» Public Transport Trauma

Good samaritan
A couple of years ago, my friend Jim and I were on the train home from central London after a pleasant evening of beer drinking.

On the seat on the other side of the aisle, a smartly dressed elderly gent seemed to be in some serious discomfort, unable to sit or stand without grimacing.

Being the public-spirited kind of chap that I am, I asked if he was alright and he asked whether I could help him.

How could I refuse? I walked over and he proceeded to lie down across the double seat before explaining that his hip joint had popped out of its socket.

It was then up to me to grab him by the ankle and pull - hard - more than once - until his hip was back in its rightful place.

I was drunk, I'm quite squeamish, and this was not the end I was expecting to the evening.

I still shudder when I think about the 'pop' as his joint righted itself...

And the old git got off at the next station without so much as a thank you.
(Fri 30th May 2008, 13:22, More)