We have all done some way out dumb things at some point in our lives and I have one that stands out ,and still makes me sweat thinking about it today.
I was staying with my dad for a few days in Plettenberg Bay ,South Africa and was 18 at the time. Drinking age is 18 here so I was legal. My dad, like most Irishmen loves to drink and we used to do that after he finished work.
He owned a restaurant so by the time we had locked up and driven the staff home it was after 11 pm and only a few watering holes were available. It is a tourist destination area and is very seasonal so not much stay s open after 12 unless you know the owners.
We were at a local inn which had a few bars and was popular with the locals. At around 3 in the morning and none worse the wear i noticed my dad had gone. It wasn't a huge walk to the apartment so after around twenty minutes or so maybe longer as when you are tipsy time does fly ,I made it back.
There were no lights on and my dads car wasn't there. I had no keys and tried to break in and couldn't. If you know my dad you should worry as he could be out drinking for another 5 hours and not know I am not around. No cellphones in these days as they were still another 5 years away.
I had a brainwave and thought that If I could climb on the roof I could clamber over the other side and maybe do a swing action into the balcony. This is not a house ,but an apartment on the top floor and it wasn't that high ,but definitely 4 stories is a big drop.
I climbed up and went over to the other side where I knew the balcony was situated and peered over the ledge. Shit this was high and it hung over the main road. I am no gymnast with dainty features to do a special stunt. This could go wrong and I chickened out. I was tired though and wanted my bed so I hatched a plan.
I started removing the roof tiles over the balcony so I could just fall through the beams. This would be easy and I could fix the roof in the morning. By the time I had finished making a big enough hole I had lost a few tiles to the road below. I squeezed through and nearly made it but I was stuck. The eaves were just a little narrower than expected and I was half way with my legs dangling mid way over the road and balcony. By this point I was sober and a little concerned as what would happen if people saw me on their early morning runs. We all know that only the nutters get up at sunrise because normal people sleep.
My dad arrived back and he just laughed and helped me down. Seeing my legs dangling through the roof must have sobered him up. He was billed by the land lord for the roof which serves him right for drinking for so long. I still don't know where he went that night as he swears blind he was there and was chatting with others.
This whole event could have gone a lot better or a lot worse but I have learnt not to do things that are bullshit stunts from TV like Macgyver. Those things could kill you.
image source robbergestates.com, sciencenews.org and twitter.com