Over there (part 23)

Entering Bristol’s Cabbott Circus for the first time in over a year on Friday afternoon, I found myself approaching a barrier and a guy behind it, shouting at me:

 

Him:

“Over there, go over there”.

 

I realised that the normally open entrance must have been closed off to provide safe control of people for COVID-safety reasons, but can’t see enough to make out signage or his gesticulations.

 

Me:

“Can you tell me which direction you want me to go in please, I’m blind and can’t see where you’re pointing”

 

Him:

“go over there!”

 

Me:

“Do you mean left or right?”

 

Him:

“you want to go left or right? Go over there”

 

Me:

“I’m blind, this is a white stick, it means that I can’t see, I just need you to tell me which way to go”

 

Him:

“I don’t know whether you’re blind, deaf or whatever unless you tell me”

 

I then realised that he was indicating a one way system as I saw people going in on my left and out on my right.

 

I started to walk away and then thought better of it.

 

Me:

“I just want to explain that you don’t always need to be told because if you see someone carrying a white stick, it means that they can’t see”

 

Him:

“yeah, yeah”

 

Me:

“I’m not getting at you, just trying to explain what a white stick means”

 

Him:

“Go that way” (pointing again)

 

 

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