ALL'S WELL THAT NEARLY DIDN'T END WELL

Today we arranged to meet our friend Richard for lunch in Rockingham.  It was a cold, windy and wet day with a maximum forecast of only 15C which is cold for Perth at the end of September.  Should we oldies venture out in this weather?  Yes, said MOH so off we set in squally conditions, driving through quite heavy rain at times.  I must admit 99% of the other drivers were being just so good with the odd one that had to tailgate someone just to be annoying and show his bad manners.  No mishaps so all went well.

We went back to the old Rockingham Hotel (this was where MOH's credit card was shredded a few months back so he was more careful this time to make sure he had it in his wallet).  We all three had pan fried barramundi and it was so delicious.  Just the right amount of well cooked, crisp chips with it and a nice little salad as well.  Tartare sauce and salad dressing too and the pieces of fish were huge.  We thought $18.50 for this meal a pretty good price.

The 'boys' each had a drink (MOH a red wine and Richard a beer) but I thought it was too cold for a cold drink so said 'no thank you'.  When the lass came to collect the empty plates (and they really were empty too) I asked if they served coffee and she said they didn't but would make me a cup.  She did this and it was a great cup of coffee too and she said 'no charge'.  Not that IS service with a smile.

There were only a few other customers there which I feel is a pity as the food in this hotel is really great.  I guess people prefer these more upmarket places these days but me, I still enjoy real tucker and not bits piled on each other in the middle of a plate with 'things' drizzled around them.  They may look pretty but you often leave still feeling hungry.  MOH agrees with me on this count and fortunately Richard does too.

OK, so that all went fine.  It had stopped raining but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing. MOH went off to get our car open and instead of waiting for him to come back for me I ventured down two sets of steps.  Unfortunately these particular steps don't have handrails but I was sure I'd be OK as I had my trusty stabiliser (walking stick) to use.   Got down the first 4 steps without a problem but when on the second bottom step on the next set my right knee decided it didn't want to work and down I went.
Fortunately I sat down and didn't pitch forward which could have been really nasty.  I caught my right side on the step behind me and there could be a nasty bruise show up tomorrow.

I realise how lucky I was although now, 4+ hours later, I can feel a few aches and pains setting in that I am sure weren't there before.  On the way home I had to keep reassuring MOH that it wasn't his fault as he kept saying he should have waited or come back for me.  He was doing the right thing in wanting to get the car open for me to get in and if I'd had any brains I'd have waited for him to come back for me.

Main thing is we had a really fantastic lunch and a great couple of hours together.  I now realise that I am not as independent as I thought I was and I will have to allow myself to be helped at certain times so that this sort of thing doesn't happen again.  We meet for lunch at this hotel again on 18 October and next time I will use the other steps where there is a substantial hand rail.  Apart from the silly accident when the cat stole my chair last year this is the first fall I've had since January, 1998 so I'm doing well.

One note I made for myself:  On Sundays at 5.30pm they have a roast dinner (a 3 course meal apparently) and Richard said it is just $15.00.  Now that does sound like a good idea so we just may give it a try soon.