling for an hour.
Three years ago, at the age of 59, I cycled 12 miles to hospital, only to be told I must go straight to A&E. Four days later, I cycled home again.
Four days in A&E?
That must be some kind of record
It was bonkers. I was sat there, occupying a bed, surrounded by people in agony and, in one case, the dying, still wearing my cycling kit, looking totally fraudulent. The nurses would come round checking whether I’d taken my medication. “But I’m not on any medication!”
Yet your hair still hasn’t grown back!
If old and elderly is the codgers 10 plus years older than I, they have falls, I still take tumbles. Richard Thompson is only 8 years older and so has taken a tumble. So he should be able to ride the wall of death one more time.
I became aware of my increasing frailty last year when I had a proper old man’s fall in the garden – I simply seemed to suddenly lose my bearings and did a slow motion tumble into a flower bed. At 75 I am increasingly having moments when I realise that I’m simply not as strong as I once was and balance is getting harder to maintain. Luckily I am still reasonably fit, or like to think so, and play tennis and bowls, so I just tell myself to keep on keeping on.
As those of you who have been paying proper attention will know, I have pesky tumours on the vestibular nerve that have stolen away my hearing and they also cause me balance issues. Neither are great problems as yet, but I do sometimes walk like a drunk. Which is a bit disconcerting as I don’t drink alcohol. Generally I’m ok, but thinking about it makes it worse. In a way, I imagine it’s a bit like how people who stutter or suffer from Tourette’s worsen under pressure. I can be happily walking along, no problems whatsoever, all care-free, handsome and sprightly, but then I come to a narrow pathway with only enough room for two and I know I must try not to fall into the person coming the other way and… that’s exactly what happens! “Oops, sorry!” It also gets worse in the dark and when I’m getting in and out of the sea. I’m sure everyone at the beach thinks I’m a total alchy.
When I had my TBI, I had broadly similar symptomology.
Couldn’t walk in a straight line if you’d paid me.
When I was being tested, being told to concentrate only on walking made it very bad. Being given things to do in my head – count backwards from 100 in 7s, calculate prime numbers – things got a lot better.
My Neuropsych was believer is brain distraction allowing you to do better on the task at hand. I have haematite magnets that I play with if my speech deteriorates or I need to stay calm.
All this reminds me that i should look after the flexibility of my legs more – activities like T’ai Chi and yoga help to preserve the suppleness and balance that good posture brings. Where the centre of gravity in the body is must also affect the likelihood of having a fall rather than just falling and getting up again.
Maybe tennis is the answer
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/15/henry-young-101-year-old-tennis-player
I hope not, my eye-hand-ball coordination is terrible.
The thing that’s so great about being in the sea is not just swimming but also treading water. Treading water allows a sort of Tai Chi plus yoga plus squats plus cycling plus weights, all while using the water for both weight and support. Tread water. That’s my advice.
I go to the pool three times a week to swim and exercise which hopefully stops the weakening of one of my legs. The last time as was in the sea I had to be helped out after I’d tried to crawl up the slope of the shingle.
@Gary
If RT had settled for Treading Water rather than embarking on Daring Adventures this thread probably wouldn’t exist
Last two sentences – winner of this month’s (non-existent) strapline competition.
I gather this is fairly calm sea water @Gary
My ocean exercise involves surf and rips. So if I am not fighting the cross current to sray out of rips i am deciding whether to dive under to avoid being dumped or , less often l, start to swim like buggery to catch a wave on my boogie board.
20 minutes – totally knackered.
Most days in the summer the sea is very calm, as today, but I also like it when it’s rough. On those days the swimming is great exercise, but Tai Chi is certainly impossible.
I’ve no idea what a boogie board is, but it sounds fun in, a Marc Bolan kinda way. I shall look it up.
I’ve just turned up at the pool, left my shorts at home. I don’t think skinny dipping would be approved.
@hubert-rawlinson
“fatty dipping” (as is sadly the case with me) is even less welcome
Ha! I go to aqua aerobics once a week. I bought myself some new togs to mark the occasion. To my surprise none of the trunks on offer had one of those mesh affairs for cradling your meat and two veg to stop it emerging down the thigh and frightening the ladies. It’s been decades since I’ve been near a swimming pool, but I’m sure such things were readily available back in the 70s?
Having been told by my stepson that they were for soft Pommy Jessies and I should man up, I thought the topic might be of interest to the Dull Men’s Club, but they rejected my post out of hand. Whether because it was too boring or not boring enough I have no idea. Perhaps it was the term meat and two veg that spooked them.
@Gary it is sort of like half a surfboard , no fin and much softer than fibreglass.
You lie on it. So it is for geezers who can’t ride a surfboard but like the waves carrying you.
Main thing I’ve noticed these last ten years or so is that when I do stumble heavily it almost inevitably leads to a fall. In the past, nine times out of ten I’d do a reverse flip somersault or something equally athletic and walk on as though nothing had just happened. Nowadays it’s “Oops, here we go, hope I don’t break anything”..
I caught my toe on the steps in a cafe in Glastonbury and the whole place leapt into recuperation support. The grazed knee was minutely examined several times and I got a free large cappuccino and oat and raisin cookie. I’d recommend it.
69, overweight and unfit.
I confess I am slightly amazed about the fairly heavy crashes on my dirt bikes I walk away from.
Long may it continue.
More info from the man himself, or at least signed by him*, reports he slipped on the stairs and broke not only 3 ribs but 2 vertebrae as well. Ouch
* The wording has the tin-eared jokiness of that statement ‘by’ Charlie Watts when he was hospitalised not long before his death.
Well, I’m going to Southwell for their Gate festival, and he was topping the Saturday night. Replaced by Eliza Carthy, who is steadier on the stairs, being a stripling of 50 odd.
This post comes at a good time. A few weeks ago my dog spotting one of his mates pulled me over in the street quite close the house. My immediate reaction on ‘falling over ‘ was firstly why the fuck am I on the ground? Followed quickly by acute embarrassment as people/neighbours gathered round trying to help me up. I’m fine I said and limped off with blood trickling down my leg where I’d badly bashed my knee. My sister in laws reaction was ‘Did you fall over or did you have a fall😂?’. My response was curt.
What? This?
I had to think about that 👏
There was indeed a lot of Shout(ing) cos I needed to get it all out followed of course by the hurting
If anyone is at all interested which I doubt and nobody least of all me could blame y’all. I have secured a lift to my hospital appointment. I will be making a slow yet stately progress home via a combination of taxi, train and bus. Alls well that ends in a mish mash of this and that.
Good news! Best of luck with the appointment.
Thanks Gary. It’s not ideal but I think I can cope with the journey home.
Excellent!
You are Montgomery Burns and I claim my $5.
I pay you more than enough already, Smithers!
Excellent news, chum! Not ideal, perhaps, but much better than missing your appointment.
Indeed
Hope all is well and you don’t have to go through the palaver again
Thanks chaps. I’m actually looking forward to the return journey. It’s been years since I enjoyed the train journey from Wrexham homewards. I used to travel the route regularly many years ago due to my working in Wrexham for a while. It’ll bring back some memories.
Keep us up to date on the outcome. All the best.
Great news. Getting out and seeing somewhere different will be good.
Thanks butties. I’m hoping I’ll finally get some sort of a better idea of when they are going to fix me up with a new hip joint. If they get that done and my cataracts sorted by next year I’ll be very grateful.
Will you get to patronise the little used Wrexham Central? In several years of living in Wrexham (well, Gresford to be precise) I think I only used it twice for gigs at Deeside. I had to check it was still in use.
No I’ll use Wrexham General. I used to use Central when I worked in Wrexham. A pint in the in the Horse and Jockey while I waited for my train home was the usual order of the day.
What a relief. Hope it goes smoothly.
I’m sure it will. 🙏
That’s the spirit.
Hurrah! I was going to ask, but you beat me to it.
And I’ve got a date… for my next colonoscopy. Gulp.
I think I win this one. An uncomfortable train journey is small potatoes in comparison. 🙂
You definitely win! This will be my fifth or sixth ‘up periscope’. I watched the last one on the telly – my insides look a bit like pink broccoli.
You’ve only got two hip joints. If my mum’s knees are anything to go by, you get one fixed, go a bit mad with the new-found freedom, and then the other starts playing up.
Mind you, I’ve only got one bum. I really don’t know where I’m going with this…
Nah your ordeal involves penetrative discomforture, mine is going to involve being mostly talked at followed by a long-ish journey home.
My left knee is becoming problematic as it happens. It’s developed a decided clicking sensation whenever I straighten my leg and it’s rather sore a lot of the time. Oh and my left wrist is now afflicted with arthritis and blooming painful if I try to put even slight weight upon it. “Old age is no place for sissies” said Bette Davis, too bloody true. Everyday an adventure in malfunction.
I notice that the latest lidl magazine has an inspection camera for those hard to see places, sinks etc. I wonder if I could do my own colonoscopy.
Have I told you my endoscopy story? Inevitably, it involves folk song, well, music hall, technically.
Down by the old balls and butt?
Altogether now!
I may have a spare jacksie periscope somewhere in the garage, between the strimmer and a stomach pump. I’ll pop it in the car and, should anyone need or want one, meet me in the main beer tent at Southwell, Cropredy or Shrewsbury festivals, and I’ll see what I can manage. I can’t guarantee a takeaway dvd, but there will be plenty enough people to collate a tube by tube commentary.
The actual procedure is fine – there’s a brief ‘ooh’ as it goes in. The worst bit is the nil-by-mouth & purge for the 24 hours before to ensure a clear view. Don’t try it with Izal.
Would that be a Frankie Howard sorta ‘ooh’ or an ‘ooh’ of a different stripe?
I’ll try an “Ooh, Matron!” and see if the anyone in the theatre giggles.
I bet you’d get a lollipop for being a brave little soldier if you did that.
A “lollipop” that’s a new one, mister…