2/9/09

Not so nice and Knees'y!

Little did I know when I moved here, that the part of me that would feel it the most, would be my knee's!!

Seriously, my knee's get so little use here, they very quickly gave me some serious aggro' when they did. I have to ask - WHERE are all the stairs people??!!

Back in the UK I was up and down stairs all day and some of the night. And I don't mean 3 or 4 steps from different rooms, but whole flights of stairs. I had a full flight of 16 stairs in my home (I remember the # due to having to hoover them!), we had another full flight at work and I was on the upper floor. 97% of the homes I went in had stairs, the 3% would be friends and family in apartments. Quite a few stores and malls had stairs, although some were in the form of escalators. So basically your average Brit' gives their knees a great workout everyday.

But around here the vast majority of homes are single storey, as are many workplaces and those that aren't often have lifts. I have only come across a handful of stores with stairs in over 3 years, and they have all been in old buildings. When I first arrived, in desperation I would go up and down the short flight of stairs down to our storm cellar. But soon I realised it wasn't really necessary, as they are the only stairs I sometimes need to use. I just hope I never have to get down them super fast, or it maybe faster to just roll!

I am definitely going to have to go into 'cellar stairs' boot camp before I visit. Otherwise I am likely to be whinging about my aching knees the whole time I'm there!!

17 comments:

dabrah said...

I know what you mean. Stair climbing is something that's easier with practice. No matter how often I go up and down the stairs in my house though, if I end up having to climb any more than about 50 at a time on my travels, I end up gasping for breath at the top.

Expat mum said...

Come over this way - we have four floors and 63 stairs up to my little one's bedroom. AND I have chondro malatia (or however you spell it) which is basically old maid's knee and it clicks with every step. Oh for a bungalow!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Sarah, This shows you how LAZY we Americans are. Nobody wants to go up and down stairs. However, they are really good exercise. George used to get alot of exercise by walking up TONS of steps when he'd go to work in Nashville. Everyone thought he was nuts for climbing up nine floors everyday--but it was GREAT exercise.

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy

Sassy Britches said...

Yep, us USA citizens are LAAAAAAAZY. And our homes and stores are sprawling instead of tall. It actually embarasses me quite a bit. "Selfish American" is so true. If all else fails, get you a sturdy step and a workout DVD to keep up the practice! :)

Anonymous said...

haha you're complaining about no stairs? Can't believe it.

David and I deliberately bought a house on level ground with no stairs. The house on the hillside had a beautiful view of the city, but those stairs were murder, so we decided not to buy it.

As I age (gracefully), I am so thankful that I live in a house with no stairs.

kel said...

american's are lazy... are you just learning this??? lol!!

Troy said...

I think you should rent the holiday home I've just blogged about. That would give you your annual stairs exercise in one week!

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

You think most houses are single story? Most around me, mine included, are two.

Anonymous said...

Oh I know what you mean, but thankfully we have a flight of 20 steps to our front door from the street and about the same again down to the basement parking, so I get a bit of stair exercise at home and also in the subway stations.

Mmm said...

yes, noticed tat about OK!! heat no doubt caused that. Here, lots of stairs though--thank goodness.

Daryl said...

Yoga .. its all on the knees which is why I detest it ..

Stole your falling hearts ... xox

Anonymous said...

No stairs? And in some parts of the US - no pavements either - for walking on...

Stairs are great exercise, but sometimes, when feeling stiff, I wish they weren't there!

Kat said...

I love my bungalow. My last house had a flight of stairs in it that I was constantly up and down, don't miss it a bit.

Winifred said...

Love the kneesy picture!
I used to work at County hall and there were signs saying that using the stairs is good for your heart. Have to say I don't like lifts much so nearly always use them if I can.

Did you get the rain?

Kay said...

We've got quite a few steps over here so I do get my workout that way if not in any other way.

Kay said...

By the way...
You're so lucky you have such nice knees. Mine are sagging...sigh...

Unknown said...

Kay - LOL - oh these are definitely not my knee's!!