I am a big fan of kerbside recycling. The boxes provided by the council mean that we don't have to head off to the dump on a weekly basis. Furthermore, it gives me plenty of material for lessons. The polypropylene from which the boxes are made, for example, has appeared in at least two this week alone.
One of the points I always make is the strength of the material and the flexibility in terms of the colour. These two properties were my downfall earlier this week. Out running in the dark, I didn't see the black recycling box that had been abandoned on the pavement, more than a day after it had been emptied. In fact, once I'd recovered from the shock of landing face first onto the pavement, I could still barely see it beyond the crack that I'd put in it as I tripped. Fortunately nobody saw my fall, although I did pass a few people as I staggered home with blood pouring down my gravel studded face, so goodness only knows what they thought.
The main indignity has been going into work. My students' initial concern has been rapidly replaced with the usual blend of mickey taking and dry wit. One even tried to pass the incident off as karma for my having set him homework! In addition, this week I've been meeting with lots of parents. Many have been too polite to ask why their child's tutor looks as though he's gone 10 rounds with [insert contemporary boxing champ].
Finally, I have had to take time off from exercise that requires my knees to work properly. This means that I won't be able to compete in the DBMax Chilly Duathlon at the weekend. Still, I'm sure that the enforced rest will do me some good: at least I can't injure myself further.