Earlier on I went with Leftwing Idiot to Stoke Newington. We stopped to pick up some food from one of the many amazing restaurants on the high street. The man who served us looked at me like I was from a different planet.…

The rain was thumping down as I walked along Brixton high street and the traffic was crawling. The street was crowded and lots of people were staring nervously at me. I ignored them and squawked on by. A passing cyclist, weaving though the traffic wearing a fluorescent waterproof, shouted out to some anxious pedestrians, “Don’t be scared, she’s only got Tourettes.”

This isn’t going to be the blog entry I’d planned to write.

I’ve unexpectedly been left feeling sad and undermined by something that happened a little while ago. I’d had a great evening out with Laura and was just getting home on the bus.…

I went to Birmingham early this morning to help out at Under the Arches, a launch event organised by some friends who’ve started an organisation called Access Events. They’re going to host creative events for people with and without disabilities.

Under the Arches was their first one-day festival.…

When I got in a cab to come home this evening, the driver was startled at the noise I was making and looked quite scared. I explained about Tourettes and a little later he said, “I don’t care if you’re offended, but I’ve got to say I’ve never met anyone like you before.”…

I’ve been wearing my superhero suit out and about all day. I’m used to people staring at me and laughing, so I wasn’t that fazed by the idea of travelling around London in my outfit. Interestingly, most people were more friendly and willing to talk to me than they are when I’m disguised in normal clothes.…

I’ve been zipping about on buses all over the place today. On one a passenger in front of me gestured in my direction, and said, “I can’t believe they let people like them on the bus.” The man she was speaking to nodded in agreement.…

This morning I had an assessment with an occupational therapist. This is part of an application I’ve made for a Freedom Pass. Having one would mean I could travel free on the Underground, buses, or trains and get on and off whenever I need to, without having to pay multiple times.…

I was at Cartridge World where the man who served me asked a lot of questions about Tourettes after I’d told him that’s what I have. He said, “When you first came in I thought you were deaf and dumb and trying to attract someone’s attention.”…

I’ve just walked home from Leftwing Idiot’s house. It’s just a short walk but still long enough for a group of young men on the other side of the road to shout out, “You’ve got Tourettes!” as they passed.

Did they suppose I hadn’t already noticed that myself?