Stepping outside the front door has become something of an undertaking. Anyone who has ever had broken ribs, collarbone or sternum knows firstly actually just how hard it is moving around when basically your chest, which is obviously connected to every other part of your body by muscles or some other sort of limb, hurts like hell. Simply movements like twisting, bending, breathing hurt. And then you add a crowd. But we will come to crowd control and how to overcome that one soon. There are a few key movements and stages that general movement and transport involve that need to be viewed and approached with a different pair of googles on from my previous rush and go approach!
Walking to transport!
firstly there is the question of what you need to carry...... in current situation with 6 broken ribs (did I mention that 2 are on the righthand side and the other 4 are on the left (and they have 2 breaks in too each ie front and side!) clearly the left side is a no go for carrying pretty much anything as the muscles extend down the arm and into the ribcage - immediate ouch! the right is slightly better and those ribs are slightly stronger with less breaks, so right arm is elected for carry handbag or coat or small bag. No more can actually be carried and especially any further than generally a few mins walk. otherwise general wincing and shocks of pain proceed through the body and a rather nasty sick feeling develops.
the bus/tube
generally it is a balance between racing to get on first (obvious drawback that racing anywhere at mo involves pain!), to give maximum time to find a seat before the bus starts moving again, or waiting for the pushy crowds to barge their way on first and so avoiding bumps, knocks and elbows (more sensible but you never get a seat that way)........and also finding a seat generally means Im safer from the evil elbow element or a sudden jolt which causes the following should I have to stand up and 'swing' on one of the bars/ poles ; sudden jerk through arm, down and across intercostal muscles, across rib cage and absorbed by stomach muscles. I can stand, standing is not the problem, but the jolt/ jerk sudden stop action is quite sickmaking! This is also the same for the tube....... so you see finding a seat is sort of preferable. I can protect myself in a seat. Standing side on on an escalator is the best way of avoiding the racers down the escalators and probably ability to walk sideways so you dont get bashed by oncoming traffic also an advantage (eg crablike!)
armour!
I was thinking one of those baby on board badges would be good, after all I feel as protective of my poor little broken bones right now and their ability to re-knit as Im sure most pregnant women are of their bumps! so this is where a sling comes in - If you are wearing a sling, people do tend to stand back a bit, but not always. Im tempted to staple bubble wrap into the lining of all my coats (summer does have its disadvantages too as with winter you are generally morebundled up and protected!)
now if I was a crab Id have it nailed on both counts, nice exoskeleton, big claw to boff people out the way with and running sideways so people couldnt hit my side (as mentioned before the left is the worst!) the sumo suit has clear advantages in body protection, ability to bounce or roll etc, but I will admit just doesnt fit the bill on the fashion stakes! and I do like my nice clothes!
cab/ car
has natural advantage of door to door and generally more comfort and also someone to help me carry stuff to and fro! speed bumps in Islington where I live are the main discomfort, so that involves taking a deep breath and an all over body clench to absorb the hit and roll action that the cabbie puts you through. One cabbie told me that a pregnant lady who got in about a month ago was about 3 weeks late and she was begging him to hit them as hard and fast as possible in an effort to get the baby going - Im quite the opposite.....Ive gone slow and cautious in these regards.
crowd control
I generally approach large crowds with a feeling of tension and general fear at the moment. The variables are endless and it never really struck me until now actually just how many there are. I like to be optimistic though, and if youve ever sat in a large station drinking coffee, youll see very few collisions and a general steady stream back and forth, like fish swimming, they all somehow miraculously avoid each other despite varying paces, so on this basis I work! That and a deep breath again. Also it has to be said that large numbers of people are definitely dealt with better in 2's! I can grab hold of the other persons arm (always with them on my left) and they act as protective barrier and hopefully help me carry anything too! one last note is that small children put shivers down my spine. they bonkers about, dont look where they are going and invariably, because thats the way life is, the butter face down on toast theory thing, they will crash into you (and if youre my nephew then this was probably part of the game!)
Im trying the train today! first time on my own, so no luggage being carried - thats staying at home. Will not be bumpy and jolty Im sure, but were I to be taking luggage, then the lifting onto the train is a major problem. Dragging a bag is not so hard as long as its not heavy, but there is a twisting movement involved and the idea of going through customs at an airport and having to lift stuff on and off a carrousel right now doesnt even bare thinking about! ho hum........ taxi!?
So Im not sure if Ive answered the question, probably bubble wrap as its more likely to have some special sort of fashion statement as well as protective quality...............but sumo would def make me feel safe!
