Someone posted recently on the forum:
Draggletail, I think I need a more than just a hard hat, more like a complete body armer...... Woke up this morning and made myself a lovely cup of tea, went back up to bed to drink it! Fell asleep, fell out of bed and banged my teeth on bedside cabinet and then cupa fell of cabinet and hit me on back of head and burnt me!!!.... Do you know, I've got to be so careful crossing roads

Now I was brought up to believe that you shouldn't laugh at other peoples misfortunes, but this had me in stitches :hihi: :blush:
(It was probably the way the person told it rather than the unfortunate accident)

To get to the point: Are you accident prone?
Do you split your sides laughing when you see someone hopping about with a 'stubbed' toe or a banged elbow :hihi:

I am most definitely accident prone. Just yesterday I went to flush the loo, and as I pushed the flush the inner working thingy broke, making me fall forward and crack my head on the boiler, situated directly above.

Yup, I can trip over my own feet me, and they ain't even that big!! I still laugh when I see others as clumsy as myself though - as long as their not hurt :(
I frequently drop things. I don't think I have a complete set of glasses or plates left, there is always one or more missing.

Yes and I can't help it.

Originally posted by spiffymonkey
I am most definitely accident prone. Just yesterday I went to flush the loo, and as I pushed the flush the inner working thingy broke, making me fall forward and crack my head on the boiler, situated directly above.

So you were leaning hard enough on it to throw you off balance when it broke?:suspect:

My sister's prone to accidents like this. She's taken doors off hinges, broken curtain rails, cutlery draws & kitchen cupboards. She dropped an iron on my mum's head once (fortunately is wasn't on). A few months ago she dropped a bottle of perfume on the cloakroom sink - smashing a lump off the side.

Then there was the radiator she broke when she went to pick up something that had fallen underneath it - when she stood up she banged her head on the radiator & a hole appeared. It was fun explaining that to the bloke who came to fix it :D

My personal favourite was something she did as a kid. She always has done things with great vigour - including riding her bike when she was given one. She missed out on how to apply the brakes with equal vigour though. So when one day she came hurtling down the road (& forgot to slow herself down using her feet) she went straight into a neighbour's flower bed & emerged wearing half a rose bush.

I should really add at this point that I am one of those really annoying people who laugh when other people hurt themselves. So whilst my sister went off bellowing to find my mum I was curled up laughing & couldn't move to help her :blush:

Personally Draggletail I reckon wherever there is an accident prone person you'll find someone who can't help laughing at others' misfortunes not far behind :heyhey:

I’m extremely accident prone and also unlucky with it! I’m always walking into corners of walls and stubbing my toes.

I must admit I find when it happens to other people so hilarious! I once positioned myself outside an office in Manchester (on Oxford Street) for a fag break just to watch all the people tripping over a raised manhole! I swear one of the ambulance chasing compensation companies should have put an inquiry desk there. It seems one on three people would trip and one in 6 would have a fall.

I don’t know what’s more funny, seeing people fall over or seeing the ones who nearly fall over with that sheepish (did anyone see me) look on their face after!

I'm accident prone, but I tend to thing I'm just clumsy. I'm usually laughing at my own misfortune and have been told that if I didn't laugh so loud when I trip/fall/split head open, people wouldn't notice what I had done.

Originally posted by thomsongirl
I'm accident prone, but I tend to thing I'm just clumsy. I'm usually laughing at my own misfortune and have been told that if I didn't laugh so loud when I trip/fall/split head open, people wouldn't notice what I had done.

LOL Thomsongirl, I have never understood this but I do it too! If I trip I find it almost impossible not to shout "Whoaaaaaaa!!!!" - that outburst followed by hysterical laughing always draws peoples attention. :blush:

Originally posted by spiffymonkey
I am most definitely accident prone. Just yesterday I went to flush the loo, and as I pushed the flush the inner working thingy broke, making me fall forward and crack my head on the boiler, situated directly above.

I kno I shouldn't laugh but that made me laugh out loud :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Im the same, I once collected the post at work while I was skiving, I picked up the post, my shirt sleeve got caught on something (was unaware) and as I walked off I took the mail slot cage with me :roll: The post clerks weren't impressed :suspect:

I'm always doing daft and very embarassing things :blush: I was on the bus, and as I got up (from the upstairs) I came down the stairs when the bus stopped and I flew into the wall where the stairs twist, then I got the giggles but nobody had seen so I just looked like a nutter, I then went to get off and forgot to say thankyou so spun round said thanks, missed the step to get off and fell onto the pavement! Just as I hit the pavement and managed to stay upright there was the pole for the bus stop and I just stopped before I hit it, I carried on walking, then realised I was walking the wrong way spun round into a woman and then carried on to go home! And it all happened in a matter of seconds! How embarassing!

My sister's French penpal was at our house when she was taking a shower and we heard a bang, 'oh no she's fallen over in the bath!' we asked her if she was ok and she said yes, but we later saw that during her fall, she had grabbed the shower curtain and the rail was hanging off the wall! I felt so sorry for her, how embarassed would you be?!

My sister's just as bad, she came home with two black eyes, a broken nose and a split lip. When we asked what had gone on, she said her friend had been guiding her, while Becky had her eyes closed, her friend walked off when she saw their group of friends and becky carried on with her eyes closed straight into a wall! How daft can you get??

Lottie

I have just broken my arm replying to this.

I'm not accident prone.. Just dizzy lol! (Somehow I managed to lock my car keys inside the car today lol)

I have a terrible sense of humour and cant help laughing at others misfortunes lol... My Mums the same, I reckon she "trained" me when I was little lol...

Examples of things that tickle me are:
- Gran getting tongue tied and calling a woman she knows "Prue Sise" insead of Sue Price hehe
-The dog knocking my Gran over by running into the back of her legs, causing her to throw the dog's chain lead into the air, when it came back down it hit her in the mouth (all this was AFTER a trip to the dentist lol)

I could go on.... But I'm afraid I'll end up crying with laughter if I carry on lol... Yeah my sense of humour is weird..But I cant help it hee hee

Most of the clumsy accidents in our house happen when somebody knocks something over that somebody put in a silly place in the first place :suspect:

If the wine glasses are left to drain at the front of the drainingboard at elbow height, why is it a surprise when they get elbowed over? :confused:

And you can't spill milk on your laptop bag quite so easily if it is under the stairs instead of lying round the kitchen :rolleyes:

My mum brought me up to believe that prevention was better than cure - and it applied to objects too! :thumbsup:

One of my mates at College was , "disaster prone " , rather than , "accident prone". Things seemed to happen to him over which he had no control whatsoever.
For example , he was on the , "Foreign Correspondents " Course , which had about 20 students. They were all given electric typewriters on the first morning. They were all told to switch them on . They all did. My mate's typewriter gave a funny noise and sort of blew up. This set the pattern , actually , for the next two years.

I worked with someone who was struck by lightning when he was a kid, and several years later was shot on the first day of his dream holiday in Australia in a case of mistaken identity. I supposed he could be described as 'lucky' cos he survived.

For anyone concerned about their accident proneness or just lack of coordination it's well worth looking up the condition called Dyspraxia. Dyspraxic people sometimes do have very bad days and yes you do have to laugh it off and try and live with it but it can be very frustrating. More importantly you can get help for it - just as people do with dyslexia. This is especially important for kids - the earlier you can diagnose then the better their lives will be growing up.

I think Mr Strix's problem is his glasses. The peripheral view through them is slightly distorted :(

Originally posted by torin8
For anyone concerned about their accident proneness or just lack of coordination it's well worth looking up the condition called Dyspraxia. Dyspraxic people sometimes do have very bad days and yes you do have to laugh it off and try and live with it but it can be very frustrating. More importantly you can get help for it - just as people do with dyslexia. This is especially important for kids - the earlier you can diagnose then the better their lives will be growing up.

I have always led to believe their is no help. I show all the signs of dyspraxia and keep being told by several people I have it and they have never met a 'walking disaster area like me before' I spoke to the doctor about it and he said I almost certainly have it, but there isn't any help so there wasn't any point in being tested.

Me I just refuse I have a problem :help:

Originally posted by Skatiechik
I have always led to believe their is no help. I show all the signs of dyspraxia and keep being told by several people I have it and they have never met a 'walking disaster area like me before' I spoke to the doctor about it and he said I almost certainly have it, but there isn't any help so there wasn't any point in being tested.

Me I just refuse I have a problem :help:

I feel a little bit guilty now for finding accident proneness funny Skatiechick....
At the end of the day many of have us have 'stuff' to deal with in life - I missed about thirty percent of schooling as a child due to asthma. That obviously affected my future (miss that amount of schooling, you never catch up....)
The Asthma has been controlled for years now using steroid inhalers. I will always have to take them. Guess I am lucky that it can be treated, though.
Sorry if I have caused offence, and I wish you well.
Draggle x

Originally posted by Skatiechik
I have always led to believe their is no help. I show all the signs of dyspraxia and keep being told by several people I have it and they have never met a 'walking disaster area like me before' I spoke to the doctor about it and he said I almost certainly have it, but there isn't any help so there wasn't any point in being tested.

Me I just refuse I have a problem :help:

I was diagnosed dyspraxic at the end of my third year at uni, if nothing else it set my mind at rest and told me that there WAS a reason why i'd constantly be covered in bruises (I'd been accused by one of the univesity counsellors of self-harming!!!!!!!).
Where things like education are concerned, a diagnosis can get you extra time in exams and on deadlines, longer library loans and potentially equipment that will help you in school/college/university life (its also very closely connected to dyslexia so a diagnosis in one may assist any problems with the other).
Its also a recognised disability so if it effects your job you can again get help for that. (I'm an archaeologist and being accident prone in that job is certainly entertaining - and painful sometimes)
Hope that might help someone
Em

Originally posted by em3978
I was diagnosed dyspraxic at the end of my third year at uni, if nothing else it set my mind at rest and told me that there WAS a reason why i'd constantly be covered in bruises

How do you get diagnosed? I must admit I always feel stupid going to the doctor unless there is something outwardly wrong with me as I think I am wasting his time otherwise or he will laugh at me for being silly. But I would feel better if my mind was set at rest?

It isn't just clumsiness I tick many of the other boxes/signs too :(

Originally posted by Draggletail
I feel a little bit guilty now for finding accident proneness funny Skatiechick....

Don't worry people always find me funny :D either that or shout at me for doing something stupid.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
How do you get diagnosed? I must admit I always feel stupid going to the doctor unless there is something outwardly wrong with me as I think I am wasting his time otherwise or he will laugh at me for being silly. But I would feel better if my mind was set at rest?



I know how you feel, I asked my doctor and he told me there was no way i was dyspraxic as i could touch my finger to my nose with my eyes closed!!! MAD!!!! :rant:
I eventually went thru the disability people at uni (i actually went for a dyslexia test - as i show a few signs of that and it runs in the family) and mentioned the clumsiness, lack of co-ordination, inability to ever be organised etc and they tested me for dyspraxia too (i ended up 'nearly dyslexic' but definately dyspraxic)
If you're not in education you might just have to ask your doctor, the dyslexia place in sheffield charges a fortune tho (i think), ask if there's a cheaper alternative eg being referred to the psycology dept at shef uni...
Em
xx

Originally posted by Siân
So you were leaning hard enough on it to throw you off balance when it broke?:suspect:

No, I was pushing just hard enough for it to flush. Unfortunately after the fact it appears it was already on its way to cracking and just gave up. When it went I was pushing on nothing, and it just cause me to lean forward a fraction (I didn't actually fall over or lose balance, just leant forward more than I intended). Given that when I am standing in the bathroom the boiler is only 4" from my head (I'm 6'3" so it is _right_ in front of me) it was enough just to cause me to smack my head on the front of it.

It's not like I was flushing with my whole body weight or anything :rolleyes:

Dear God, I don't know where to start......... Only last night i withdrew £30 out of a cash machine but forgot to actually take it - some 'street toughs' had already made orf with it by the time I'd realised. Many years ago I was a Security Guard (I took this absurd job to pay off my overdraft whilst at college), I was left in charge of a drift mine in Stoke-on-Trent one night and locked myself out of the 'office'. I had to get a member of the general public to help me break in so I could phone in to HQ and tell them no-one had broken in. I was sent to 'guard' a bakery one night and, rendered almost insane with boredom, started up a lorry in the depot (I had never driven a motor vehicle of any description at this point in my life). As the place filled with diesel exhaust fumes (the lorry depot was seperated from the bakery bit only by long strips of thick polythene), it occured to me it might be a good idea to 'turn off' the lorry. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to do this, which was a shame as within minutes, the entire factory was filled with what can only be described as 'acrid smoke'. I had to phone my brother in Putney to find out how to make the lorry I had started up, stop. Later that same interminable shift, a man came and said he had to pick up a piano from Birmingham using one of the bakery lorries. He said it was alright, he was the Manager. Even though it was about 3am at this point, I said 'OK' (I was young) and raised the barrier. I received a call from the police about half-an-hour later, and the sack shortly afterwards. Tragically, I could go on....and on......and on...........

I am sooo accident prone my hubby doesn't let me do anything anymore :heyhey:

Only tonight, he was cooking tea and i thought I would help by putting the place mats out on the table - woops, there goes the glass of red wine - all up the wall, over the table, over the chair etc.

'Sit down and sit on your hands' was my hubby's reply! Well, can't argue can i :hihi:

Originally posted by Hels
I am sooo accident prone my hubby doesn't let me do anything anymore :heyhey:

Only tonight, he was cooking tea and i thought I would help by putting the place mats out on the table - woops, there goes the glass of red wine - all up the wall, over the table, over the chair etc.

'Sit down and sit on your hands' was my hubby's reply! Well, can't argue can i :hihi:
:suspect: Easy life :suspect: :hihi:

Er.. yes! Take today for instance.. I was cleaning out the fire and hearth at my grandads, this included empting the ash from underneath and a general sweep round.. it was at this point I noticed a cole had fallen from the fire.. and so picked it up.. with my bare hand.. ouch is not the word I used to describe the burning sensation!!! (more 'complete idiot' than 'accident prone' i think!!)

I do a lot of daft things and have a fair few accidents, but I don't think I'm accident prone.

When I'm working it all goes well, I remain largely un-injured, (other than some minor scrapes and cuts from time to time), and the customers property remains pretty much intact. I have lightening reflexes when I'm surrounded by tools and can foresee potential 'incidents'

When I'm not working it's a different story. It's almost like I relax the 'don't do anything stupid' muscle after I finish work so when I get home I walk into things, fall over, break things etc....

Originally posted by LordSnooty
Dear God, I don't know where to start......... Only last night i withdrew £30 out of a cash machine but forgot to actually take it - some 'street toughs' had already made orf with it by the time I'd realised. Many years ago I was a Security Guard (I took this absurd job to pay off my overdraft whilst at college), I was left in charge of a drift mine in Stoke-on-Trent one night and locked myself out of the 'office'. I had to get a member of the general public to help me break in so I could phone in to HQ and tell them no-one had broken in. I was sent to 'guard' a bakery one night and, rendered almost insane with boredom, started up a lorry in the depot (I had never driven a motor vehicle of any description at this point in my life). As the place filled with diesel exhaust fumes (the lorry depot was seperated from the bakery bit only by long strips of thick polythene), it occured to me it might be a good idea to 'turn off' the lorry. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to do this, which was a shame as within minutes, the entire factory was filled with what can only be described as 'acrid smoke'. I had to phone my brother in Putney to find out how to make the lorry I had started up, stop. Later that same interminable shift, a man came and said he had to pick up a piano from Birmingham using one of the bakery lorries. He said it was alright, he was the Manager. Even though it was about 3am at this point, I said 'OK' (I was young) and raised the barrier. I received a call from the police about half-an-hour later, and the sack shortly afterwards. Tragically, I could go on....and on......and on...........

Please LordSnooty, do go on .......I'm rolling around in fits of laughter. :hihi: More, please, more!

I'm very good at getting myself stuck in things, which is why I refuse to go in lifts. I once got my head stuck in a revolving door as a child after watching one too many charlie chaplin / buster keaton style black and whites. It was the main door to the hotel we were staying in, in Falmouth of all the evil places, so it was very heavy and made of wood. I thought my head was about to explode before I managed to inch it free.
I also got trapped in a toilet on a boat in France, missing the scenic cruise up the river because I was too busy banging on the door shouting help in French (or what I thought was help anyway.)
The door was finally opened and I emerged to a crowd of baffled looking tourists and smirking staff.
I also have a rare talent for falling downstairs. At my last house the stairs were incredibly steep with a carpet so worn it was like glass, so my rapid arrivals on the bottom floor were more frequent than usual.
I once went flying down them first thing in the morning shredding my pajamas. When I arrived at the bottom I looked like the hulk.

I think that every mishap previously mentioned I have probably done at least once in my life! Through a mixture of extreme clumsiness, lack of common sense and sheer bad luck I am a WALKING DISASTER AREA!

Examples:

At university 4yrs ago I got into a goods lift at 4am (don't ask!), the lift cable snapped, fell 3 floors, and the fire brigade spent 4hrs blowtorching the door to resue me.

The last time I drove my car I ended up with a complete stranger getting into my car & driving it for me as I couldn't get it into 1st gear on a hill-start and kept rolling backwards.

The time before that the police stopped me for going the wrong way up a one way street. I explained that I was a disaster area so they helped me drive to safety, and as I turned round to wave 'thank you' to them I drove straight over a pedestrian crossing on red! (they were shaking their heads in exasperation at the time but I didn't understand why until somebody pointed it out)

I've tripped over TWICE by getting the toe of my shoe caught in the hem of the opposite trouser leg whilst walking along. Both times were in very public places, and both times I ended up with big grazes on both knees which made me look like a schoolkid, and couldn't wear skirts for a month.

I constantly walk into doorframes instead of going through them

I have difficulties with table corners, cupboard doors, and knocking things over.

Once I was sitting against the back of a sofa and fell backwards and somehow managed to do a somersault, landing with my feet on the ground exactly either side of a GLASS COFFEE TABLE, which was quite lucky!

Yesterday at the gym I was running on one of those conveyor belt style running machines and got absorbed in what was going on outside the window. I didn't realise I was running too fast until I ended up tripping off the front of the machine just as the instructor was watching.

The other week I got myself locked in the office kitchen (self closing door - made a dash for it but was too late) at night with no lights on and no-one else at work. I had to phone a director to come back to work and let me out!

I could go on for ever, as on average EVERY DAY some sort of stupid incident happens to me/is caused by me. I never realised that it could all be related and be a recognised problem! Might be related to the fact that I can't swim, or ride a bike, or do anything that involves balance or co-ordination really.

Originally posted by KATIEB_23
I think that every mishap previously mentioned I have probably done at least once in my life! Through a mixture of extreme clumsiness, lack of common sense and sheer bad luck I am a WALKING DISASTER AREA!

Examples:

At university 4yrs ago I got into a goods lift at 4am (don't ask!), the lift cable snapped, fell 3 floors, and the fire brigade spent 4hrs blowtorching the door to resue me.

The last time I drove my car I ended up with a complete stranger getting into my car & driving it for me as I couldn't get it into 1st gear on a hill-start and kept rolling backwards.

The time before that the police stopped me for going the wrong way up a one way street. I explained that I was a disaster area so they helped me drive to safety, and as I turned round to wave 'thank you' to them I drove straight over a pedestrian crossing on red! (they were shaking their heads in exasperation at the time but I didn't understand why until somebody pointed it out)

I've tripped over TWICE by getting the toe of my shoe caught in the hem of the opposite trouser leg whilst walking along. Both times were in very public places, and both times I ended up with big grazes on both knees which made me look like a schoolkid, and couldn't wear skirts for a month.

I constantly walk into doorframes instead of going through them

I have difficulties with table corners, cupboard doors, and knocking things over.

Once I was sitting against the back of a sofa and fell backwards and somehow managed to do a somersault, landing with my feet on the ground exactly either side of a GLASS COFFEE TABLE, which was quite lucky!

Yesterday at the gym I was running on one of those conveyor belt style running machines and got absorbed in what was going on outside the window. I didn't realise I was running too fast until I ended up tripping off the front of the machine just as the instructor was watching.

The other week I got myself locked in the office kitchen (self closing door - made a dash for it but was too late) at night with no lights on and no-one else at work. I had to phone a director to come back to work and let me out!

I could go on for ever, as on average EVERY DAY some sort of stupid incident happens to me/is caused by me. I never realised that it could all be related and be a recognised problem! Might be related to the fact that I can't swim, or ride a bike, or do anything that involves balance or co-ordination really.

Katie B - what marvellous accidents! I feel better about my own ineptitude aleady. I started at an early age - I was about 10 when, for some reason lost in time, I decided to climb onto a garage roof and jump up and down to amuse my friends. Do you remember the beginning of Camberwick Green (or it may have been Chigley), when Doctor Whatshisname rose up from that revolving musical box thing? Well it was just like that, only in reverse, and without a tune playing. Luckily, the grumpy man from across the road's Vauxhall Victor estate was in there to break my fall. Mother seemed unconcerned by my pleas of, 'I'm in shock' and sent me over to tell him I had a) broken his garage roof into several large pieces and b) put a dint the size of a small garden pond in the roof of his car. Since I had no independent income, paying for the damage was out of the question. I was simply grounded for what felt like the next fifteen years....

Originally posted by LordSnooty
Katie B - what marvellous accidents! I feel better about my own ineptitude aleady. I started at an early age - I was about 10 when, for some reason lost in time, I decided to climb onto a garage roof and jump up and down to amuse my friends. Do you remember the beginning of Camberwick Green (or it may have been Chigley), when Doctor Whatshisname rose up from that revolving musical box thing? Well it was just like that, only in reverse, and without a tune playing. Luckily, the grumpy man from across the road's Vauxhall Victor estate was in there to break my fall. Mother seemed unconcerned by my pleas of, 'I'm in shock' and sent me over to tell him I had a) broken his garage roof into several large pieces and b) put a dint the size of a small garden pond in the roof of his car. Since I had no independent income, paying for the damage was out of the question. I was simply grounded for what felt like the next fifteen years....

And LordSnooty.....what happened to you after your eleventh birthday? I think we should be told!