The Wall

Due to lack of Safety and my own stupidity I was in a serious accident at work.

For the sake of a two-minute job, I took a risk, and went down a three-metre trench, only to clear the end of a duct for a pressure pipe to go through. From the time I went down there the J.C.B arrived to pull the heavy pressure pipe to its destination.

Because of the vibration from the machine, the driver had noticed the earth had begun to move. I tried to get out but had no chance, as the sides were too slippery.  The split second that I had to prepare myself as the heavy clay soil came down was to jump up as high as I could so as to keep my head above the earth.

The earth pushed myself down, solid against the other side of the trench.  I was buried above the chest standing fully strait up.  The earth kept sinking like a large wedge, sinking and crushing me very slowly, screaming the best I could for help, which became impossible for myself to do after a short period of time, my ability to breath was being taken from me each second that past.

My chest became so compressed with the sinking, that my ribs began to cave in.  Closing my eyes for a moment as I past out, I saw inside my rib cage, the blood flowing along each
rib, something told me at that point to open my eyes.  On opening them I saw the operator of the machine scrapping at the earth with his hands, his fingers were bleeding from the pressure of trying to scrape at that earth so I could breath.  I silently said to him no time for that, there were no more time left, that he will have to use the machine and that it didn’t matter if he made a mistake as I was gone.

He ran to the J.C.B and started to dig a good distance away from me. If he had started digging next to me it would have compacted the earth even more and as a result, would not have been here to tell about this today.

As a result of the accident, fractured ribs and scares I can accept.  The pain inside will never set me free from the trap I was in.

Not able to go back into that type of work again, although I tried. But as stubborn as I am, tried everything from being unemployed.  It took three years of professional help to make myself realize that restriction towards past employment had to come into force.

Through discussion when I mentioned other accidents that I had been in, such as a steel girder coming down on top of myself and ripping through the surface of my leg, the conclusion had been that I had no insight towards dangerous situations.

To be continued I’m not dead yet!

One day

It stands staring, legs crossed

Flat board, muffled voice

Come on it says! spray some water

Go away I say! can’t be bothered.

 

It stands staring, flat eyed

Glaring across, shirts need ironed

Come on it say’s,  spray some water

Go away I say, can’t be bothered

 

It stands staring, moon rising

Night fallen, ironing not done

Morning comes, rushing about

Creased shirt, gone to work.

 

Females staring, he still single

Evening comes, ironing done.

Plants

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Out of the darkness, into daylight

A Smiling Heart

Mid – December!  The weather was bitter and cold, no warmth nor excitement, until this day, a day in mid December.

During my employment in an ice rink my tasks were to maintain the ice to a standard for curling.  Throughout the season certain days would be given to undertake major work on the ice and no curling would take place on those days.

It was during one of those periods, residents from the adjoining hotel,  a father with his daughter June and his niece Julie, decided to visit the curling rink in the hope of seeing some curling.  They were disappointed no curling was on that day; explaining to them that work was about to begin on the ice, they began to leave.

My thoughts went to the father Sam.  Sam had an expression on his face of puzzlement, hurt and disappointment.

As they began to leave exiting the swinging doors passing the stairway to the closed bar/restaurant upstairs, and about to go out the main entrance of the building, my good deed for the day was about to take place.  After some thought, I went after them and asked,  “If you like, you can have a go at curling yourself’s as I am about to stop for lunch and would be in the office overlooking the curling rink”.  What a treat that was for them, the whole ice rink to themself’s.

Sam asked the girls, they were aged about 9-10 years old, if they would like to have a go.  No doubts of hesitations came in their reply.  An expression of relief came from Sam as he introduced himself and the girls to me as I began to get them prepared to go onto the ice.

Before allowing them on the ice, we all went into the office to change their footwear, and I opened the container to get three pairs of curling shoes.  To my amazement picked out of the untidy container three pairs of curling shoes all a perfect fit.

Everything went smoothly that day, from preparing work on the ice, to the extra work I would have by allowing guests onto the ice.

I began to have my lunch while watching them trying their hand at curling.  It was decided! I would give them a little couching before asking them to finish.

There was a feeling of bitterness around them.  June was having fun making mistakes, as you do when learning to curl. Julie, she was serious about getting it right. Sam and June seamed to get on really well.  It was Julie the tension and grief seamed to be coming from.  Although, I hadn’t met them before this day or known of their personal circumstances, there was clearly an unpleasant atmosphere surrounding them.

After a few minutes of coaching the two girls began to get the hang of things and relax more.  They all actually managed to throw a curling stone up the rink to its target.  On achieving reaching the target Julie began to smile, it was to be a special kind of smile.  Overhearing June saying! to her father that Julie had smiled, the thoughts this brought to mind were that of something special was developing.

On asking them to leave the curling rink due to the workload still to be undertaken, Sam and June had a smile of joy with eyes glowing with relief.  There was a very strong feeling of fulfilment and achievement coming from them all.

I never did see them again, but was about to discover and understand why there was so much tension and bitterness surrounding them.

About two hours went by, then the phone rang.  It was the manageress requesting that I go to the main reception area.

On entering the hotel at the main entrance a few hands began clapping.  I was gob smacked, wondering what on earth was going on.  The manageress explained by reading out aloud a letter that was written by the guests that i took time to entertain earlier that day.

The letter explained that Sam’s niece Julie had lost her parents in a car accident on the mainland two years prior.  Sam had brought June and Julie over from an island of the west coast of Scotland for a holiday.  This was to have a break from the loneliness living on an island brought and the grief they were all suffering.

As the manageress continued to read the letter, it went on to say!, that what I achieved through the kindness shown was to put a smile back into a little girl’s heart, for happiness and contentment to return to their lives.  This was a starting point for the grief being broken down, and showing the healing powers that life’s experiences bring.

I was embarrassed standing there.  The feelings of joy and sadness were overwhelming, the management, hotel staff and guests all congratulated and applauded for a job well done.

Never again will a mid-December be bitter and cold, as my thoughts are with you little girl; a stranger in my heart.

THE KNOCK OUT

Here it comes, the car in front!
Nowhere to go, a wall covered in snow!
To my left, a tractor draws close!
The brakes don’t work, not on this icy road.

Here it comes, the car in front!
Nowhere to go, crash! Bang! My life a flash in the pan.
Dreams all gone, thoughts are none!
If only another day would come.

The bonnet’s folded neat, just like a couple of ironed sheets.
My head goes a thump, on the back of the seat!
Sitting back the blood rushes, my eyes close!
Down i go falling into a moment’s deep sleep.

There it is, the car in front!
Singing and whistling, hooting and tooting!
Speaking its last words, as its wings flap to and fro.
The storm it was,stood still.

Blue lights are flashing, speedily along.
Luckily i awakened, although i started shaking!
Thoughts of rage, surfaced within.
The price of life was too great, even for a silly mistake.

Fatigue is as bad as drink driving don’t do it.

Kirkcaldy to East Wemyss walk