Rain, Marble Floors and Crutches

Over the last few days it has rained. And rained. And rained.

And when it really rained it wasn't just a case of little half hearted squawls of wind and rain - but full-on bath-emptied-over-the-head rain. The rain turned the roads into white water rivers, it seeked out the smallest hole in roof, doors and walls to sneak in and form small lakes, the storm drains which normally contain a few dead leaves and the tide mark of old puddles became gushing gullies... I can't say that we felt 'at home' as in Northumbria we hadn't experienced rain quite like this and it certainly would have been cold.

The combination of the wet and hard marble floors is not good for me with my crutches. Given my propensity to fall over anyway (hence this whole sorry saga) I am naturally cautious - however it doesn't take a lot for the marble floors of buildings to feel like an ice rink. Particulary when hoping up or down a step as I can feel the crutches slipping slightly. Having a group of people behind me shouting encouragement does not help - as I experienced trying to hop up the step out of a bar. It is hard enough anyway hoping up wet marble steps anyway without having to worry about minimising bottom-wobble.

I had an idea for how to overcome crutch-slip in the rain. And this is for wet-weather suction ends (similar concept to wet weather tyres fitted in F1) which can be fitted and will allow the crutches to be fixed in place when it is raining and the crutches would attach to the floor like a limpet to a boats bottom. Also very handy for 'parking' crutches upright and saves that clatter and crash as they again fall over knocking the contents of the table off with them. Of course there is one slight flaw with my otherwise brilliant idea and that is that the suction ends would slow movement down somewhat as they would fasten spontaineously and thus making the crutches stay still as I would be propelled forward in a similar manner to a pole vaulter - but without the grace or style. Hmmm, idea probably needs more work...