it was at Highlands, so many stories were. I can’t remember the year exactly but a rough guess would be mid seventies. Dad had been overseeing some decorating or perhaps it was a repair that needed doing. We were all there, Mump, Dad, Mike, Jackie, Mark, Myself and of course Nan. May and Bert were also down and i can only ever remember that we always had fun. Anyway, work had finished for the day, and Dad was tidying up and putting tools away. Whatever he’d been working on must have required a ladder because thats what he was putting away. The long wooden ladders lived under the veranda. I remeber that there were quite a few under there and you had to slide them in from one end. Highlands was built on a slope and the ladders were pushed in up hill, just to make it difficult. Access wasn’t great either, you had to crouch down or even lay flat on your belly to get underneath. Anyway, while Dad was putting the old wooden ladder back, I believe he gave it one almighty shove over the top of the other ladders, it snagged, bounced and trapped his thumb between it and the ladder underneath. Dad gave out an almighty yelp and possibly cussed somewhat. He then had to find Mump, being the nurse in the family. She took one look at it and decided it didnt look very good and that he’d have to go to the hospital. It was not unusual for one of us to have to visit the Royal Devon and Exeter at least once during our stay. 
Mother wrapped a bandage onto Dads thumb and set off for the hospital. Dad was not impressed and in a lot of pain. In my expirience that was when it was best to keep a low profile and let Dad come round in his own time. However, much to my surprise, Mum had hardly pulled off the drive when Uncle Bert came up with a cunning plan. Bert thought it was hilarious that Dad had hurt his thumb and had been laughing at him while Mump had been looking at it. We children knew not to laugh until Dad was well out of earshot. After Mump and Dad had set off for the hospital we were all sat around Nans vast dinningroom table, probably drinking tea. Bert put the idea to us all that When Dad returned we should all be sat there with our thumbs bandaged. The idea that Dad would walk in and see us all like that would make Dad go all crinkly mouthed, knowing that we were all taking the mick and that he wouldnt know for certain whos idea it had been. I remember that This was discussed at the table and that Mike had said that Dad would exact some form of revenge. Also this revenge could be quite severe if Dad really didn’t see the funny side of it. Bert put the idea to the vote. All those in favour of sitting around the table with their thumbs bandaged had to give the thumbs up. Everybodys thumb went up except for Mike. Mike thought we were all taking a huge risk by taking the mick out of Dad, who after all, had quite severly damaged his thumb and non of us knew at that point just how badly. It couold be broken for all we knew. The vote however was overwhelming and Bert told Mike to “shut up”. Nan then raided her first aid box and managed to find the appropriate number of bandages needed. One by one we all had our thumbs bandaged. All that is except for Mike. For comedic effect the bandages were applied extra thick. Then we waited for Dads return, all the time listening to Mike tell us what a bad choice we’d made. Dad would get us all back.

When Dad did eventually return with his own thumb bandaged and in a leather case fixed to his wrist. Apparently it wasnt broken but severly crushed and Dad had some stitches in too? When He entered the dinningroomand saw all of us laughing at him. He did go crinkly mouthed. He promised each and every one of us that we pay for making this mistake! Mike had been right, and he made sure that Dad knew he had played no part in this. Dad did take his reveng, a cup of water over one, a thick ear for another. However this story lives in our familys hearts as a shinning example of Dad being able to laugh at himself. Also an examlpe of what to expect in retribrution.