Nick Gardner wrote:

On 29/10/2018 17:23, Norman Lynagh wrote:
1700z 36005kt 50+km 1Sc030 03.2/01.5 1006
RMK: After the sunny start this morning Cu built up
quite quickly and for much of the day it's been
broken cloud and sunny intervals. There were a few
showers in the area this afternoon but they missed us.
Max temp 6.2° so a colder day than yesterday.
My wife had a fall on ice at 0930z this morning.
Fortunately, apart from a nasty bruise on her thigh,
there was no damage done. She was aware of the
potential for ice but it takes only a moment of
inattention :-(

Hope your wife is OK Norman. Down 'ere, when it is icy (which isn't
that often), it catches people unawares. My father had a fall last
Xmas in my garden on a bit of decking and fractured his tibia, fibia,
radius and ulna. He fell backwards onto gravel but nonetheless, these
were severe injuries that required a month in hospital. He's all
mended now but as you say, just a moment's loss of concentration or
unawareness can lead to a serious fall.

In December 2010, so many people round here fell over and
plaster-casts seemed to become a fashion accessory (for the
survivors).

No ice here yet. We had freezing-rain fall last March and coat
everything in a layer of smooth, lethal ice. Thankfully, everybody
stayed indoors until it melted and as far as I know, there were few
casualties.

Thanks for asking, Nick. Thankfully, she's fine. The only thing that
got hurt was her pride.It could have been a whole lot worse, as your
father was unfortunate enough to find out. Pleased to hear that he is
'mended'.

Freezing rain is something that we get here a few time in most winters.
It's seldom ever forecast but it can be absolutely lethal. Smooth ice
with a thin layer of liquid water on top is not a good mix.

--
Norman Lynagh
Tideswell, Derbyshire
303m a.s.l.