Middle NZ: Nearly cried over spilt milk

Linda Hall didn't cry over spilt milk. Photo / File

OPINION:
I know you are not meant to cry over spilt milk — but I almost did.

Let me set the scene for you. Friday afternoon, looking forward to the weekend, finish work and off to the supermarket to pick up a couple of things including a bottle of soda water to add to a gin later on.

I was walking fast as I usually do, had what I wanted and had my eye on the checkout when suddenly I felt my foot slide along the ground and the next thing I knew I was on the ground and my knee was hurting like hell after it hit the floor.

Thankfully the only other person in the aisle was a young male employee who was quick to ask me if I was okay.

Actaully I wasn't. I couldn't talk for a few seconds as I assessed the damage to my body and clutched my knee.

I looked down on the ground where I had slipped and pointed out to him the reason I fell was the spilt milk on the ground. It wasn't a lot but enough to make the floor slippery. At this point I really wanted to cry.

I was still sitting on the ground in my own little world of pain and he kindly asked me if he could give me a hand to get up.

Nah — that's not a good idea I thought. I weigh a tad more than him, knowing my luck I would have ended up pulling him down to the ground.

I said, "I can get up, thanks, I just need a moment." Finally I gingerly made my way to my feet. In the meantime he said he was off to find the supervisor.

I stood and waited and thought I might as well pay for my items. I told the people at the checkout I had fallen and I have to say that everyone was really kind and caring. I filled out an incident report and then the supervisor arrived.

One of the checkout people mentioned that they had already cleaned up some spilt milk and I realise that these things happen. Packaging rips and splits and mess ends up on the floor.

Loads of people most likely walked passed it maybe a little to the right and avoided it. Who knows.

Linda Hall, assistant editor, Hawke's Bay Today.

Anyway I limped out and felt that maybe I was okay. Back to the gin. Went for a gin with family, opened the bottle of soda water and it exploded all over their kitchen. Oops!

Later when I got home and changed from jeans into shorts, the pain started. Must admit my jeans were a tad tight so they acted a bit like a compress.

However, once I changed the swelling started and so did the pain. I did the RICE treatment but I knew I would need to see a doctor.

After a sleepless night I was at the new medical centre in Hastings at 8am. I wasn't the only one either.

I was really impressed with the way the place is run. Efficient, friendly and thankfully no long waiting times.

Anyway I have torn a ligament in my knee and the lovely doctor said you will need to keep doing the RICE treatment and among other things have physio, because if you don't strengthen the ligament you could be walking along one day and you knee will give way. I'm not having that. Don't want to end up on the deck again.

The supermarket supervisor followed up with a phone call which was really nice.

Off course the puns came out at work. "Woman's trip to supermarket turns sour" and "Grandmother's supermarket fall sparks slip in dairy prices" — could go on but I will spare you.

Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.