THE FALL, THE FLOOR AND A NEW HIP
What I did not expect that day was how quickly a routine moment on site could turn into a lesson about risk, responsibility and safety.
We knew the floor was a risk.
The villa had rotten beams and compromised structure in places. Safety measures were in place. Sections were supported. Areas were marked. It was not a reckless site, but it was an old building and that always carries uncertainty.
That morning, the builders brought me a new safety helmet.
I remember being so happy, making a video for Instagram. Health and Safety is important to me. It turned out to be a saviour.
A wall had been marked incorrectly for demolition. I went upstairs to correct it. I wanted to stop a mistake before it became irreversible.
The floor collapsed beneath me.
I fell four metres.
The helmet did its job. My hip did not.
The injury was immediate and serious. What followed was surgery, recovery and a reality I had not planned for. A new hip became part of the story of this house.
The builders did not cause the accident. But the accident revealed everything that was already wrong.
They were not working to plans. They were not communicating. They were not listening. And most importantly, the quality of their work was not good enough for a building of this age and significance.
After the fall, I let them go.
It was not an emotional decision. It was a professional one. Trust had been eroded and in renovation, especially at this level of complexity, trust is non negotiable.
The building deserved better. And so did I.
The fall forced a pause, but it also forced clarity. There would be no more compromises. No more hoping things would improve. The line had been crossed.
I healed. Slowly. Carefully. And with a sharper understanding of what this project required from everyone involved.
Including me.