Mind Your Head #2 The Road Sign

As you will know if you read yesterday’s blog post, nothing very interesting has happened, and Facebook has failed to throw up an interesting memory, I thought I’d recycle a blog originally posted in another place in January 2011.  That blog was quite long so I’ve split it into three, this is part 2.

Back in July 2006 Fester was doing an invertebrate survey connected with the proposed duelling of the A1 between Morpeth and Felton.   As you may know the Environment Agency postponed the duelling project.  One Friday afternoon we got a 'phonecall from the ecological contractor which had hired him to say that all the sampling had to be done by the end of the month as the insurance would run out at midnight.

Fortunately we only had to go to the various sites and pick up ground beetle traps.  So at the weekend the boys had a nice trip out into Northumberland to the safer sites.  On the Monday we dropped them off at Playscheme and went to the ones where we needed to walk along the roadside verge to get to them.

Everything went well at the first three sites, although it was a little cooler than it had been of late and there was some very welcome drizzle (it was a very warm summer that year).  Then we went to a meadow where the traps were across a field and through a gate and in the middle of the next field.  Half way through pulling the traps up, the wind suddenly got up, the sky darkened and the heavens opened.  It was like being in a very cold power shower, my sunhat was pushed right down over my eyes and I walked into a branch - but no real damage.  By the time we got back to the car we were soaked to the skin.

The next site was in a wood, which wasn't too bad.  Although having the inside of your trainers wet from water running down your legs is never a nice feeling.

The last site was a cattle pasture at the junction of the A1 with the road to Hebron.

"You stay in the car luv" says Fester "I'll go and get them."

Off he goes, hatless because a) it's soaking and b) the sun's not out.

A few minutes later I hear shouting, get out of the car and see him coming towards me hand on head, blood streaming down his face shouting           "Tissues get tissues".

He'd only gone and walked into the back of the signpost to Hebron - watching his feet not where he was going.

There was 2 inch gash on the top of his head, blood cascading through his eyebrows, into his eyes, beard and shirt.

He looked like something from a Viking saga - and he's not a pretty sight at the best of times.

So I get a wodge of tissues and push it onto the wound.

I say "You need to get to Accident & Emergency with that"

He said "Oh head wounds always bleed a lot"

Finally he agrees that I can go a pick up the traps. So off I trot off to the field (avoiding the signpost) and get fingernails full of cowsh*t getting the traps out.

When I got back he got the map out and proceeded to navigate us to Wansbeck General where after not too long they put 8 staples in his head.

He looked as if he’s been fitted with a zip for a lobotomy.

But of course while he was waiting to be dealt with I had to: go to the car to get sweeties and bottled water for him;  then go out to find a pay&display ticket machine; and when he'd been triaged and we're in the minor injuries clinic go round to the Main Entrance to the coffee shop to get something hot to drink and pasties and chocolate bars for lunch (because of course we hadn’t taken a packed lunch as we were only going on a brief trip).

And every time I crossed the doors the heavens opened, and I got drenched again.

Fortunately he got seen to in time for us to drive home, and get changed before going to fetch the boys from Playscheme.  I had the heater full on in the car and it did dry some of our trousers, but they were still wet in places one much prefers to remain dry.