First, congratulations to John. I'm sure you've already seen his news. He will be brilliant, I'm certain. The people of London are lucky to have him working for them. (As we are lucky to have him the rest of the time).
Second, in comments some of you will have seen that we had a bit of a result today - a huge police op running all over London today collared someone we've had a warrant out for for a while now, so very very pleased about that.
Thirdly...thirdly. Question. I suppose it makes sense to carry on from yesterday.
Nameless said, after yesterday's post: OK, please count "Why/when/how/etc has it seemed like you might have had to give up policing?" as my next question. I'm burning with curiosity here.
Well. I've talked about a big car crash I had before - I was in a pursuit, in a police car. We went off the road, via a lamp post, brick wall and at least one flip. I got knocked about a bit, and at first they were a bit worried about me - internal injuries, my leg was a bit of a mess. No one ever said to me that there was a chance I'd have to jack it all in, but I spent a lot of time lying about in hospital, waiting for tests and treatment and doctors and thinking what I'd do if they said it was serious. Happily the opposite was true - I mean, it was a bit serious, but as a result of it I got to work in CID when I was on light duties, and ended up transferring to be a DC after that.
I'd only been in CID a year or so when the next time came up. I was on an op. It all got very...heated. Frankly, you couldn't tell the cops from the crims. And at the end more than one person was taking advantage of the NHS. And more than one brief was lodging a complaint.
Four of us got dragged up in the end. Looking back, it was the right thing. At the time I was furious. I was so sure we were the good guys and they were the bad. But I was wrong. Got an official warning. Was incredibly lucky not to get kicked out. Really not my proudest days. It meant it took me longer to make DS than I wanted - but I think it was good for me. I needed to grow up.
Then there was a time when I got another job offer. Decent job, working with someone I got along really well with. Fitting and decorating interiors - nice stuff, designer. Shops, homes, all sorts. He's a fantastic joiner, and I've always loved that sort of thing. Anyway, the idea was I'd give up the Job, work regular hours, see more of my husband, all of that...and then I just couldn't do it. I couldn't give it up. I thought about spending my days covered in dust and paint making pretty rooms and...it wasn't me. I wouldn't have been happy. Of course, the fact I didn't take it in the end didn't make Bryan very happy, either. I suppose, essentially, I chose the job over him, eventually... but it was the right thing to do. Just took quite a while for me to find the courage to do it.
Anyway, there were a few other times, mainly via injury. But those were the big three.
I'm very glad I didn't give it up.
33 comments:
You may have fallen into the profession originally, but it sounds like in the end you chose it, too. For all the right reasons.
The people of London are lucky to have you BOTH working for them.
Yeah, I did choose it. I loved it once I was in (well, once I was in and had got used to people ordering me about - which didn't come that naturally).
I'm glad you didn't give it up too.
And thanks again, for the flowers. It was really sweet of you.
You completely deserved them. They're lucky to have someone like you helping them out. We're lucky to have you all the time.
Love you.
I love you too.
*happy*
Thank you for answering my question :-)
Sounds like the formal warning you had was the wake-up call you needed? Much easier to say/see that in hindsight though, I suppose.
That last one you mentioned, where you had the offer to go into interior design and decorating; that can't have been too long ago, if you were married at the time? It sounds like it was a tough decision in some ways, easier in other ways. I'm glad you were able to make the right choice for you in the end :-)
You bought John flowers? You soft shite <3
Of course. It's worth celebrating.
Are you up still? Or again?
With that, I'm almost surprised that Greg the Florist wasn't Greg the Interior Designer. Or are there fewer pus to be getting on with in the latter profession?
I tease -- glad that you picked something that wasn't just convenient for you (in terms of hours) or ease. They might be good things in the short run, but can't alone make you happy or feel like you've accomplished something.
But on the subject of accomplishing things, I was linked to this monstrosity of a dessert--the cherpumple--today and thought of you: http://www.neatorama.com/2011/11/22/a-cherry-pie-an-apple-pie-and-a-pumpkin-pie-each-cooked-inside-a-separate-cake-and-then-all-cooked-together-inside-another-cake/
If you go back to your fort and make your turducken, perhaps this can serve as dessert?
Also, the flowers made me smile. What are your -- or John's -- favourites? Or do you have a preference?
I'm sure it was a boquet of Heracleum maximum and Epimedium grandiflorum.
Good morning, gentlemen! Or is Sherlock letting you have a bit of a lie in today? (It seems unlikely, even if you don't need to head out to Harrow all that early...)
Bit of a lie in, now trying to persuade us that he should come to Harrow.
Well, every little bit of sleep helps!
Is he trying logical arguments or going for sad-eyed begging? :)
It does.
And both. Also just trying to cling on to one of us like a limpet, as a last resort...
That sounds... Rather cute, actually. :)
And I suppose I should go to sleep, as it's past 1:30am. Have a good morning--and best of luck with your presentations. Bet you two are a big hit--and get through to at least some of those boys, which is more important!
Hope you sleep a lot better than I did.
And yes, he is cute.
We shall do our best to influence these boys into driving safely. Hopefully we will succeed.
Good luck with the talk today, both of you. I'm sure it'll be fine.
(I still reckon you should point out that you're having to give up your Sunday to work in order to do this, Lestrade. That Housemaster is a cheeky sod, IMHO, fully deserving of your "people pushing their luck" tag).
Well, I don't 'have' to do it. I mean, he can't make me. But I was pretty irresponsible, popping that wheelie, so if this'll keep everything smooth, so much the better.
Hopefully we'll get to have lunch or something with Mycroft too.
You're too nice :-)
Too scared of pissing people off, I think, rather than nice.
And if it stops one boy driving like a maniac, so much the better.
(I should be at work by now)
You have a job, which you are bloody brilliant at, which involves pissing people off without hesitation in certain circumstances. But you don't like doing it to anyone else? You sound like me :-p
Hope it goes well. I think I can safely speak for your other blog readers when I say give our best to Mycroft if you get the chance :-)
Good luck today, gentlemen. I'm sure it'll go well.
Yeah, perhaps I get my full quota of pissed off people at work. Don't want any elsewhere. I think that's normal though, right?
Get to work!
Thanks DW.
Truancy, Nameless? Tsk tsk. Be careful or you might he giving the next lecture. :P
Yes, good luck to you both. We look forward to reading all about it. As Nameless says regards to Mycroft.
And unlike Nameless I'm on leave today, meeting friends and going to the theatre tonight (RR - We're seeing Measure for Measure)
Sounds like fun, SH. :)
What time is the Big Speech, Lestrade?
Hop you sleep a lot better than I did
I dunno--I only woke up twice in the night and got very nearly six hours ( well, five and a half, anyway)--is that better than you? I can sleep like a lump most of Shabbat if I like, it'll do. :)
Yes, I think it's normal not to want to annoy people in your private life, especially under these circumstances--you don't want to make life harder for Mycroft, you feel a bit guilty, and giving this talk is a chance to prevent future tragedies. It's probably over by now anyway--how'd it go?
Have fun, SH!
Talk over, yes. Now having lunch with Mycroft.
Good afternoon everyone. I have no idea why Lestrade is making me type this, as if you could possibly differentiate between the two of us with those three words alone. Hence I have given you more data with these sentences.
Thanks Mycroft.
And RR, you did far better than me, yes. At lead Harrow provide quality coffee.
Hi, Mycroft! Were you part of the audience for the Big Talk? Do you think it was effective? (I'm positive it was good, but audience reactions are not always predictable.)
If I slept better than you did, Lestrade, maybe you and John should grab a nap when you get home!
Did as I was told, went to work (was tempted to play truant, DW, but they would have come looking for me :-p)
SH - ooh, colour me jealous. I saw Measure For Measure at the National a couple of years ago; had never seen/read the play before. I loved it, their production was dark and painful and challenging :-)
Lestrade - realised reading that back that it sounded like I was saying I was bloody brilliant at my job; I wasn't! I was definitely saying that you are, though :-)
Glad the talk went well.
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