I have worked on ladders most of my working life, an aerial rigger for 2 years (from age 15) then a 13 year gap and a firefighter for the next 34 years. Today I was cutting some branches off a big tree, on my own and working off a ladder. Holding on to a 4 inch branch while sawing it. Without warning the branch just broke off from the trunk and fell to the ground taking me with it.
I have fallen over a lot in my life (when I was younger but never off a ladder) and usually hurt myself, sometimes ending up in A&E and expected as I lay on my back on the ground to be broken up. After laying there for a few seconds I got up and finished the job which took another hour or so.
It's now 8:30pm and I'm sitting here with a slight ache in my upper back to go with the long term back ache I've had for years, a slightly swollen little finger and a tiny nick on the back of my head.
My assumption is that we bounce better with age? You can bet your life I will not be so complacent tomorrow when I start the other end of the garden and also tie a rope around the branches and give them a yank before deciding to start cutting.
Moral to this story, don't be complacent and a twat like I was. Thankfully no harm done.