Never have I ever...

Heartinthedirt

Had so many splinters! (lot of wooden raised beds. Still doesn't explain it though) 

Busy-Lizzie

Did you wear gloves? 

TheGreenMan

Or “spelks” if you’re in the north east. 

Fairygirl

Skelfs here @TheGreenMan

I hardly ever notice them, unless they get in deep and get a bit manky. I don't notice lots of scrapes and bruises etc either though 

TheGreenMan

Fairygirl said:

Skelfs here @TheGreenMan

I hardly ever notice them, unless they get in deep and get a bit manky. I don't notice lots of scrapes and bruises etc either though 

Very similar @Fairygirl Yours may stem from the Dutch word "schelf" (flake or scale) and ours from Old English.

I've just checked and I have one

I never notice cuts, bruises etc either.  It's always other people who spot them:

"How did you do that?"

"No idea...."

Fairygirl

I get bruises all the time and can never figure out I get them @TheGreenMan. Daughter often says 'how did you get that bruise?' My response is usually the same as yours  

That sounds a good possibility re the skelf origin. I've never thought about it - they were always called that when I was growing up. A lot of our words stem from Norse as well. 

Obelixx

Lots of Geordie words have Norse and Dutch origins including the pronunciation of words like film with two syllables.  A few years ago I had one splinter/spelk in my thumb that got infected and made it swell to double size.   Couldn't shift it with usual methods.

Off to the doc who dug out 2mm of wood and couldn't understand why that was having such an effect so prescribed antibiotics and soaking of thumb in warm salty water twice a day and then a gentle squeeze.  Two days later out popped the other 11mm - and yes, I measured it!

I get cuts and scrapes from both gardening and cooking and bruises from just banging into furniture.   Have a corker on my left ankle at the mo and no idea how.

mikeymustard

@Obelixx 11mm?? That's not a splinter, it's a plant stake! 

Obelixx

Felt like it too @mikeymustard!