Should I be left unsupervised?

It all started when I got lost in the woods. This is particularly embarrassing because the woods are directly across the road from our house and I have been walking in them for 30 years. Everything was fine until I decided to be adventurous and head off down a new path. On the whole, I think a spirit of adventure is probably a dangerous thing and should be avoided, but I don’t always follow my own advice. Two problems quickly became apparent: the woods are riddled with paths that people have created over the years, and I have no sense of direction. So the inevitable happened and I walked around in circles assuming I would eventually arrive somewhere I recognised. I didn’t.

I had a 2.30 doctor’s appointment and by 1 o’clock I was beginning to think I might not be back in time. I wondered if they’d ever had a phone call from a patient apologising for missing an appointment because they couldn’t find their way home. I thought probably not and I really didn’t want to be the first. So I did what I should have done in the first place, which was pull out my phone, open Google maps and walk in the direction of our village. I did made it to my appointment, but my blood pressure has definitely been lower.

Next I came to grief in the loft. Well, on the loft ladder to be precise. In fact, intrepid blogger that I am, I was on my way to take the perfect photo for last week’s post. We have one of those awful clunky metal ladders that comes down in three sections and is guaranteed to injure the unwary in any number of different ways. I am not unwary, but am possibly incompetent. I thought I’d been very careful, but in fact hadn’t extended the ladder completely, so when I began to climb up I managed to get my foot caught between two rungs. My foot was stuck fast and any attempt to pull it out was agony. Luckily I had my phone with me and when neither of my family members answered (one of whom was actually in the house at the time), I rang my trusty next-door neighbours.

In no time at all my neighbour came charging up the stairs like the cavalry, with reinforcements in tow. Well, one. He had dragooned a passing dog walker into service in case drastic action had to be taken. I was freed in no time, there was much embarrassed laughter and gratitude on my part and my foot seems to have survived unscathed. All in all, I think I got off pretty lightly, but if I hadn’t had my phone with me, I might be stuck there still. Probably menaced by that embalmed wedding dress in a distant corner.

I think I’ve answered my own question: I can be left unsupervised, but only if I have my phone on me at all times.