14-11-2020, 12:13 PM
41
Re: Stairs
Originally Posted by spitfire
->
Did 140 stairs in a tower block yesterday, to the tenth floor, for a delivery, to escape the potential virus in the lift, (and being my Birthday, to prove I still could).
Originally Posted by OldGreyFox
->
Happy Birthday for yesterday Spitty....
I have recently climbed up six floors, which I managed but was a little out of breath. Not too bad for a couch potato.
14-11-2020, 01:15 PM
42
Re: Stairs
Originally Posted by Pesta
->
How many stairs do you have in your house? I know it sounds daft
But I have a 'thing' about stairs in houses, and any set of steps outside, I have to count them.It must stem from being a kid and having to go up and downstairs on my bum for 9mths after breaking my leg. I used to count every stair. 'Up 12' - 'down 12'.... and start counting 1, 2, 3, - etc.
Every house I've lived in (apart from this bungalow), there's always been 12 stairs. Why 12? Is it a northern thing? It baffles me.
So, help me out... unless you live in a castle or a lighthouse, how many stairs do you have?
14-11-2020, 03:09 PM
44
Re: Stairs
Originally Posted by shropshiregirl
->
Hi Pesta, I live in an old house. There are eleven stairs leading to a left-turning 'kill step'. (so-called because it was a wider step where when foes fought with swords etc, they had the advantage if standing on the kill-step) then there is one more step (making 13 in all) before standing on the landing.
I'm not sure about the 'left turn' at the 'kill step', though.
I know that if you look at spiral stair cases in old buildings, they are inevitably clockwise-turning as you ascend.
The reason for that, of course, is that the defenders above can defend with their swords in their right hands (it seems that everyone was right handed, even before the Victorians made their schoolchildren write with their right hands!) but the attackers below were obliged to use their left hands!
I can see how such a 'kill step' might be an advantage to someone fighting from below, though, as there would be space for them to turn to face their enemy using their right hands.
I'm right-handed, BTW. All the best people are!
|
|
