Happy Birthday to me

Well today is my birthday...........another year older!! I took a days leave today, as I prefer not to work on my birthday. Decided to have a lazy day, weather is pretty crap......the thaw has started and it has rained most of the day, that horrid really wet rain, if you know what I mean. We had considered on going to the cinema to see 'The Little Fockers', but the write ups were pretty dire, and as there was nothing else on that we fancied, I decided not to bother. We had also considered going out to lunch, but after eating and drinking rather a lot over the last few days, decided nice meal at home was all I fancied. So we made a quick dash to Asda for supplies and then came home and bolted out the horrid weather and settled down with a glass of wine and a good movie!

It has been a lovely Christmas for hubby and I, the first that we have had time off together, without having to sell our soul to the devil to get annual leave.............as is the case when you work in hospitality!! I had two rest days on the 23rd and 24th December, and as I was down to do middle shifts on the 25th and 26th, I got those off too. I did work yesterday and then as I took a days leave today, I am now not back to work until 11pm on the 31st!!! The three night shifts and another three days off............tough life this. Hubby on the other hand, had the week before Christmas off as anual leave. He was due back to work on Tuesday 21st, but then discovered he did not start back until Wednesday 22nd, working until the 24th and then off until the 29th!! He actually did go back on the 22nd, as the called him and asked if he wanted some overtime. He then works the 29th, 30th and 31st, before not going back until the 4th January 2011. He has worked out he will only be working 14 days in total in December.............and he says I am part time!!!! Our Christmas has been quite quiet. We had a lovely lunch at home together, before going round to my dads for the evening and Boxing day. We have really enjoyed having a lovely lazy time together, not worrying about work, or even being bothered by it.

As I suspect this will be my last blog of 2010, all that remains is for me to wish you all and happy and prosperous 2011.

Pot Holes

After the big thaw last year, our roads became a collection of pot holes, some of them car damagingly large. Much was made of this by both local and national press, and over the year, the worst of the craters have been filled and patched, and in the odd rare case, actually repaired properly, though it has taken the best part of the year, and some of the more minor holes have been left........no doubt not worthy of repair until they rip the wheel of the occasional passing pantechnicon!!


So, image what a few weeks of freezing temperatures and 10 to 15cms of snow has done. Able to finally see the tarmac on anything but a motorway for the first time in days, I noticed on my journey home that the pot holes are back. Many are the re-emergence of lasts years patched pot holes, but some are new. So, will they repair them properly this time............of course not, that would cost too much in the short term. And I wonder how long it will take them this time????

SNOW!!!!!!

Due to various reasons, my family are not getting together on Christmas day. It is my nephews first Christmas, and so both sets of grandparents have staked a claim, so in order not to disappoint anyone, my brother and sister-in law have said they will host Christmas lunch at theirs. Respect due to my sister-in-law, 9 month old baby and both sets of grandparents - rather her than me! In light of this, my youngest brother is heading to the 'frozen' north to spend Christmas with his girlfriend and her family - she hails from north of Newcastle, so found it highly amusing that we going on about this heavy snow fall we had. We've probably had about 10 - 12cms, a light dusting in her world! Anyway with this in mind, we had a family get together this weekend just gone.

Youngest brother and girlfriend made it down from Nottingham safely on Friday night, with the rest of us planning to head over Saturday morning. We had had a little snow on Thursday, covering the grass, but not the roads. We had decided that we would leave about half ten, and we would be in Maidenhead by eleven. We got up Saturday morning, no more snow, so started getting ready. Then it started to snow!!! In the space of an hour, we had had several inches and it showed no sign of stopping. With this is mind, and the fact that we live in a small village on the edge of the Chilterns, we decided to drive to Stokenchurch (actually in the opposite direction to the one we wanted to be going in) as it is the flattest route out of the village, and then get on the M40. After a bit of slipping and sliding to actually to get to main road (only a B road, so don't get any ideas!), we made it to the motorway, and what a sight that met out eyes!!!!!!!!!

We finally left out house at about 10.50am, and got to Maidenhead at just before 12.30pm. This is a journey that normally takes about 20minutes.

The M40 was down to one lane and at best about 20 miles an hour. I know that the snow came down very quickly, we had about 12cms in two hours, but you would have thought that the Highways agency and the councils would have managed a slightly better job that this.

We then had to get off the M40 at junction 4 (Handycross)...........that was fun getting up the slip road, and the two changes of the lights before before we could get going again. Below is a picture of the junction...........snowing heavily and devoid of the traffic that normally snarls it to a near stand still.

Anyway, we finally got there, as did my brother, sister-in-law and nephew, who had a similar nightmare journey from Reading along the M4!

We all stayed the night, so good food and booze flowed, and luckily by this morning, the powers that be had finally managed to get themselves organised and at least the motorways were clear.

Hubby and I did a test run to Slough before lunch (hubby has been on a weeks holiday, so he wanted to go and pick up his duties for next week - bloody part timer does not start back until Wednesday, then has four days off over Christmas!!), and found the roads fine - well the A4 was awful actually, especially given as it was the centre of Slough. At least the motorways were fine.

We had no trouble getting back to Stokenchurch, and even the road to our village was fine, bit hairy off the main (remember it is a B road, so don't get excited) roads, but we got home. Have to say, am not looking forward to going to Oxford tomorrow morning (got three earlies before I start my Christmas break), but hubby has said that he will take me, so least I don't have to drive. He will also take me to the police station, which is advantageous, as according to Oxford Bus Company's website, their services are severely disrupted, so I might have trouble getting the bus from the park and ride tomorrow.................. anyone would think it had snowed or something!

Sickness

I mentioned a few days ago that I have been diagnosed with gall stones. This did not come as a huge shock, I have suspected it for some time, but the pain had started to effect my day to day life, well keeping me awake at night, so I finally went to the doctor with my suspicions.


I should explain that this has been a rather lengthy process which started about seven or eight years ago. I had bronchitis and after I got better, I had a pain in my right side. So I went to the doctor who suspected a pulled muscle and said if it isn't better in a few weeks, come back. Anyway, in a few weeks I went back as it wasn't better and a suspected broken rib was discussed. I had x-rays, a bone density scan, blood tests and nothing was discovered. It was then suggested that it might be nerve damage, and then there was not a huge amount that could be done.


Over the years I still had pain and I also went through a period of feeling sick, being sick, and the fact that my side was always tender. Anyway, over the last few months, the pain has steadily got worse and I thought it might be an idea if I went back to the doctor. I had discussed the symptoms with my mother (who has had gall stones) and she suggested the diagnosis. I suggested this to the doctor, who was skeptical.............I didn't have pain in the right places apparently, but he sent me for an ultra sound which confirmed that yes, I do have gall stones.


So now I have got to have surgery, so I have to wait, but I have to say, the symptoms are getting worse. When I eat, I have pain afterwards, I feel bloated and the pain is almost constant. And if this was not all enough....................I NOW HAVE A COLD!!!

Pass the Tequila

What's that saying.......'when life hands you a lemon, pass the tequila'. Well that about sums up the last few weeks.

First the washing machine developed a funny smell...........I thought it was an earthy type smell, but hubby said it was a burning smell (didn't smell like any fire I've ever come across, but never mind) and sure enough when he took the back off, the bit were the electricity comes into the machine had started to burn and melt. Now I should mention that the washing machine is only about two years old and up until the burning smell, has always worked fine. Well we went weren't to worried as we reckoned we could get a replacement part from the manufacturers, Indiset if you are interested. Oh how wrong were we??? The machine is obsolete apparently. It's two years old for gods sake!!! Hubby finally tracked a replacement bit..........wonders of the Internet and fitted it, but not until we had been without the machine for over a week.

The I had the incident at work, which has now escalated and I had to give a very lengthy statement to CID with the possibility that I may have to go to court to give evidence (occupational hazard in our job!). This of course is a long way down the line as first they have got to find out if the offender is fit to stand trial, and then I will only have to go by some fluke that they don't believe the CCTV!

Finally, after about five years of pain, discomfort and puzzlement, it is official, I have gall stones. Surgery is the only option, so I now have to wait. I am hoping that it won't be too long, as the pain is getting worse and worse, and is starting to effect me on a daily basis, as well as keeping me awake at night, or waking me up. I am popping pain killers like they are going out of fashion...thank god we don't get drug tested at work like hubby (and he now has to be careful what he takes, just in case he gets called in for a random test).

Then to cap it all, I was just approaching the city centre last night when bang, and my exhaust dropped off. Just what I needed! Quick call to work and a strong man came to rescue me, well remove the part of the exhaust that was hanging down. Then would you believe it, the bloody car would not start. We tried to bump start it with no joy, so ended up having one officer holding up the traffic while the other plus one drunk bloke from the nearby pub pushed my car off the road so we could jump start it from the panda. Luckily I had jump leads. Anyway I got to the station just a few minutes late albeit sounding like a boy racer!!! So, I fully expected that when I came to come home this morning (I am on nights at the moment), that I would again need a jump start. However I got into my car and to my immense surprise it started first time. It is now at the garage waiting to be fixed but unfortunately they were unable to fit it in today, but I am hoping for tomorrow. I managed to arrange transport to and from work for tonight's shift...........if they don't fix it tomorrow, then I am not sure what I am going to do. Might have to take the night off! Well, will have to suck it and see I guess (is that the lemon??)

There has been some good news - England have beaten Australia by an innings and 71 runs in the second ashes test in Brisbane!

And finally, have just heard on the news that the ice has damaged the gritters in Scotland!!! Call me stupid, but should gritting lorries not be able to cope with ice???

The snow has arrived

Well the promised snow has finally arrived in our little corner of the world. It was rather strange really, we live in the Chiltern Hills and so appear to have our own little micro climate......often a few degrees colder, rain when Marlow is dry, dry when Marlow is wet, but what usually happens is that we get a little bit of snow before anyone else in the south. So for the last few days we have been watching the news with amusement as not only has 'the north' and Scotland turned white, but so have places like the south coast and even the Isle of White. Anyway, as promised, we woke up this morning to find the world had gone white. We had a light flurry late morning just as hubby was going to work, but as of yet, we have not had any more, but how knows what tonight will bring.


Yesterday I took the bus (gotta get my moneys worth) to Wycombe to meet a friend for lunch. We ended up in Zizzi's (Italian) coz at Christmas time they do a bottle of Prosecco for £15.95, so we decided we fancied that. We ended up doing the whole hog, finishing with liqueur coffees........luckily all she had to do was walk home and all I had to do was stagger to the bus station, and get the bus home. Temperature was absolutely freezing, I don't think that the frost melted all day, and I have to say I don't think I can ever remember it being this cold. Now I constantly say I was born in the wrong country, that I should have been born in a hot country as I do love the heat, but I used to really enjoy ski-ing, and I don't remember being freezing cold all the time!!!


I have to say I am glad that I am on a rest day today and I am also pleased that for some reason hubby is doing later shifts today and tomorrow. So far his shifts have mainly been early starts, 03.58 being the earliest so far, though they are usually between 5am and 6am, however today and tomorrow he does not starting until about 12.30pm, which means at least the roads have had time to sort themselves out. I am back to work tomorrow, but luckily am on a middle, so don't start until 10am. Ok, now to get a parking place in the park and ride, I need to be there before 9am, but at least I won't be the first car on the road, which is a danger for Thursday an Friday when I am on earlies!!!


Have to say that another thing that has amazed me is the number of schools that have been closed because of snow. Now when I was growing up, we had snow in the winter and I only remember our school being closed once - the boiler broke. And even then, for the children who could not go home...both parents worked say, they could stay at school. But then, I don't remember the country grinding to a halt as it does now.............though at least we do not appear to have run out gritting salt yet!!!


I blogged the other day that it took me nearly 4 hours to get home, a journey of about 22 miles, due to an accident on the M40. Imagine my surprise on Saturday morning when I was sat work and two traffic officers asked if they could leave a guy in the SDO for half an hour or so before they interviewed him. Turns out he was the driver of the lorry that caused the problems. Well, he was quite a nice guy actually, which was not my feelings on Friday when I was sat going nowhere!!


I also have to comment that my boss phoned me on Monday just to check I was ok after the incident on Friday and my lung full of captor spray. I was quite touched really. On Friday, the shift sergeant came to see me just to check I was ok, not just the lung full of captor, but he also said it could be quite shocking seeing something like that for the first time, and then to have another follow up call just to see if you are ok. Hospitality was never like this!

It's very cold!!

Well, despite the fact we are still in November, the country has been in the grip of arctic conditions for the last day or two. We have been lucky, apart from a few flakes of snow the other day, the worst we have had to contend with so far has been scraping the ice off the cars in the morning - though I was not amused yesterday when I got back to my car parked at the park and ride at about half three and had to scrape ice off for the second time that day!!! Other parts of the country - Scotland and 'up north' have had much snow............chaos causing amounts, though is the UK that is usually about three flakes if last year is anyting to go by!!!! We are warned that Tuesday is going to be the day..............thank god I am at on a rest day!


Well apart from the cold............and boy, is it cold, -7 degrees C when I left for work at 6am this morning, it has been an interesting few days. I was back at Cowley on Friday, and my wish for a repeat of last week and it be stunningly quiet was not to be. When I opened the doors at 8am, a man was already waiting to come in. He seemed ok, nice and normal until he announced he was the king of India!!! Forty five minutes later he was being subdued by about a dozen police officers having been on the receiving end of captor and a police baton. God did he put up a fight! Now captor spray is very effective usually, it is a type of pepper spray, but the only problem is that when it is used in a confined area, others can feel the affects. So there I was, coughing and spluttering and spent the rest of the day sounding like I was suffering from a severe cold. I had to speak to my boss about something and he asked if I was ok, as I sounded as if I had a terrible cold.............no, that'll be the captor spray! Then followed the down loading of the CCTV, my statement regarding the incident as well as the health and safety form I was told I had to fill out. God, if I had known opening the doors would have created so much paperwork I would have kept them shut!!


So, apart from a lung full of captor spray, all was well. Few stroppy customers, but nothing unusual there and then just before 4pm, I was told I could go home........should have finished at 5pm, so bargain! Anyway, by the time I got away it was about 4.20pm. Now my journey between Oxford and home is about 25 miles, and at that time I thought, I'll be home by 5pm, I'll do a mini roast, that will be a nice surprise for hubby. I finally got home at 8pm!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lorry crash on the M40 shut it between junctions 10 and 6!!!! Seriously not amused.....................shite day and I could still feel the effects of the captor on the back of my throat.

The Magic Pass!!!

There have been many benefits with hubby leaving hospitality and becoming a bus driver.






Number one has got to be that we actually see each other, which is always a bonus when you are married to someone. I am contracted to work a 37 hour week..........now some weeks I work 45 but others I work 27, so it all evens out in the end. Hubby is contracted for a 39 hour week, and basically, that is what he works. After being used to him working a minimum of a 50 hour week, and quite frequently 60 hours plus, you can work out the impact this change is having on hour lives.






Number two, he actually enjoys the job he is doing. Not saying that he hated hospitality, but there were days that he said he did not really want to go to work, where as now, bit like me, he is happy to go to work.





Number three is the 'magic pass'. This is my current pass - I had to get the pictures done especially as my previous pass has the same picture as my passport, so therefore I look like death!!














Now I like my car, I like driving so I have never been an enthusiastic user of public transport since leaving university. We use the train occasionally to go to London, which works ok, but other than that, until I went to work in Oxford, I could not have told you the last time I got on a bus. However, as parking at the station is extremely limited, we are only allowed to park there on certain shifts - lates and nights if you are interested. The rest of the time, like the County Council desires, we have to use public transport, which for me means park and ride. Apart from the fact that the park and ride I use, is also the coach interchange for the Oxford to London coaches (over 100 hundred a day!!), so is usually full by 9am, this works well. The park and ride buses run about every 15 minutes and mine stops just round the corner from the station, so I have to walk about 50 metres once I get off. Why walk if you pay vast sums in tax to have a car??? The other advantage, is the local bus company in Oxford (Oxford Bus Company, if you are interested) let us travel for free to and from work on production of our ID, so, it doesn't actually cost me anything - goody, we like free!


Anyway, back to the magic pass. One of the perks of hubby being a bus driver is he gets free travel on any First buses (except London, coz they are TFL) in the country, and so do I. Now initially I did not think this would have a huge impact on lives............after all, First are not our local bus company, we have Arriva, so why would I travel all the way to Slough, just to use the bus. But then we discovered the bus company have reciprocal arrangements with other bus company's.............now we are talking! We have a long list of buses we can use in the local and not so local area, so actually this thing has the potential to save us quite a lot of money.


For example this morning I had to go to the hospital. Hubby dropped me in because for some reason Arriva do not run hourly buses to our village. We have a couple of buses before 8am, and then the next one is not until after 9am. Then they run until about 2pm, and then we have a gap again until after 4pm. Not very convenient, but anyway, I got to hospital, had my appointment and then went and had a coffee before getting the bus home.............for free!! A couple of weeks ago I went all the way to Slough, by bus, again for free! Now if I had had to buy a ticket this morning, it would have cost me over two pounds. I dread to think how much I would have had to pay to get to Slough. I am starting to think that when I want to go to Wycombe shopping, I will start to go by bus...............after all, parking usually costs us at least £1.80, if not more, and that's before we even get to the fuel costs.




This is my first pass, with the horrible passport picture. It was the only one I had two of at the time that hubby demanded pictures (you have to provide them with two for some reason). Luckily it expires at the end of this month, so new ones have been issued and my new picture is much better.......I smiled for a start; you're not allowed to smile in passport pictures!

Not a good morning!!

I think I mentioned yesterday that I was on the early shift, 7am start, which means I have to catch the 6.30am bus from the park and ride, meaning leaving the house by 5.55am at the latest. Hubby was on a early bus, second of the day I think, so was signing on (what bus drivers do when they go to work - lets the bus company know they have turned up, and means their module will work) at 4.30am, so early start for both of us!!! Anyway, all went to plan I and got the bus (double decker for me, the driver and one other passenger) and I got to work for 6.45am.


First piece of bad news is that the hot water boiler is still broken. We have a little kitchen area in our office, sink, fridge, toaster, microwave and instead of a kettle, a water boiler. This means we always have boiling water on tap..........good when you drink the amount of coffee I do. However, the boiler broke last week - 9th November, and I got to work this morning to find despite the promise that it would be fixed by Thursday this week, it hasn't been. Now not only does this seriously limit my caffeine consumption, but in order for us to get hot water we now have to go to the night kitchen, which it the other side of the briefing room and at least six sets of doors you have to negotiate with a cup of boiling water. Not good on the health and safety front.


I went off to get my first cup of coffee before the night turn left and then I settled down to have my breakfast and read my emails. First disaster................had taken two slices of bread to work to have toast and I knew I had a jar of marmite in my locker. Unfortunately said marmite was rather hard, impossible to spread (bit on the old front), but never mind, touch of water and then melt it in the microwave and there disaster struck. I took my eye of it for a few seconds.....the PEC called and when I went back to it, the marmite had erupted all over the microwave. There was hardly even any left in the pot so I basically ended up with dry toast for breakfast, that and the fact I seemed to manage to get marmite on everything!!!


Then after two days at Cowley without as single TA (unheard of), it is just 8am when the door opens and in walks a bus driver. In Oxford that will only means two things generally..........lost property or TA..........and yeap, you've guessed it TA, non stop! Was about to start the paperwork when he confessed it had been at Heathrow...........yippee. Now we have a bit of a love hate relationship with the Met. General consensus is they are arrogant and lazy...........and I am sure they think the same about us. Basically if you are a victim of crime, you have to report it to the force where the crime happened. So, you have your purse stolen in London, you have to report it in London, not Oxford, as we are not going to investigate a crime that happened in London. Obviously there is some cross over, and if push really comes to shove, you can make a report in another area, then the control room will pass the details, but generally it is easier all round if you report it direct yourself. So TA at Heathrow is the Met's problem, not ours!


Anyway, with the relief of not having to fill in the wretched TA I explained to the bus driver he could go onto the Met's website and get the forms from there as they allow self reporting........and then feeling helpful (suppose I have to be nice to the 'brotherhood' now, as hubby has joined) I even printed them off for him, told him which bits to fill in and gave him the address, but suggested that he give it to another driver who was going up to Heathrow and get them to drop it in at Heathrow police station. Relief was short lived as not long after in walked a pedestrian who had been hit by a car, and although the car driver had stopped, even driven the lady home, it was an injury TA and so we have to take a report even though it goes no where - bugger!!


There after followed several sessions of viewing the CCTV for various reasons, and by the time the middle turn arrived about 9.45am I was quite grouchy............no proper breakfast and only one cup of coffee. Not good!


I am pleased to say the day did improve. but I hope I don't have a morning like that again in a hurry...........better buy a new jar of marmite I guess.

Out in the wilds and a visit from the boss!

Usually I work at the main police station in Oxford, but every now and then, we have to go to Cowley to cover the odd shift there, and this week it has been my turn and I had the early shift there yesterday and today. This means that instead of starting at 7am, you start at 8am and consequently finish at 5pm instead of 4pm, but it is no great hardship.


Now we at the main station all joke about going down to Cowley. As soon as you find out you have a duty down at Cowley, the usual question is 'who have you upset?'. Actually it isn't that bad, and although I normally dread going there, once I am there it is ok, it is just Cowley is very different to our station and you are always more comfortable with what you know. The main station is usually extremely busy, and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and you just never know what is going to work through the door. Cowley is open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm at the weekends, and is a lot quieter, the main stay of their work being 'producers' and traffic accident reports - you can park there for a start and it is quite close to the depots of the two main bus companies in Oxford. I have to say though, this time, in two days I had one producer and no TA's. That has got to be some type of record..............and I have never seen it so quiet, two days of doing very little, but nice change.


However, yesterday I did have a call from a lady who identified herself as calling from Headquarters and she wanted to inform me that the boss - that's the Chief Constable to the rest of you, was having a meeting at our station today. Right then, chance to meet the boss then! In the end it was a bit of a non event. The boss arrived, identified herself - yeah, we know who you are as we all get to see a video of you when we join, plus your pic is on the intranet, but it was nice that she didn't just assume. She said good morning, asked how we were and then left two hours later, saying thank you and goodbye. Seemed nice enough, but hard to tell with such a brief interaction.


Well back to my proper station tomorrow, which means a 7am start; so up at 5.15 am, leave the house by 5.55am to catch the 6.30 am bus from the park & ride. For some strange reason, the bus company put on a double decker at this time and during the week there are normally about a dozen of us on the 6.30am; on Saturday it is often just me and the bus driver! As he has his own seat, that leaves me with a choice of about fifty seats, plus infinal standing room!!!! Never mind, I should be home by 5pm and I am not back to work until 3pm on Monday. Hubby on the other hand is on the second bus of the day tomorrow, so he will be leaving the house at about 3.45 to start work at 4.30am..............he will however be finished by about 1pm!!

Airport Security

Things being a little slow on the work side first thing this morning, I was working my way through the BBC website for interesting news items when I happened upon an article about airport security. Apparently they are introducing these full body scanners at the majority of US airports and some people (a minority I hasten to add), are not too keen. Nothing to do with that they are terrorists or anything like that, more the privacy thing.


Now, I think most of us have seen pictures of what these scanners show, and let us say they don't leave a lot to the imagination, but if this is the price of saving us all from being blown apart at 40,000 feet, then if some airport worker wants to have a gawp at my tits, then so be it; that along with the taking your shoes off (would be nice if they could actually wash the floor once in a while), taking off you belt, getting your lap top out, no liquids etc etc!!


Now the article on the BBC website has had a fair amount of comment and most people are saying the same sort of thing; they don't mind the security if it keeps them alive, what they actually want is consistency - why have I got to take my shoes off and the bloke in front did not, and the behaviour of the security staff. Oh, and I am so with them on that!!!!


I find flying immensely boring, a necessary evil to be able to visit those members of the family who for various reason have decided to abandon the UK and live in far flung parts of the world. So apart from spending a significant portion of my annual salary in airline tickets and TAXES (we won't go there right now!), I have to get on a plane. I have never had a really bad flight, some could have been better than others, some staff are better than others, it is the being stuck in a small metal tube with little leg room, tiny seats and screaming children, but job done, I get there. But since 9/11 we appear to be giving free reign to these jobsworth dictators in the making that appear to make up the security staff the world over.


I was actually in the US for 9/11; my uncle came and woke us up at about 7am (we were in California) saying we had to get up and watch what was happening, and we then spent about the next few hours glued to the TV, seeing the second tower hit and both towers fall. We also experienced the strangeness of no planes (uncle lived not that far from LAX) and the fact that every US federal building (government) was shut for days - including the Hoover Dam which we had intended to visit. When we came to go home a few weeks later, security was a little more stringent, but nothing to the levels it has now reached, think they hadn't got themselves sorted at this point.


Anyway, I digress. I think most reasonable and sane people accept and understand the need for the additional security and restrictions, I do. But what I object to is how we are treated. In the UK, and the US I think for that matter, there is the presumption in law, innocent until proven guilty. Generally it is up to the state to prove that you are guilty, not you to prove that you are innocent (in a very simplistic way of looking at it). With airport security this appears to have been lost and the assumption is, you bought a plane ticket, you must be a terrorist in the making then. I work for the police, and if we treated the public the way that airport security treat them, we would all be on disciplinary, and probably out of a job.


I am going to generalise here, and I admit there are probably some airport security staff who this does not apply to (please come out from where ever you are hiding). I have to say that they are rude, humourless, treat you like some piece of dirty they have seen on the floor (there is lots, coz their floors are filthy as I can testify by the state of my socks when ever I have had to take my shoes off!!!!), are condescending and should you dare to object to being treated in such a disgusting manner then you either get special treatment (a more intimate search - in private if necessary) or the ultimate sanction..............you cannot get on the airplane!!!! You get jobsworths in all walks of life, I have worked with a few, yet the airport security business seems to attract these people. They have been given a little bit of power and god do they abuse it. Hitlers in the making...............and why?? I am sure that they would find that things would go far more smoothly if they were actually nice to people. It's the age old adage 'treat people who you would like to be treated yourself'. I have to deal with people who are difficult and not nice, you try the being nice and sympathetic......sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and then you have to use other tactics, but I always try to start off being nice. Maybe these guys should try it and see where it gets them................and we would all have a far more pleasant experience!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to reality.........nearly!

Well, back from my hols now and I had a lovely time, shame it was just for a week, but it is nice to be back home with my hubby. I did end up getting the bus to T5, hubby had to work and he would have had to drop me at half 5, so by getting the bus I got to there at just before half six, and it was free!

This is the view from the pool on the first morning, as you can see, nice and sunny, the temp being in the high 20's - about 28, so not too bad for late October. The weather on the whole was good, bit overcast on Wednesday, though still warm and we had heavy rain on Sunday night (my last night - typical!), but again still quite warm. Was able to do the sitting out late into the evening in shorts and sun top while drinking the odd glass or two most evenings, breakfast outside every morning, so can't really complain.

Did not do much while I was there. Having been to Cyprus just a few times, have done the major tourist sites, well the ones to the west of the Island anyway, haven't managed to get to Nicosia (Lefkosa) yet, but I am sure we will get there one day. Also am proud to say I have never been to Ayia Napa (Ayia is a female saint in Greek!!!), but that is right up in the east of the island, closest I have managed is Larnaca airport, which is nice and new and shiny!!!

This is Guzelyurt (in Turkish) or Morfou (in Greek), the closest town across the border in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or Turkish Occupied Cyprus depending on whose side you are on!!! We went over (to the dark side!) for lunch, which was very nice. It used to be that you could only cross the Green Line (that is the cease fire line that is monitored by the United Nations - still to this day) in Nicosia, but Turkey now wants to join the EU and the 'Cyprus Question' is a major factor standing in their way (well there are a few others) and over the last few years it has been becoming easier to cross and the Friday before I arrived a new crossing point was opened at Kato Pyrgos, which is just along the cost a bit from Polis - well it would be about half an hour, but because of the Kokkina enclave, you have to take a rather large detour inland to go round it. Generally, Northern Cyprus is just like the South, but a bit more run down and the road signs are in Turkish and English, as opposed to Greek and English, though approaching the border, you get signs in all three!

As I said we had a very nice lunch in a restaurant overlooking the coast, I had some type of kebab, which was described as a donner kebab, but was kebab meat wrapped in very nice bread, so it ended up being a bit like a sausage roll. Very garlicky and very nice!

Rest of the hols was spent relaxing..... did a bit of wine tasting. Went to SODAP, who are a major alcoholic drink producer on the island (the other being KEO), they probably do the best commercial zivania and will definitely be going back, though you definitely have to go with a designated driver. The bar, which was about 2 metres long, had bottles from end to end.....................and you could try them all if you wanted. Bought a bottle of zivania as well as a bottle of Commandria (bit like port I guess) and managed to get them home without them breaking!!!! Also spent the night with some old friends of ours, hubby's best man and his missus. They, like us, also used to work in hospitality and like us, though longer ago, managed to escape. Both worked for the MOD at one point, and hence their now living in Cyprus. Was nice to catch up. Also, went out to dinner with some old friends of the 'olds', who lived in Holland for a short time when we were there. Went to a new golf club, designed by Nick Faldo. Food was very nice - they have a posh restaurant, though the kitchen was incredibly slow, but it has just opened, so I am sure they will get better. Also VERY expensive.

Then, it was all over and I had to come home, back to a cold and wet England. I still have a few days before I am back to work, Saturday in fact, so reality bites......almost!

And as you can see, as a legacy of if you had a Northern Cyprus stamp in you passport, you had great difficulty getting into the Republic of Cyprus, they still stamp you in and out on a separate piece of paper!!!

Autumn sun

Well not much has happened on the work front since I last posted, probably as I have spent the majority of the last two weeks doing registrations - yippee (not!). No-one, myself included, has so far managed to beat my record of 54 (would not have been happy if they had), and things appear to be calming down slightly. Generally we are up to about between 30 and 40 a day instead of 40 and 50. However, for me, marathon registrations sessions are over, as I have four night shifts and then I am on leave for two weeks, so as I don't go back to work until the 30th October, things should have calmed down considerably by then, we are over half way through the term after all.

Am looking forward to spending a week with the 'olds' in Cyprus, will also be catching up with some friends while there. The temperature in the eastern med is still in the high twenties, so am really looking forward to catching a bit of later autumn sunshine, especially as you cannot call what we had in the UK, summer!! Unfortunately hubby is not coming with me, am leaving him and Amber at home to look after each other.

Bit of a shame hubby is not coming, as apart from our holiday to South Africa at Christmas, we have not had a holiday together at all this year. Hubby had a week off when he left his last hotel before he started training with the bus company, and we had always planned to take two weeks off in October together, go to Cyprus for a week and spend a week doing bits and pieces. When hubby started with the bus company, he told them he had planned holiday in October, which they said no problem, though they did want to see the tickets, not that we had booked them at the time, but then hubby thought about it, and figured, he probably would only been driving for about a month, so he decided he would not take any hols, as he felt it would probably be too soon. As I have to use or lose my hols, I am still taking my time off, and as the parents are in Cyprus at the mo, have decided to join them for a week.

So, all that now stands between me and my leave is four night shifts and a weekend. I fly out on Monday morning at 08.50, which means having to travel to Heathrow through the Monday morning rush hour ..yuk!, but I may be taking the bus; depending on what hubby is working, and the fact the the queues at T5 are horrendous, I want to get there nice and early.........plus the bus is free -courtesy of my staff pass ;). So, my next post will probably be from sunny Cyprus with brandy sour in hand!!!!!!

Finally have remembered to pop a picture of Amber on here............hamsters are a bugger to photograph............they just won't sit still!!!!

Kids..........ya gotta love 'em

I may or may not have mentioned that I run a Brownie unit with a friend of mine..... we a job sharing Brown Owls. Brownies are girls aged between 7 and 10 years old, and believe me, at that age it is a huge age gap. At seven they are sweet and innocent, little girls still; by 10 they are on the cusp of being teenagers, but still generally sweet and innocent.

We do various things with them, activities (boating on the river, bowling - always a favourite), craft (they love all things pink) and badges. This term we decided to do the Crime Prevention Badge. Now sometimes, especially as I don't have children myself, it is hard to gauge what they will know about and what they won't, also I did not want them to worry about crime.

I started the session asking if they knew what crime was, and if they could think of any examples. One of the younger Brownies explained crime as something bad that you aren't supposed to do - not bad for a 7 year old. One of the older Brownies knew that crime was when you break the law - spot on! The I asked if they knew any examples of crime........robbery and burglary came up as expected, as did murder though I had to assure them that murder is not too common. One of the younger Brownies then asked in a stage whisper if she was allowed to mention alcohol and drugs.

I had then had to explain that alcohol was illegal for them as their age (you sometimes have to bend the truth slightly) but not adults, and drugs you got from the doctor if you are sick are okay, but certain drugs are illegal. I then asked if anyone knew the names of illegal drugs and alcohol and cigarettes where suggested (oh the innocence, if only they kept those thoughts!). The Brownie who knew what crime was, was able to name heroin and cocaine as examples.....do they know too much?

I had to struggle to keep a straight face when a little later I was asked by another Brownie, in all seriousness, where you got illegal drugs from. I explained that you bought them from criminals. The enquiring mind of the child was not settled there............where do the criminals get them from.......and then suddenly I was having to explain that most drugs are grown in south east Asia or south America and then smuggled to other countries........then followed an explanation of smuggling.

Next term we will stick to a craft type badge I think!!!!

First Time

Well on Sunday hubby and I (both having the day off...........now when did that last happen??) went to Brighton. We got up early (well had left the house by 9am, which is early for me on a Sunday day off), and after Macci D (Mcdonalds) breakfast, we headed towards Brighton via the M25 and M23.

The day was dry, though a bit on the chilly side (I had 5 layers on and was comfy). We decided to use the park and ride, though after the marvelous system that I am used to in Oxford (ok, Oxford did pioneer the park and ride system in the UK), it was pretty crap. I had checked on the 'visit Brighton' website and they said follow the signs from the A23 (M23 becomes A23, so simples). Now the signs say Mon - Sat and here we were on Sunday, but what the hell, we'll give it a whirl. We are then directed to a smallish car park at a leisure centre / football (I think) ground...........luckily there was no matches taking place, so there was plenty of parking. I dread to think what happens when matches are taking place. Oxford has five park and ride sites, and the one I use probably has parking for over 1500 cars and is full by 9am every day!!!

Anyway, I already knew that we had to get the number 27 bus that stopped outside the car park, and it ran every half hour on Sunday, and there it was, run by Brighton and Hove buses, as promised. Now according to hubbys fare chart thingy (list of all fares that bus drivers have to carry), First have arrangements with other bus companies, in that their staff can travel for free on First buses, and vice versa. According to the list, Go Ahead, of which Brighton & Hove and Oxford Bus Company are part of, are in this arrangement. I have asked one of the bus drivers I chat to in Oxford (Oxford Bus Company do the park and ride buses) if they accept First staff passes and he said he wasn't sure, but that all drivers would accept them anyway. This was basically the response we got in Brighton. The drivers did not seem that sure, but said no worries. So free bus travel from the park and ride - saved £3.70 each. I did ask hubby what he would do in the same situation and he had the same response..........accept them!! And I should add this was the first time I used my staff travel pass!!!

Anyway, we had a lovely time in Brighton. We went to the royal Pavilion which was quite fascinating, wondered along the pier, through the town and then had a late lunch, and all in all, it was lovely just to be able to do 'couply' type things.

At work we are well into the swing of foreign registrations. We are so busy that we have to have an extra member of staff on duty and today I achieved the record...............54 registrations. At £34 each, that was £1836 I took today.........if only I was on commission!!! Have to say, I was a bit jaded by the end of the day and had to come home to a large G&T to recover.

Well the next two days are rest days............though tomorrow night I am teaching the Brownies about crime prevention............................!!

Small victories are the sweetest!!

Well it would appear that the population of Oxford are hell bent on trying to kill each other, got to work today to discover there had been another GBH overnight!! That is three in twenty four hours.................and I am sure it will turn out that alcohol has played its part in all three. Those that know me, know I like a drink as much as the rest of them, I love alcohol...wine, beer, spirits, wine......have done several courses on wine, so know my stuff, and I have no problem with people having a drink and having a good time. However, since I have started working for the police I have come to the conclusion that the majority of incidents they have to deal with are either due to alcohol or exacerbated by alcohol.

Today definitely started out quieter than yesterday, though I did manage to lock myself out of the police station at 7.30 am. I should explain, that for security reasons (obviously!!) access to the police station is restricted. Those of us that work there have access via a fob system - pass your fob over the reader and you are let in. Officers and staff from other stations are allowed in by us and can move about unaccompanied and visitors have to have visitor passes and be accompanied at all times. I went out into the back yard to exchange the CPS mail with the courier and as the door closed behind me I felt for my keys, to which my fob is attached. Bugger.....they'll be on the desk back in the office then. Okay, few options here...........go round to the front of the station and hang about until another person comes in and lets me in (bit embarrassing); knock on the window of the briefing room and interrupt the briefing and get them to let me in (mega embarrassing) and then the facilities manager, whose office opens into the back yard (least embarrassing)....phew!

We had a visitor from Abingdon with us today who was a good laugh and it is always nice to meet colleagues from other stations.....we often talk on the phone, but don't often meet face to face. She was with us to learn about registrations, that those foreign people (who we are no longer allowed to call aliens) have to do. Being the start of the university year we are inundated, so much so that during September and October, all our spare shifts are turned into middle shifts and all you do is registrations, as it makes it easier to have one person doing this. Not all stations do registrations, and previously Abingdon didn't, but they have started doing so, hence the training.

My small victory today was small, but sweet. A 'legal representative' (more about them in a minute) came into the station and said he wanted to see a client in custody. He gave me the name, and let us just say that the individual is known to police, so I knew the name (also know the person). Now when known people are in custody you tend to know, and I thought....I haven't seen the name on the custody board. Well I checked and sure enough, not there. So I went back to 'legal rep' and said 'person isn't in custody here'. I then got back 'person is here' and he starts to spell the name. Let's just say it is quite an unusual name and I know how to spell it. Well I said in my politest voice (okay, I'm lying here) 'I know how to spell it and the person is not on the board'. Response 'I don't care if person is on the board or not, person is here...call custody' Always obliging me, so I call custody and ask about said person, saying that the 'legal rep' is insisting that said person is here, even though person is not on the board. Well, turns out said person is in custody at another station. Oh, imagine my joy, having to go back to stroppy 'legal rep' and say 'person is in custody at another station'. Did I get an apology, did I heck, but the look on said 'legal reps' face was reward enough!!!!

I should explain that when people are in custody they have the right to legal representation. This can be a solicitor, but often, especially if they are on legal aid, it is a legal representative. Now they are not solicitors, though they do have legal training, and some of them are okay, but most of them are so up their own arses, you would think they are QC's. This particular one is one of the later category, hence my sweet victory.

Hubby has done day two on his own, and Slough is still on the map and the company's reputation is still intact. He is enjoying his new life as a bus driver though strangely is finding it hard to get back into the shifts. After many years of working all hours gods sends in hospitality (early starts and late finishes), he then has three weeks of doing Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm when he was a trainee, and oh how quickly did he adjust to that life. He is not finding the hours hard though and how did he enjoy his shift the other day; start about 7am, finish about 7pm, but a four hour paid break in the middle.........he came home and was paid for it. He didn't get any sweeties today though!

I have to confess, I got it wrong in my post yesterday, the pope doesn't go until tomorrow. I did tell you I wasn't interested.

Papal Visit

Felt a bit jaded this morning when I got up due to lack of sleep and going out with the girls last night. Jessica, on of the reception girls I used to work with is getting married in a few weeks, so the reception girls arranged a champagne cruise on the river followed by dinner in Aubergine (which is a posh restaurant). We had a lovely time and the guys in Aubergine looked after us really well. But by the time I got home and into bed it was past midnight and then I woke up not long after 4am and could not get back to sleep before the alarm went off at 5.15am

Anyway I get to work to find there have been two serious incidents overnight and the motor on the gates is knackered........typical. Then it is silly season from the PEC and how many stupid calls do I get put through to me that I do not have a hope in hell of actually being able to answer. This is rapidly followed by people coming in and asking those 'how long is a piece of string' question including the chap who had had his car taken off him and had been told by the court he could get it back and come to the police station and we will tell him where it is. Only he doesn't have any paperwork and can't remember the index of his vehicle................crystal ball time then!

Hubby has flown solo today, having had his first day unsupervised and the company's reputation is still intact and Slough is still on the map. Didn't get lost, hit anything, issue to wrong ticket or give the wrong change and even survived the school kids listening to music on their phone (told them to turn it off), added to which he got sweeties from several old dears (of the bus pass using variety not venison!).

The big news in the UK at the moment is the pope has arrived on a 'state' visit. Woo hoo........not! Now I am afraid that religion does nothing for me, but that is just me. I fully respect the right of others to practise what ever religion they want, and good on you if you can get something out of it. I find religion quite interesting, as in to study it, but a degree in history (many moons ago) in which I concentrated on medieval church history kinda put the final nail in the coffin so to speak for me and getting anything from a higher being or beings! Anyway, back to the pope, he is here on a two day visit taking in Edinburgh, London and Birmingham. He arrived today and will be gone tomorrow I do believe.............not entirely sure as have no interest what so over and it is costing the country a bloody fortune at a time that I think the money could be better spent elsewhere.............and isn't the UK supposed to be a protestant country anyway. Added to which, the Catholic church is supposed to be rolling in it, can't they fund it themselves??? Well I hope that all those people to whom the pope is important are enjoying this special occasion, and for the rest of us, he will be gone soon!

Government Cuts

Have read in the news today that the RMT (a rather militant British Union) has called for there to be co-ordinated resistance against the governments proposed cuts in the public sector. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against unions, I belong to one myself, though I do believe that some of them do not live in the real world - eg UNITE and BA. But anyway, what the article goes on to say is that the government has asked all departments to make between 25% and 40% savings over the next four years, with the exception of the NHS and overseas aid.


Now those of us in the public sector are anxiously waiting for the end of October, when the government is going to finally publish a figures of how much money they are going to cut, and then the cull will start. The rules state that police officers cannot be made redundant, they can be sacked, but not made redundant. On the flip side they are also not allowed to strike, and those who have served 30 years can be forced to retire, but this is very rarely enforced. As police staff there is a possibility that my job could be at risk, though in my team we do comfort ourselves that our role is hopefully safer than others. We can be made redundant but we can strike.


I think most people realise that things have got to change and jobs are going to be lost, but one of my concerns is that it is all well and good cutting the public sector to save money, but where do they expect these people to get jobs. There is no way way the private sector can fill the gap, after all, I was in the private sector when the recession first struck and was made redundant in a cost cutting exercise. So we cull the private sector and when these people can't get jobs in the private sector what happens............yeap, they will be claiming benefit!


Now the welfare budget, that is another thing that needs to be cut, and the government has stated its intention to do just that. Now there are loads of people who claim benefit that shouldn't, because they are perfectly capable of working.............so that will be a few more people chasing those few precious private sector jobs!!!


And then we get to those two departments that have been 'ring fenced', to use the official term...ie don't have to make cuts. The NHS and International Aid. Now the NHS is one of the most wasteful organisations about. I fully support the right for us all to have access to free health care and I fully accept and understand that in order to have this, we may have to wait for non urgent operations and treatments, but it really does need to sort itself out and become more efficient and streamlined. As with all of these things, when the money is short, who suffers, the people at the bottom who have to deliver the service. Come on NHS, cull some of that management structure.

And then we get to International Aid. Am I the only person out there who thinks charity begins at home????? COME ON. Here we are, millions of people in the public sector might be losing their jobs and we are still supporting other countries. It is all good and well being altruistic and when we have the cash, yeap, lets help those less fortunate than ourselves, but when the country is basically bankrupt, why have we not cut international aid. This is a global recession and hard times are coming to all!

And a sign of the times was brought home to me the other day in Asda. I went to pick up a few bits and also got a joint of meat for the roast today (it being Sunday 'n all). The joint, pork if you are interested, about £10's worth, was security tagged. The girl at the check out said that they are now having to tag the more expensive food items instead of clothes. And that is the stark reality of the situation we are in.

Well I suppose all we can do at this stage is wait and I have to be thankful that on the 12th October I will have worked for the police for a year, so will have more employment rights by the time we hear how much money we are expected to save!!

Did you know?????

I read an interesting fact today - apparently there are more mobile phones in the United Kingdom than there are people!!!

Now does that mean there are more handsets, and in which case I am not surprised, after all, if you are on a contract, generally after 18 or 24 months you get a free upgrade, so whats happens to the old one, yeap, back of the cupboard or drawer if you are like most people.

Or does it really mean sim cards, and at first I was a little surprised at this. I have just checked, and the population of the UK is apparently 61.4 million, so do they mean there are over 61.4 million active sim cards out there?? But then if you think about it logically, this is not as mind boggling as it sounds.

For example, technically I have two sim cards...........my own, and then hubbys, as his was a special offer type thing attached to mine, so his phone has always been in my name. Now, it means that he doesn't have one, so we are your normal average, two sim card family. However, when I think of my employers...........there about 4.5 thousand police officers in the force and they all have 'job' mobiles, and I am pretty sure that most of them also have personal mobiles as well, so there you go, I guess by the time you take into account all those people who have business / work mobiles as well as the fact that children appear to be getting them from a younger and younger age, this will more than cover the few people out there who don't have phones. Scary!!!!

I am back on nights tonight, but as I am only doing two, I don't want to try to turn my whole body clock around, so I set my alarm early this morning, went back to sleep and then got up about half past nine. Have been debating on going back to bed this evening for a few hours, but probably won't, so tomorrow I will be knackered, but I am going to try to get up about midday ish, and then if I still feel knackered, have a kip before I go back to work.

I finally finished the painting!!!!! Well, the boards round the garage.....still got to do the ones that the gutters are attached to, but as they are by the roof, I can't do them on my own - who would rescue me if I fell off the ladder!!

I have had a small attempt at domestic goddessness today. I sorted out all the washing, after spending the day ironing yesterday, did ALL the washing up, put the previous lot away and have hoovered downstairs as well as cleaned the downstairs loo and put out the recycling! Phew. it doesn't happen that often , me doing domestic goddessness type stuff, so I feel the need to mention it here. I might even go and replace the washing line in a minute............the old one keeps snapping, all the clean whites ended up on the floor yesterday (thank god I jet washed the yard last week), so I finally gave in and bought a new one in Asda. If cost me a whole pound........ I know, but sometimes you have to splash out.

Had to chuckle at my sisters facebook status up date - 'thinks monkeys are really cute, but they do become rather less endearing when they go and break your *@!#ing satellite dish!!!' . Not generally a problem to those of us in Europe (unless you live in Gibraltar), the hazards of living in Africa!!

Hubby was home ridiculously early today, half past three, just as I was cruising facebook. Still not sure I am used to him not working 14 hours plus each day, though then I remembered, while they are training Friday is POETS day - 'piss off early tomorrow's Saturday'! Anyway he has now finished type training, as they are apparently quite happy that he can drive the various types of bus they have at the depot without stuffing them into a tree or something. So on Monday more route learning then he will be driving in anger....yeap you've guessed it, driving a bus with paying passengers. Okay, they don't just give 'em a bus and say off you go, they do do a few days with a driver who actually knows what he / she is doing, a 'buddy' who will help them with the tricky stuff, like tickets. And there was me thinking that it was only the people who got to use buses for free actually used them. You mean people actually pay??!!!!

Summer is over!!!

Well summer is over, not that we really had what I would call summer! We did have a warmish spell, but I was on nights, so trying to sleep. However, I have been on early shifts recently and there is that definite autumnal nip in in the air at six-thirty in the morning. I have more or less managed to finish the woodwork round the garage and porch. I sanded, treated and undercoated the long side, just got to do the gloss top coat now, but it keeps raining. Will hopefully try tomorrow.

At work we are preparing to be inundated by the overseas students who have to register with the police as part of their visa terms. They used to be called aliens (not the little green men type), but we are not allowed to call them that anymore!! When I first started last October, we were in the middle of registration hell, so it was one of the first things I learnt to do on my own, very quickly - needs musts. It does mean that basically all your spare shifts become middles (yuk!) to give extra help. Because of where we are, with the universities, colleges and schools, we always have registrations, plus all the updates to deal with, but the Autumn term is the busiest.

Well our big news is that hubby passed his driving test (for a bus), first time, which is better than the two guys he was training with, one passed on his second attempt the week before hubby and he heard the other failed again (second time) today. This has of course means hubby is feeling quite smug, though I did remind him that pride comes before a fall. He has now completed all the classroom based training, how to evacuate a bus on fire, what to do if you find a suspicious package - I would have thought RUN would have been the best option - though saying that, we have had two bomb scares at work since I started, and we evacuated neither times (such a pain getting all the prisoners out the cells!), and then how to be nice to the customers!!!! Anyway, he is now busy 'type training' (learning how to drive different shapes and sizes) and route learning. He also got all his uniform yesterday - corporate branding or what, let us just say there is no doubt who he works for!!!!

As the kids are now back at school, I went back to Brownies yesterday evening. Don't think I have mentioned it before, but I am a Brown Owl, I run a Brownies unit in Cookham with a friend. We meet every Wednesday night from 6pm to 7.15pm and we have twenty six girls aged between 7 and 10. We try to do various things with the girls through out the term, this term including craft, games, bowling and they are also doing their crime prevention badge (that'll be me getting loads of info from work then!).

I have been on rest days for the last two days, back to work tomorrow, but on nights. Should be three nights, but Sunday is a rest day in lieu because we have a training day on Monday - joy!! At least it might be slightly more exciting than the last two - how to fill in a TA1 (traffic accident form), safety training (but remember, you can't touch anyone, coz that would be assault) and gathering forensic evidence from sexual assault victims (no...............I'll get a police officer thank you very much!), as we are doing counter terrorism, fire arms and first aid. We have speculated that once we have shot each other and blown each other up, we will then make it all better!!! Shouldn't joke really, when the control room staff got their firearms training, the firearms officer managed to shot one of them - luckily no one was killed, though I believe the force had to make a rather large payout! And I should point out that our training will only involve looking at and talking about, not actually doing!!!

Relief

He passed - thank god!!!!!!

So he is now officially a bus driver - apparently! Still a bit more training before they risk the company's reputation, but on the home stretch now. :)

Arrivals and Nervousness - and that's just me!

Well, my mummy arrives tomorrow - the house is clean(er/ish) and the front door key is hidden so as they arrive while we are still both of work, they can actually get in, rather than sit on the door step!!

But the big news is hubby has his driving test tomorrow - scary!!!! So, by this time tomorrow, he sh0uld be the proud owner of a category D licence, which means in the UK, you can drive a bus / coach with over 16 seats, for hire and reward (ie carry fare paying passengers). Useful if you are employed as a bus driver!!! Actually, if he fails, he gets another a few goes, so it is not the be all and end all if he fails, but being a competitive sod he wants to do it first time. Also, he will be so grumpy he doesn't pass. I will be keeping everything crossed and will be awaiting the text (sms) that will reveal all..............so be warned, no stroppy punters tomorrow morning thank you very much.

So fingers crossed and in a few weeks he should be driving one of these, all by his self!!!

This and That

Have been having a play around with the settings etc on the blog, as I came to realise, that although the black back ground was nice and sophisticated, it made my eyes go funny, every time I looked up from the screen, I kept seeing white lines. I changed the pic a few weeks ago, as although the first one I used was interesting - the arch over Durban football stadium, I thought I would use the one taken of me in Uzbekistan a long time ago.........about 18 years ago.........when not only was I much younger, but much thinner too!!! Well I am working on that.....the getting thinner bit I mean, as as far as I know, we can't yet turn back time!

Well I have finished the worst stretch of our shift pattern..........four nights, three days off, five lates two days off! Even though in fourteen days you have five days off, you still feel like death by the end. Well it is over now and it doesn't come around again for a whole six weeks!!!!

Having been on lates for the week, you don't get much opportunity to do much, as invariably you never go to bed much before about half one in the morning...need to chill a bit first, then you get up late...and before you know it, time to go back to work!! Has meant I have not seen much of hubby as he is still 'in training' so to speak, so is doing Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. At 7am when he is leaving, I am still sound asleep, I am at work when he comes home and although he was waiting up to see me when I got home, he was then going straight to bed. Well next week I am on earlies for the first three days, so we will be getting home at about the same time!

Nothing much has happened in my work world............well there was quite a nasty murder at a local posh golf club. Member of staff decapitated the bar manager in a row................yes you did read it right, DECAPITATED...as in head chopped off! I still find it rather strange that we know all this info that isn't in the public domain.........like it wasn't released to the press until Wednesday that he had been decapitated, four days afterwards. Interestingly, although you have a body sans head, a paramedic or doctor still has to pronounce life extinct...........how about that for following procedure!! Other than that, the usual of people thinking that the police are here to solve all their problems (they're not!) etc etc. Did have to love the person who phoned up to report that she had lost her hand bag, which included details of where she lived as well as her house keys, so she was having to get her locks changed (sensible) but then proceeded to ask me how she could be sure that the lock smith would not keep a copy of the new keys and then come back to her house at a later date and steal all her stuff. Honestly.............the way some people's minds work!!

Well, back to sorting out the house as my mummy arrives from the southern hemisphere on Wednesday for a few days, so serious tidy up is called for. Now I don't want to give you the impression that I am a complete slob and live in a slum, but when you work full time, and shift work at that, something usually has to give, and in my case it is dusting (don't mind dust, don't think dust has ever killed anyone) and doing the filing......as in the dining room table is the usual dumping ground for all the post etc, rather than actually put it away. I am also going to have to find the spare bed, as we usually use the spare room as a drying room / waiting to sort clean clothes out room!!

I have managed to do a bit more of the outside painting, but generally the weather is conspiring against me and it is cold and wet all time. Hasn't someone told the weather it is August for gods sake and it is supposed to be warm and sunny!! Managed to get the undercoat on before it slashed down, but have then had to have 'another' expensive trip to B&Q to buy stuff to sort out the rotten bits in the boards............well at least I now know how the water is getting in! Hope to do a bit more when I get home tomorrow.

Still on nights!

Am still on nights, though tonight is the last one which is nice. It is not that I mind working nights, after all I only worked nights for ten months in my last job, but the human body is programmed to sleep at night and be awake during the day, though I am pretty sure mine is programmed to be asleep most of the day as well as the night, but that is another thing!

Anyway, last night, or probably the early hours of the morning, I came across this article on the BBC website. I spend a lot of time surfing the net at night, as my role is basically reactive......someone comes into the police station, I deal with it. No one comes in equals no one to deal with. Okay, we do have a few admin type tasks to do as well as doing PNC (Police National Computer) checks for officers - we have access, they don't - but that still leaves a lot of the night to fill.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11012356#

I found this article quite interesting as I am firmly in this camp, rather too firmly I am sure some would say. I actually have an 'O' level (yes, I am old enough to have done 'O' levels instead of GCSE's, though I have a couple of those too) in Computer Studies. The machines my school used where the old BBC basics and this was BW (before windows) and everything was in DOS (do most modern computer users even know what this is). Projects at school involved many hours with the Encyclopedia Britannica and the photocopier, none of this whack it into Google and hey presto, project done. Oh, and we actually had to write as well, draw grafts and stick (as in use glue) in pictures etc if required. Anyway, I digress...........my laptop goes on the minute I get in the door and I spend many an hour happily surfing. I feel slightly uneasy if I leave home without my mobile (cell phone to you overseas types) and my ipod goes with me almost everywhere. I get my news online, happily shop on line and chat to family overseas by text. I also watch TV, usually while surfing the internet - the advantages of a laptop and wireless. Seven to nine hours a day - IS THAT ALL??? If I count time spent at work, I probably equal much more. It does make you wonder though, how did we ever manage without computers, the internet, mobile phones etc? As I am from the generation that saw home computers become available, the use of the internet become common place as well as the birth of mobile phones, I guess I should be able to answer that, but I can't. When my internet broke a few weeks ago I felt lost, isolated, cut off and I still had access at work. Just another example of how we all become so reliant on things that we once did so well without.

Well I hope that tonight is a peaceful night with no dramas - well for me anyway. While my nights have not been busy in anyway, last night I spent over an hour with a drunk 'person' (struggling to be polite here) who came in with a problem that was not a police matter. Anyway, it was about 1am, not much else to do, so listened, tried to establish what the issue was, gave advice, listened some more, before at about half two and having lost the will to live I told him to leave or I would have him removed. I then get a phone call from the control room, followed from another from the PEC (Police Enquiry Centre - the nice people who answer the phone when you call us, either on the 9's or on the non-emergency number) asking if I had just thrown someone out of the station (yes), why (he's a drunk nutter) and what did he want coz he ain't making sense to us (well he wasn't to me either, but after and hour and a half, the gist of his story is....). Yeap, you guessed it, he called in from the phone box that is just up the road from the station (about 50 feet) on the 9's!!!!!! Let me remind you, the 9's are for emergencies, ie someones life is in danger, you witness a criminal act taking place etc, not because you fancy a chat or are pissed.

Well, it is time for the news, so I had better go an watch that to keep my average up.

The night shift!!!

This week I am on nights, so spent the day trying to sleep. All I can say is thank god it isn't hot. Have you ever tried sleeping during the day, when it is 30 plus degrees outside, so you have to have the window open to attempt to get a breeze, when the kids are on school holidays??? No......does not work, let me tell you. Normally, on the day of your first night shift, you try to sleep in, or if that fails, try to catch a few hours in the afternoon or evening. Well, yesterday I woke up at 8.30am, tried and failed to sleep in the afternoon and tried to sleep in the evening, and managed 40 minutes. Not good, as I figured that by the time I got home this morning, I would have been awake for nearly 24 hours.........argh, really not good, especially when you consider the 20 minute motorway journey I have home. I did have visions of ending up in a ditch on the side of the motorway having fallen asleep at the wheel, but at the special request of the traffic unit who dropped in last night, who had just been to a fatal on the motorway where someone had gone off the road, I managed to stay awake. Actually, I felt surprisingly awake at 7am, but by 7.30am I was fast asleep.

Night shifts can be a tadge on the boring side. The three we do over the weekend tend to be a bit more lively, it's amazing the fun you can have with the drunks who seem to believe that actually the sole reason for the existence of the police to to run them home when they miss the last bus, drink their bus / taxi fare or aren't allowed in a taxi or on a bus because they are too drunk. Ok, the police due have a duty of care if you are drunk and incapable - ie can't look after yourself, but what tends to happen then is you spend the night in one of our nice warm rooms (also known as cells) and have the possibility of a caution or reprimand or worse to go with it.......not a free taxi ride home!! Oh, and you still have to get yourself home in the morning when you sober up.

However, the four nights we do Monday to Thursday are generally a little quieter. For example last night I had the lady who came in and demanded help. When I asked her what was wrong she told me she needed sectioning as she knew too much!!! Sigh, care in the community DOES NOT WORK PEOPLE. All that happens is the health professionals who have many years of training to deal with it, don't deal with it, and the police who don't have many years of training, do deal with it. For example, I am considered trained to deal with people with mental health issues coz I have read the relevant chapter in the book! Anyway, I suggested to this lady that she go see her GP in the morning, as she did not appear in immediate danger and to my relief she then decided she was going to be strong and deal with it herself. You do always have the moment of doubt........what if she leaves here and does something awful to herself, or someone else, but we are limited in what we can do, and we just have to judge if there is an immediate risk.

The only other people I saw (other than officers that is) was the inevitable taxi dispute. Drunk lads get in a taxi with two girls they claim not to know, that the taxi driver claims they do know. Drunk lads have £2.50 in total and apparently tell the girls they don't have any money, so the girls that they reckon they don't know, say they will pay the majority of the fare. Girls get out first and give lads a handful of loads of change, which when the boys count out is about 80p! Taxi fare is nearly £10 in total, which drunk lads can't pay, but they agreed to come to the police station with the taxi driver as they thought they were in the right!! Oh, the arrogance of youth, especially drunk youth. So, after we established that technically this was not a police matter as it is a civil dispute, and that by getting in the taxi, the drunks lads had entered into a contract with the taxi driver........ie he provides ride home, they pay money; I suggest to the lads that 1. they must be pretty silly to believe that the 'large' handful of change (80p) was going to be the girls share of the taxi fare and 2. as the girls share was £5, they still did not have enough money to pay the rest of the fare.

Of course, the lads then claim that they had no more money, bank accounts at £0 and no possibility of getting any more cash. The taxi driver agreed that the lads could pay him at a later date and so they all exchanged details and off they went, though the lads did seem to think that the taxi driver should take them again, for free!!! But was that the end of it..................no! About ten minutes later the lads were back saying they had a problem.......and guess what that was? Correct, no way of getting home, so could I sort something out. No problem lads, you can walk. Well that suggestion went down like a lead balloon.............but it's five miles and it is raining. Bollocks was it five miles, about three at most........and guess what lads, you are going to get wet. Then I get the comment 'So this is how the law works is it?' Yes lads, the police service are here to deal with crime, not provide a taxi service for those who had decided to drink all their money. More satisfied customers..........I await the complaint.

Well, one down, three to go..................more surfing the internet then!