he started with something simple , the half mile to the supermarket as the crow flies putting in his path only one major road , four lanes of potential disaster , but otherwise just houses and gardens , bushes and fences to scramble over and wrestle through , utilizing doors and windows where possible , gates , ignoring the tv watching residents whose surprise at his appearance and subsequent passage through their living-rooms and kitchens , downstairs toilets and gazebos left them momentarily paralysed and disbelieving , sufficiently so that he could be on his way in seconds and they might return to whichever soap opera , film or documentary had previously occupied their attention .