Nods approval!

I've only had the patting on the head thing once. I was too damned startled to take his hand off at the elbow! Anyone else who tries it is likely to regret it.

A friend actually got patted by a senior government minister - IDS, the one with ultimate responsibility for disabled people. He knew she was one of the leading disability campaigners, opposed to everything he stands for, and he patted her and told her 'it'll be all right'. Condescending arsehole.