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| From the park today |
It's funny. When I was fresh out of hospital and limping around London with a sour expression hating the world, I thought sometimes I must actually be invisible. It was the only explanation I could come up with for the sheer tenacity with which people ignored me. That, or they thought I was going to ask them for money.
Well, no. Obviously it was in fact the limp. When you look permanently disabled, people just do not want to know. Although I imagine the sour expression of world-hatred didn't help. I thought the mess my head's currently in would take people the same way, but it seems not. I think I've had to explain it to about 17 people so far.
I don't really mind; it's just...strange. It's probably got a lot to do with the fact that it's clearly going to heal, and with having one or both the boys in tow - I seldom get inquiries when I'm alone. I suppose it's just making me think too much.
The boys are home. and we're watching Wimbledon with Mrs Hudson and two tennis-mad gentlemen from the security team. Under popular pressure I've switched from Wawrinka-Bolelli to Nadal on Centre Court, who's unsurprisingly slaughtering Ryan Sweeting.
Sherlock's interested enough that he asked if we could go since it's so close. And, well, we could queue for grounds passes, yeah. I'm just not convinced his interest would last through the several hours that's likely to take. It would be nice, though. Maybe next year.
41 comments:
Are you not watching your namesake on court 3? She's currently injured but fighting through - must be something about the Watson family
I'm amazed you've had anyone ask. Never underestimate a Londoner's capacity to ignore.
People literally bleed to death with others stepping over them.
What do you tell them? 'my boyfriend brought his work home with him, this is the result'?
Which one do you like? Federer? When dies he play? And is the one with the nice arse done now - knocked out?
Trills - I'm not, but good luck to her! I'm not currently allowed to pick a match, not till Nadal's done.
L - it's amazing what people will ask you when you've got kids in tow. I told them we had a break in, because we did, and that I was glad the boys weren't home at the time. I know you're still blaming yourself, but I don't blame you for it, never did.
And contrary to expectations, Bolelli's actually up two sets! I'm really surprised, not that he's bad, but Wawrinka's generally better. Federer played yesterday, so he's not on again till tomorrow.
Sadly Watson lost her match :(
But Murray's winning his in case you're interested
So will I get to be an arse assessor tonight when the highlights are on?
And thanks but...yeah, I still blame myself. When do you have to go back for stitch removal? Assuming you don't want Sherlock practising the skills you taught him on mine to sort yours out?
I have never felt more invisible than when I was in a wheel chair or walking with a cane.
I also had a job interview once with glue and stitches in my forehead and a black eye. I don't remember much of the it, can't remember the name of the school actually! Will now always dress as Potter since I have a lightening bolt, did you know you can smash a concrete flower pot with your head???
Glad you've managed to get out though. Fresh air is a marvellous medicine!
K
xoxo
You can give them scores, 1 - 10. I'm pretty sure Mrs Hudson's doing that right now.
...It had actually crossed my mind. I know, bad idea. But it'd make him so happy. Anyway, yeah, tomorrow.
did you know you can smash a concrete flower pot with your head???
Well sure, if you're a 10th level black belt or something! Good lord. I hope you put that skill on your CV, though I imagine you wouldn't want to repeat it.
I don't actually have television. Are they streaming it live anywhere? The wimbeldon site is giving live scores, but not video and the iPlayer looks like it's just evening highlights.
kholly - Depending on your internet provider, you might be able to watch it on espn360.com. If you're in the UK (or at least not in the US) bet365.com will probably work, and then there are other, somewhat shadier sites - fromsport.com and atdhenet.tv.
kholly - you can watch it on the BBC Sports website (That's how I follow it at work)
Not that Danger would ever do or advertise shady things on his blog.
Right, love?
Anything we need when I'm on the way home?
Ah, BBC Sport, that's giving me what I was hoping for. Thanks.
Not that you would ever ask a minor to hack the internet and cut off your own dear sister's access...
No, none of us ever do things like that here.
Nope, not unless there's something specific you want for dinner.
Never. No idea what you're talking about.
I just asked about the viability, I'm sure.
I have no further comment to make without my legal representative.
Yes, dear.
Did I say Bolelli won? I'm impressed.
I'm a bit odd in that I like the anonymity of cities. Having strangers asking me about visible injuries would freak me out a bit.
Firefly references FTW :-)
honest, Guv! You can take down my particulars. Cuff me. I shall try to come quietly...
You didn't. So am I, I suppose?
Nameless - me too. Grew up with everyone knowing just enough of your business to gossip, but not wanting to help in any way or 'get involved'.
I would freak me out, too. It does freak me out that people have been talking to John. But I'm trying not to show it...
I suppose having the boys does make people more likely to talk to you. For some reason people think you're more approachable when you have your hands full with the gruesome twosome.
I shall try to come quietly...
Ha.
It's not just the boys, I think it's my face - I mean my normal face, not the state it's currently in. People asking me about stitches in my head is new, but strangers talking to me on the street (or the park, or in shops, or asking me to help find their lost dog...) is not.
but strangers talking to me on the street (or the park, or in shops, or asking me to help find their lost dog...) is not.
Pulling up beside you on the road and asking if you want a lift...
Yeah, you're right, you have the irresistibly gorgeous sort of face people want to chat up.
I think the word you were looking for there was actually 'non-threatening'. I promise not to take sweets from strangers.
Hmm. Okay. You have the irresistibly gorgeous, non-threatening sort of face people want to chat up.
Let me do a sample poll...who here has approached and chatted up John Danger Watson?
Ah, you, Sir. Can you just state your name and occupation?
Sure. Lestrade, Detective Inspector with the Met.
And please, tell us what happened when you approached the subject?
Well...I thought he might be a bloodthirsty serial killer. But he had such an irresistibly gorgeous non-threatening sort of face, I just couldn't help myself but try and chat him up...
I see. Study complete. Thank you.
Highly scientific and objective, well done. So are you saying you would've stopped me on the street to chat me up had you not thought I was a serial killer?
When I have to use my cane I become the invisible woman. I've been in shops with my hands full and juggling with my cane and the associates give bags to other people, but don't even look at me.
It seems people are trying so hard not to stare and be impolite they completely go the other way.
Odd that they seem to think that having the boys with you makes it more acceptable to ask nosy questions. Personally, I think that would be even more reason to leave you alone - you obviously have your hands full!
People are strange, but London is amazing. Too many stairs, though!
pip - It seems people are trying so hard not to stare and be impolite they completely go the other way.
Yeah, I think that's it. On days when I'm feeling charitable anyway. Other days, there's an almost irresistible urge to tell them it's not catching.
So are you saying you would've stopped me on the street to chat me up had you not thought I was a serial killer?
Honestly? No. I may well have looked at you and dreamed. But I wouldn't have had the confidence to chat you up.
And it was highly scientific! I surveyed 100% of the people here who had met you on the street and talked to you!
So are you saying you would've stopped me on the street to chat me up had you not thought I was a serial killer?
Isn't that better than him chatting you up because he thought you were?
I think that's taking married to your work a bit far myself.
"Yeah, I think that's it. On days when I'm feeling charitable anyway. Other days, there's an almost irresistible urge to tell them it's not catching."
Yeah, exactly! I try to be charitable, but honestly. At least with a cane you can "accidentally" smack someone in the ankle. :0)
L - well, I absolutely would've talked to you, so it would've worked out the same anyway.
Rider - he wasn't chatting me up, he was interrogating me. Sort of. And attempting to buy Sherlock and Mycroft sweets. Hm...
Pip - Oh yeah, you should see Mrs Turner's mum. I think as far as she's concerned, that's their primary function!
Don't believe you. But it's a nice thought. Can't imagine there's anyone you'd have wanted to talk to less than a very scowly grumpy old copper who was trying to pretend the entire world didn't exist whenever he wasn't on shift.
God, don't remind me about the sweets thing...I've never felt so old and out of touch.
Pip - he isn't joking. I think her policy is that if you don't treat people right, she'll maim you so you know what it's like! She's lethal.
L - To be fair, no one could've expected them to have credit cards.
Well, I can imagine it quite easily. Given how sweet you were when you thought I'd killed several people, it's quite hard to imagine you being scowly and grumpy at me on the street. Maybe I'll write it down for you, although possibly using other people's names so I don't die of embarrassment.
Yeah, please don't die of embarrassment.
And I refuse to admit to any sort of 'sweetness'.
You could take me to bed though, tire me out and distract me from work. You know what it's like when you're body is bone tired and your mind is racing? That's me.
And yeah, I said racing, not racy.
(I still sort of can't believe they did/do have credit cards...it's...well, unbelievable!)
I would be more than happy to take you to bed and make you stop thinking.
That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
Feel free to make me completely incoherent.
I will, I've got a plan. Go on, I'll be with you in a minute.
Going.
But first I have to say:
I love it when a plan...comes together.
I do enjoy seeing your inner Browncoat emerge, John. Wash aside, I'm glad it's geese and not ducks that they were juggling - geese are evil, ducks are wonderful. (And hey! There's a duck book that features the friendliest cop in literature - Make Way for Ducklings!)
As for the talking to strangers thing - this is a discussion I have had with quite a few people, since I have lived in New York City for six years and Philadelphia for seven before that. I'm one of those people (minus the gorgeous face) that people will stop and talk to: to ask for directions, to make comments about the weather, to ask if I'm okay (my eyes tear up when I'm sick, so it looks like I'm weeping uncontrollably). It freaks my mom out that people are asking after me, but I tell her she should be pleased that people care enough to. And I'm also the person who will talk to others. About a year ago, I was on a fairly crowded subway car and a girl near me was crying pretty heavily; I offered her a tissue and she looked so grateful that I wondered why there's such a ban against seeing people (you know what I mean). She squeezed my hand when she got off the subway and I felt really good for the rest of the day. And I hope that if I'm ever that upset in public that someone would make me feel less alone.
That's what you're doing - being someone that makes other people feel good about themselves. It doesn't hurt, I'm sure, that you're gorgeous.
And for your tennis cabal: Vamos, Rafa!
I spent about 8 years having foot surgeries and was usually on crutches with one foot or the other in a cast. No one paid me much attention.
But when I had one foot in a cast, the other foot in a cam walker (are they called that there? big plastic and foam contraption that goes up to the knee with a rocker sole) and crutches, I got questions and wild looks everywhere. Two casts were clearly the limit.
After a while, I just started making up ridiculous stories as to why I was hurt.
I think the craziest stranger interactions while wounded that I've had, came just after I'd taken a truly improbable spill at work. I had a limp and massive bruises one my face. Then 48 hours later (you know, when the bruises really started to shine up pretty) I ended up keeping my niece. Who was 18 months old and had run face first into a glass door at daycare. She had two black eyes and a swollen lip. Not a good look for a baby.
Well, for either of us, but the baby in particular.
I had no fewer than twenty propel demand explanations, one woman gave me a number for an abuse hotline, an off-duty cop offered to help me and not a single one believed the explanation. Even more hilarious was when we met one of my friends for lunch and everyone kept giving him FILTHY looks. Clearly they blamed him. Poor guy.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
Innie - I think it's a combination of him looking gorgeous, yet approachable, and his doctoring side meaning he does care - almost too much - about everyone.
He's just lovely! That's all there is to it.
I'm the girl who's always stuck standing up for older/pregnant/disabled people in the bus or train, helping people carrying trollies, baby-strollers and the like into trains and asking if they're alright... My mom raised me to have too damn many manners. (Also helps that I grew up with four mentally and to some extend physically disabled fostersiblings as well, which means it's pretty normal to me)
I suppose it's catching though, or just good karma, because total strangers are forever starting conversations with me, helping me out when I mess up somehow or simply being nice.
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