Thursday 11 October 2018

The Kindness of Strangers or How I got Run Over While Thinking about #Brexit

Being a razorblade in the parliamentary candyfloss

There comes a time in the life of every Grumpy Old Sod when mortality turns up and smacks you in the face. It happened to this GOS last Thursday (11th October). I'd returned from protesting with fellow anti-Brexit campaigners outside Parliament (see pic). I decided to reward myself for my verbal prowess with some cider.

The supermarket, which shall be nameless coz I refuse to do product placement was on the other side of the road from the bus stop. I looked left. No traffic. The road was clear. I looked right ~ there was enough road between me and the oncoming queue of rush-hour cars to launch a bid for the opposite pavement, where the cider lived. I stepped into the road.

I remember the BANG.

Next thing I was lying in the road, with cars screeching to a halt all round me. They say just before you die in an accident, your whole life flashes in front of you. Mine didn't, so I decided I was going to survive. I had a go at levering myself off the road, dimly aware that all around me in the vertical world, people were on their phones, holding urgent conversations.

Which is where the kindness kicked in. A nurse (she'd phoned the ambulance) and a first responder (who'd phoned the police) happened be passing and had stopped to help. Having ascertained that nothing major was broken, I was gently lifted off the road and propped against a wall. The driver of the car that hit me appeared. It was an electric car. I hadn't heard it coming. We both apologised to each other.

A PCSO in a van arrived. I was placed inside to await developments. It was decided not lock me in the small back compartment where the naughty people go. The driver and I continued apologising to each other. While we waited for the 'official' police to arrive to take our statements, I enlightened him about Brexit, a topic he hadn't thought about much, though his dad was against it. He decided he agreed with his dad and me. Result!

The police came, blue-lighting merrily. We both made statements. It was suggested I should go to hospital to have the bump on my head and other bits checked. I declined. Having watched '24 Hours in A&E', I knew how the script played: you are brought in on a stretcher; you lie around for hours waiting to be seen; you lie around some more waiting to be X-rayed; you lie around even longer until they get the results; you are told nothing major has happened and are sent home with painkillers.

I decided to cut out the middle section and go for the 'home with painkillers' bit. The kind PCSO drove me back in his police van. I do not know what the neighbours thought. I am not sure what I think either. Maybe it is a warning not to let Brexit take over my life. Maybe a sign that I am slowly going, to use the technical jargon, completely gaga. But at least I am here. Though sadly, still without any cider.


21 comments:

  1. OMG!!!! I’m glad you are okay, Carol! Big hugs xxx

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  2. You're not going gaga. You have just too much going on in your head. Slow a bit down and first think of yourself. And then the cause. You're more important than your fight against the B Word. Hugs, x

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  3. Oh My Golly GOSH! So glad you are safe and well. I am slightly terrified of electric cars and have re-named them 'silent death'.

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  4. Glad you are OK. (But do look after yourself.) I always think that although there is a lot of horribleness out there, there is also much kindness. I'm glad the latter found you.

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  5. Carole, so sorry to hear this, but glad that it's not more serious. I think electric cars are wonderful and may help to slow down the damage we are doing to the environment - but this is a timely reminder that they don't come without dangers of their own. I hope the bump has subsided - and that you eventually got your cider!

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  6. Oh Carol, I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or be cross with you. What a shock! I think these electric vehicles need to use some kind of warning. I’ve been nearly startled off my bike before by electric scooters zooming up behind me. You just can’t hear them at all. Dangerous, they are. Anyway, I’m very glad you are okay, but yes, I’ve warned you about getting too wired up about all this political stuff. It’s bad for your health!! Big hugs xx PS Sorry you missed your cider...

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    1. I have some now ...trouble is, f I don't get mixed up in it, I will be letting down my grand parents

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    2. I do understand, I really do, but if you go on at this rate, your grandchildren won't have a grandmother to tell them about her grandparents. At some point you have to look after you for the benefit of your own offspring. Just take it a wee bit easier, dear Carol.

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  7. You have raised an interesting point here, Carol. I wonder how many of us rely on the sound os a car when we are out and about? I know I do. Looks like I shall have to be more alert in future...

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    1. Honestly...it was silent. And I have good hearing.

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  8. What a to-do! Electric car is clearly to blame. Glad to hear you’re on the mend. Take it easy and for a while let Brexit sort itself out. You see the trouble it’s causing already!

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    1. You KNOW I can't ...that would be like standing back while the Nazis rounded up my family. No can do.

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    2. Point taken. You’re right. Well if you can’t back off then please BE CAREFUL!

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  9. I'm with you. Sadly not protesting in person due to The Back, but shouting fairly loudly from here. Hope the bruises fade and the anger lives on. x

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  10. What a very scary incident! Glad you're OK and have finally acquired cider. x

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  11. All that and no Cider!! I’m glad you’re ok - and were rescued by the kindness of strangers. Deep down, most people are kind. Just a shame about the tossers at the top.

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  12. Oh my word! Thank goodness for competent bystanders. A few weeks ago I was with a friend who fell face first onto the promenade. 2 first raiders and an off duty doctor were there within minutes!

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  13. Glad you're OK. And you are not hallucinating. The EU flag behind you IS actually upside down.

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