On the way into work this morning I was about to cross a side road when I saw a Q-tip driving a Robin Reliant approaching from behind me. I waited at the kerb, and sure enough said Q-tip turned left into the side road I was about to cross. The distinct lack of (use of) indicators (turn lights?) made me think, "how did I know he was going to turn?"

I don't really believe in anything quite as woolly as being psychic. If anything I'm a "natural born psynic!" I still wondered how it was I knew - for I did know - he was going to turn. Perhaps the look on his face gave it away. Behind that blank stare as if he were the only person on the road (which would explain his disregard of indicators) must have been a slight eye twitch to the road I was about to cross informing me to stay put... perhaps?

I was reminded of a couple of other occasions where I could see impending doom (not necessarily for me) just before it happened.

I was in Germany, visiting a Gay Priest (which is a whole different story!) I was staring out of his window watching life go by, one of my favourite pastimes. I watched as a police car, with lights and sirens, approached a busy junction with the traffic lights against them. I also saw the cars stopping on the other road as they heard and saw the approaching police car... except one car, approaching the turn lane (there were about 4 lanes each side) didn't seem to have noticed. As there were 3 lanes of cars to his right his view would have been obstructed. I saw in an instant he wasn't going to stop - with enough time to call to the other people into the room. The police car had no chance of stopping in time.

There was a nasty crash... we found out the following day the driver of the car had died. Although the crash seemed to take an hour to happen it was probably just seconds from me noticing the oblivious car to the point of impact.

About a month ago I almost witnessed a similar incident - also with a police car. The main road near the building where I work has a centre divider of raised concrete. The traffic lights were red and a queue of traffic had built up before them. The police car was travelling the wrong side of the divider at a reasonable speed. A bus was unloading passengers on the same side as the approaching police car. A passenger had walked to the back of the bus and was about to cross the road looking only right (the direction traffic should approach from on that side of the road) and failing to hear the police car approaching.

I saw what was bound to happen... he would run across the road into the path of the approaching police car and there would be a god awful mess... and I would be 20 steps away. I put up my hand and tried to shout a warning... but nothing more than a strangled croak came out. I watch on in horror.

The police car slowed as it reached the end of the bus, and that alone saved the man's life. He ran out just as the car reached the end of the bus. The police man braked almost instantly and the guy bounced off the front of the car - completely unharmed although he probably needed a new pair of under ware. I don't know if the police driver saw my gesture, or if he was wary of that exact thing happening... he didn't stick around to chat.

The most vivid memory will always be when my sister dropped me off at work. As we approached the side of the building a car drove out of the car park opposite my work place straight into the side of us. He had pulled out in front of an approaching car coming the other way, so was accelerating like a mad man. We fish-tailed and hit the approaching car head on. It was a mess - and it scared the fuck out of me. Luckily none of us were travelling at any serious speed.

I saw him approaching the exit of the car park and he never once looked our way. I knew then he was going to cut out in front of us (or into us as it turned out) and I tried to warn Jo but again I was unable to speak. Time slowed and all I was able to do was brace myself.

After Mr Q-tip this morning I was thinking of these times (and others) and wondered how I could rationally explain my ability to predict these events.

I have come up with a couple ideas. The most plausible seems to be my cynical attitude. I expect the worse and don't register when I am wrong. Perhaps I have waited at that same turning expecting a car to turn without indicating many times before. If they don't why would I choose to remember that? It would only be when I'm right - and the knowledge that if I had started to cross I could be killed - that it would stick in the memory. How many other near accidents have I seen where I was expecting something bad to happen, only for it to be avoided by quick reactions or luck?

I will update about my weekend later as I have to disappear to a meeting now...

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Placebo - Hang On To Your IQ