Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

Indeed I count it one of my best achievements that I escaped visiting that gentleman. I forget his name but I will never forget him. When I heard him enter the house I seized my crutches and made myself scarce but he would leave a message that he would expect me next Sunday, and Mrs. Murphy next door would like me to come the following Sunday and so on. Yes we had some queer visitors, old ladies with hearts full of sympathy and hands full of toffees were the worst. Cigarette smoking such a bad habit you know, toffee so much better. Tears would appear in their eyes and trickle down their cheeks as they tried to cheer you up. Fortunately I had regular visitors including Mr. Rea and Captain Mann and we would get into a corner and have a good smoke and a chat and defy the sympathy and woodbines of the other visitors.