I made the local news headlines......
First year of university in 1990 and I'm living in a flat with five other like minded junkies. Topping up the grant (yes I was one of the lucky ones) by selling anything I could get my hands on and taking far more interest in mind expanding drugs than mind expanding study.

One summer evening after an all day mushroom and lager session in the local park, we all come home in time to watch Gladiators on the TV (Ulrika Johnson Hmmmmmmmmmmm) Much boozing and smoking later and we were all out on the balcony reinacting the pugal stick fighting contest.

My flat mate and I decided it would be a great idea to jump up on the balcony rail for a fight with a couple of super mops. great until someone wins the fight!

I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of pretty much every hole. I'd fallen 68ft to the concrete below and managed to break my wrist, ankle, color bone, three ribs, nose, fracture my skull, puncture my lung and burn my hand (apparently the paramedics had to prize a burning joint from my hand at the scene).

I was subsequently featured in all the local newspapers and tv news as miracle student! My mates told the paramedics that I had slipped on the smooth floor while leaning over the balcony to wave to some friends. (heroic improvisation under the circumstances)

Media pressure grew and I was press ganged by the student union and local newspaper (The Post) into seeking compensation from the university due to their unsafe balcony design.

the university eventually settled out of court for a megre £2000 even though I didn't write them a single letter of complaint or even threaten legal action. I felt a little guilty banking that cheque but all in all a good result in the end!

my parents still have know idea this ever happened. they still refer to that time I didn't call them for 5 weeks in my first year.
(monkeyboy13, Tue 20 Dec 2005, 13:53, Reply)