I was only away a couple of hours ......

When I left for work about 2:30 pm, work was underway on replacing two sections of the flue of the wood fire. Doug was actually away trying to buy a larger plate to go up on the ceiling. He had been up the ladder a few times - it seemed steady enough. I wasn't really happy about the whole situation - ladder against the wall etc, but it worked perfectly well last time didn't it? (We have forgotten about the chimney bouncing off the roof and hitting the ute......that's another story.)



Two and a half hours later: As I drove up the driveway I looked up, through the living room window and noticed that the ladder was at a funny angle. It worried me a bit that Doug's car wasn't in the garage.

Worse was to come.... oh dear, the house was deserted, Dave had gone too....windows were still open... there was a hole in the wall, and tracks down where the ladder had slid.The ladder was poking through the wall one end; the other was firmly jammed against the piano.

Perhaps Doug and Dave gone to buy some wall board, I thought hopefully, before I saw the blood trail leading out to the tub in the kitchen!

Apparently the ladder slid down the wall - it was stopped by the piano. When Doug grabbed the ceiling plate he cut all the fingers on his left hand. David took him to the Dr. but didn't have time to text me first. I was rather shocked when I registered the ladder, the blood, and the empty house!



Being a reporter at heart Dave couldn't resist a photo while the fingers were being bound up, and anti tetanus administered. A few witty texts were exchanged and peace restored.

I was only away a couple of hours!