11 September 2013

We would be warm, below the storm

Have a guess how many forms I have to fill in/check if someone is arrested? Be interested to see what you think. And how long it should take...

Obviously certain forms run to many pages... so I'm just counting the individual forms as designated by different codes by the Met.

As you probably saw on John's comments, I pulled someone over on the way back into town - this total... idiot, we shall call him, tried to pull inbetween two vehicles. Failing to notice one was towing the other. Despite the huge 'on tow' signs, the bright red tow rope, etc.

Anyway, Sherlock almost exploded with glee at being able to switch on the lights and siren 'in anger'. It certainly makes people jump, when the boring, normal, grey BMW beside them suddenly lights up like a Christmas tree and starts wailing.

We felt like this octopus

(I'd have put it in the post, but it starts when you load the page, and I hate that.)

Day off tomorrow! To tend John's bruises ;) Sherlock says I'm 'better' when I have the next day off...proof that I'm an incredibly lucky man to have such a great life away from work, I think.

There was an old plane flying over London the other day, followed by a helicopter. I think they were filming something.


I get...irrationally angry, when John gets hurt. I mean, really, really fuming. I have to...just, I don't know, really crush it down. I know it's stupid. There's nothing I can do after the fact. There is almost certainly nothing I could do even if I was there. He's better trained than I am. No point me being angry, especially as he's normally the person I'm with. Used to get very angry - like this - as a kid.

119 comments:

John H. D. Watson said...

That octopus is amazing. As are you, although not quite in the same way. I think I'm 'better' when you have the next day off as well.

If it helps, you would've needed Superman's reflexes to do anything. One second I was asking about the cut on his face, the next, wham. And then he was perfectly calm again, and muttering to himself.

Greg Lestrade said...

Don't think I blend in as well. Unless I'm against some sort of grey wall.

I know I couldn't have done anything. Just makes getting angry more pointless, doesn't it?

John H. D. Watson said...

Not really. I get angry when you get hurt too.

Greg Lestrade said...

does it help, though?

REReader said...

I don't think there being a point enters into it? Unless the point is hating to see someone you love being hurt. Which really is point enough, I'd think.

(That video is amazing--if you had an effect on the surrounding cars anything like that octopus had on me, I don't wonder that Sherlock was gleeful!)

John H. D. Watson said...

Well...it helps me a bit? I mean, it makes me feel better, that you care that much. Not that I wouldn't know you care anyway, but...yeah.

Greg Lestrade said...

Does it? Well...guess that's good, then.

REReader said...

Have a guess how many forms I have to fill in/check if someone is arrested? Be interested to see what you think. And how long it should take...

It SHOULD be one form and 10 minutes, but I'm guessing it is....um, 7 forms, 1 hour?

Small Hobbit said...

I had that happen to me this morning. I was peacefully driving down the motorway when all of a sudden the car in front in the next lane across starts flashing all its lights. I did a quick stocktake and decided that it probably wasn't after me, since my just above the speed limit in the middle lane didn't distiguish me from half the other road users and watched as it and the car in front of it moved onto the hard shoulder. As you say, one minute a boring looking car, the next a mobile Christmas tree.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock would love to be a professional er...puller-overer? Terrifier of wrongdo-ers? I dunno! He loves the feel of power, though...

Anonymous said...

It's understandable, one has so little power at nearly eight!

pandabob said...

I'm going to guess that there are more forms than is sensible to fill in for an arrest Greg and that time gets eaten by doing them but as to precise guesses I really wouldn't have a clue.

I can understand you feeling angry when those you love get hurt Greg, I think its fairly normal really :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Anon - and nothing else makes so much noise at the press of a button (well...no buttons within his reach!)

SH - I don't often have to use it. But I do prefer a nice unmarked car than a panda or area car. Nice to have a bit of a surprise up your sleeve. ;)

Anon Without A Name said...

I'm going to guess 2 hours, and a dozen forms.

I think feeling irrationally angry when someone you love gets hurt isn't actually irrational at all. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Anonymous said...

I think as long as you don't get so angry that John feels reluctant to tell you when he's hurt, you're fine. Because yeah. It's understandable.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Suppose I just didn't like angry adults when I was a kid, so don't think I should be one. Well, not in anyone else's presence.

REReader said...

I can understand that.

FWIW, myself, I'd say that being angry is okay, so long as you're in control of how you express it--which you definitely are--instead of letting the anger control you. It's the latter type that I find scary to be around.

pandabob said...

What do you do when you're angry Greg? That's the important thing.

The angry adults you had to deal with as a kid behaved in a way that they blamed on their anger. Anger doesn't make you do bad things or say bad things, anger is a perfectly normal emotion that we all have at times and good people learn how to feel angry and process it without passing it on or hurting other people.

Anger at those you love getting hurt is part of being protective of them, in a lot of ways it is a positive emotion :-)

Piplover said...

I'm going to guess 6 forms and an hour, possibly an hour and a half.

I think it's normal to be angry when someone you love is hurt. It's how you express that anger that matters. Since those you love aren't scared by your anger, I think you're managing it really well.

I hope the rest of your evening is peaceful and relaxing, for all of you.

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks.

I think part of it is not really knowing how to feel about it. It certainly doesn't make me feel good.

But you're probably all right, it's only natural.

Kestrel337 said...

I'm guessing 7 forms, and 90 minutes.

And echoing the 'it's normal' and 'how you handle it is the important part' with regards to anger when the people we love are hurt.

Sounds like it's been an exciting and exhausting day all around. I hope tomorrow is peaceful!

Joolz said...

Sorry you got hit like that, John, but as you said it couldn't have been anticipated, so I hope you don't feel that there was something you could have done to avoid it. Hope it's not too sore today.

Greg, I have to agree with the others that I think anyone would feel angry in that situation so I don't think it is irrational. I think it shows what a strong relationship you have with your husband that you feel confident and comfortable enough to be able to tell him how it makes you feel instead of either keeping it bottled up or striking out against it (which is maybe what you are used to have happening around you from your younger days). It shows how you have risen about what you grew up with and have learnt to channel it into more positive forms and don't forget that John admitted that he felt the same way when it happened to you so it's not wrong to feel like that.

Anyway I hope you both have a great day off together - just enjoy each other's company and do something fun (especially as 6 of your hours will be child free today!) ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Very grey rainy morning. Distinctly brightened by coffee out with my husband, tucked in a warm bakery away from the rain :)

pandabob said...

Its good you've found something warm and relaxing to do while it rains Greg :-)

I hope the rest of your day together is going well and you're not too bruised today John.

REReader said...

That definitely sounds like a nicer way to deal with rain than standing out in it and dealing with an idiot driver!

Hope the rest of your day together was as nice (or nicer). :)

Did you tell everyone at school about turning on the siren and all, Sherlock?

Anonymous said...

It is, for once, raining in Colorado too. A lot. My roommate offered to let me borrow her car if I drop her off at work so that I don't have to ride my bike to work in the rain, so I'm a happy camper.

I hope you all have a lovely day off. :)

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Having a great day :). Sherlock made us show Mrs N our rings. He's very adorably proud of us. :)

Joolz said...

Aww, that's lovely that he's so proud of you. You're both so lucky to have that little guy around. :)

Was he spreading the tale of 'blues and twos'-ing it in your car yesterday too.

Hope you've had a great day. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

I rather suspect his friends heard that he performed a daring arrest, leaping between moving vehicles, or something.

REReader said...

Aww, that's lovely, Sherlock showing you two off! (With or without tales of daring arrests. :))

Joolz said...

Well, of course, he's got to keep up with his DI, hasn't he. Can't have your daring escapades outstripping his own. ;)

How is the sore and injured one today, have you been tending his wounds. :)

pandabob said...

It is so very lovely that Sherlock wants to share his happiness about you two being married with everyone :-) He really is a very sweet boy.

John H. D. Watson said...

Doing fine, slightly bruised and puffy, that's all.

so I hope you don't feel that there was something you could have done to avoid it

For once, I don't. I can usually look back on situations and think, oh, I should've seen...whatever. Not this time. Very odd. Makes me think more FMEs should have psychiatric training.

Greg Lestrade said...

I have been kissing his bruises better. But he has this 'are you serious' look, complete with one raised eyebrow, when I do too much!

John H. D. Watson said...

Not stopping you though, am I? :)

Greg Lestrade said...

You stopped me licking your face earlier ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Apparently Voyager 1 has left the building. I mean solar system.

John H. D. Watson said...

Licking is different!

Anon Without A Name said...

Maybe you should kiss some of John's non-bruised bits too, Lestrade, just to keep him happy :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Oh, don't worry, I'm equal opportunities. I kiss all bits of him ;)

Anonymous said...

Well. They're sending the US Coast Guard into colorado. That's...significant.

Ella

REReader said...

Why are they sending them there, Ella? (I mean, it doesn't leap to mind--after all, Colorado doesn't have a coast!)

Greg Lestrade said...

Ella - because of the flooding? It sounds bad over there.

Small Hobbit said...

I'm assuming it's something to do with them having the expertise Ella? Is this also when the National Guard gets called in?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, because of the floods. Lots of mountain roads are either washed out or underwater, and there's towns up there nobody can get into/out of. So they're sending helicopters.

Ella

REReader said...

I'd have expected the National Guard. But hey, whatever it takes to get the help out there.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I'm not sure why coast guard over national guard, and i hadnt thought about it before people raised it here. But I think the problem isn't one of scale, but rather accessibility so maybe that's part of why.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm not sure i know exactly what the national guard is. Like the TA?

I'm very full of pizza. And garlic bread. And eton mess.

REReader said...

If I recall correctly (and I may be wrong, but I'm too lazy to look it up), the National Guard is part of the Army/Air Force Reserve--they are people who have full time civilian jobs, and serve part time in the National Guard. They're usually called up for emergencies, which is why I'd've expected them to be called out for the flooding in Colorado--you usually hear about them being called out for rescue work, when the disaster is big enough to warrant federal aid. I believe they were also called up to supplement the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, which might be why they sent the Coast Guard for this? (But that's just a guess.)

I don't know what the TA is?

And now I'm very hungry...

Anonymous said...

I don't know what the TA is. ;)

National Guard is our reserve army (I think, someone who's actual military can correct me). Even though they're the national guard, they're organized by state, and serve as that state's standing militia. The nice thing about the Guard is that you can join part time (I think they require you for training one weekend a month or something) so most people also hold full-time civilian jobs. They can be federalized (meaning their commander in chief is suddenly the president, rather than the governor), and they cant technically cross state lines without permission from the neighboring governor (ie, the Oklahoma governor has to give permission for the Nebraska national guard to help with tornado relief). They're most often used in crises and natural disasters, but Bush sucked a lot into active duty and sent them into Afghanistan/Iraq (which is one of the risks of joining--you may be asked to bolster the full-time troops and get sent overseas). They were also used during in the South in the 1960s to keep the peace when schools were being integrated, because local police forces couldn't be counted on.

Ella

pandabob said...

Your dinner sounds delicious Greg, I am very jealous.

I'm glad you and your husband have had a good day together :-D

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, like the Territorial Army here then. Part time, holding down other jobs. Except here I get the impression it's pretty much expected you'll serve abroad.

Rider said...

In Oz it is the Army Reserve. You are supposed to train on one night a week and only miss a certain number, and so many weekends a year and a 1 week camp once a year.

They didn't used to serve overseas hence the nicknames in the Vietnam era of "Koalas: not to be exported or shot at" or "Choco" short for Chocolate Soldier because they melted in the heat :)

But nowadays they are allowed to volunteer for overseas deployment and most do.

But they aren't used for natural disasters, we have a volunteer force called the SES State Emergency Service for that. They have the same sort of time commitment of 1 night a week and a few weekends and one week long camp a year (and they get paid time off from most big employers for that like the Reserves do, and most employers grant leave when the SES is called out.).

The army does get called out for really big things that that's the Regs not the Reserve. Cos the Regs have all the cool gear.

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - thanks. Still can't believe I'm lucky enough that this man asked me to marry him!

pandabob said...

Its not luck that did it Greg its your, and his, complete amazingness :-D

Anonymous said...

Never mind, we are getting national guard choppers, not coast guard. And the rains letting up, at least in my neighborhood.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Ella - glad it's getting better. Hope whoever turns up to help get there in time and makes a big difference.

REReader said...

I'm watching film from there right now (evening news)--stay safe, Ella.

Greg Lestrade said...

Mycroft just sent me this, and asked if this is how I dealt with the man yesterday.

(it was)

http://youtu.be/TN8YQVM1GQI

REReader said...

Hee!

(I'm sure you'd never hit anyone with your Bible, L... ;))

Rider said...

Of course he wouldn't RR. Haynes manuals are paperback, no use for hitting people with.

REReader said...

There you go, then!

rsf said...

I'm former Air National Guard -- and I'm visiting in Colorado just now -- so while Ella got most of it, she missed the two weeks in the summer that you train as well as the one weekend a month. It's been years since I was in, but even then we knew there was a chance of going overseas. And during the longer trainings I had chances to deploy to Turkey, Denmark and England. In some ways I miss it, but with my asthma I can't manage the work anymore.

The flooding here is bad, but a lot of it is oddly localized. Some places have gotten nearly fourteen inches of rain and other places have gotten two. Unfortunately, some of the places that have gotten a lot are on canyons, and the creeks are bursting their banks. Roads washed out all over the place. And then, east of Denver, there's another area that's getting frogstranglers too, so it's not just the hills. My nephew's school is closed tomorrow because the buildings have water coming in, and we're on the dryer end of town.

I'm hoping it will taper off tomorrow, but the weather people keep contradicting each other.

Small Hobbit said...

Rider, I'm clearly getting old. I had assumed that Haines manuals were still hardback.

Greg Lestrade said...

SH - shhhhhhh, I had assumed the same thing! (I do have a couple hardback. For things I haven't owned for many years. )

Piplover said...

RSF - when I was in Korea, we had an annual two week field exercise. We would get the National Guard from everywhere coming over to train.

A lot of them found it very exciting, but I found it more annoying that they had brought their curling irons and blow driers to a field exercise. Oy.

Small Hobbit said...

Piplover, my Guides would try to do that - I assumed they would grow out of it ;)

REReader said...

... And did they remember to bring along electrical outlets?

rsf said...

*snicker*

My old first sergeant would have so much fun with those silly people.

What is a Haines manual?

REReader said...

Car/Motorcycle repair manual (at least, that what their website says!) (Yeah, I had to look it up. :))

Greg Lestrade said...

Haynes! They are brilliant manuals. For everything.

rsf said...

There's a company called Chilton that does those here. Useful!

REReader said...

And now for something completely different...

Yom Kippur starts tonight, and since I'm going to be pretty busy this afternoon, I want to take the time now to wish you all a g'mar chasima tova--may you be sealed (in the metaphorical Book of Life) for the best of good years. :)

(And for any of you fasting, have an easy fast!)

Anon Without A Name said...

Haynes really do have a manual for everything.

Small Hobbit said...

I'm sure Scotty has a copy on a shelf somewhere.

Greg Lestrade said...

I rather like this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1844257592

pandabob said...

That would be seriously useful Greg :-) its a Shame they don't do one for 7 year olds ;-)

REReader said...

Shame that babies don't come with one included!

Small Hobbit said...

And, courtesy of the NHS, eligible for free delivery.

Greg Lestrade said...

And now...run away from work time!

Sherlock, what are we doing tonight? I've got to work tomorrow, but then you've got me all day Sunday. (And I might be able to get away early tomorrow.)

Sherlock said...

I can come with you tomorrow and help so you can finish really quickly.

REReader said...

That's a really nice offer to make, Sherlock!

Sherlock said...

Lestrade said I couldn't.

REReader said...

But it was still nice of you to offer, especially considering that Lestrade just wrote in this post about how much paperwork he has to do.

Do you have something nice planned for Sunday, when he'll be off?

John H. D. Watson said...

Sherlock - I'd go with him and help too if it worked like that. Sadly, it doesn't.

Sherlock said...

But it SHOULD I bet we'd be the BEST because I can tell you what to write and even if you don't understand it no one will know what you write anyway because Lestrade says no one can read your writing anyway.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sadly they return forms they can't read, kiddo.

John H. D. Watson said...

I don't know, are you sure about that? Have you ever tried it?

Greg Lestrade said...

They return forms you number incorrectly. Or put a page in a file upside down...

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah, but do they read them? I always had the suspicion in the Army that 90% of the forms I submitted were neatly numbered and filed and never looked at again.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, but most of these are being submitted for the defence to pick them apart until they decide the fact your pen ran out halfway through the page shows you're a disorganised nightmare and probably contaminated some evidence by breathing on it and their client is definitely innocent.

John H. D. Watson said...

Oh, forms people actually use... Sorry, I've got no experience with those.

Greg Lestrade said...

You want to guess how many forms an arrest requires - this is presuming it's the sort of case I deal with - serious, and off to court.

John H. D. Watson said...

No, because I feel like I should know, and I don't. A dozen or so?

Greg Lestrade said...

Well there, you did (almost) know. 11. 11 forms, plus statements, plus time for disclosure, lots of discussion with the CPS, actual charging... the guideline time for all the bits of arrest that aren't dependent on anything else (like, statements are obviously dependent on how many people witnessed anything) Just the forms, the guidelines say should take between 4 and 6 hours. Everything else takes about...5 hours? So in one 12 hour shift, you can arrest on person and if you're lucky, file the case. That's 11 and a half hours of your shift that you're stuck in the nick for... and people moan they don't see coppers on the beat anymore!

John H. D. Watson said...

That's...madness.

(It doesn't stop me from being slightly pleased I got it almost right though.)

Greg Lestrade said...

You lot just give us even more paperwork to process, with your medical know-how ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

It does seem to be a significant part of the job.

Greg Lestrade said...

You looking forward to court? I might sneak in on your first time on the stand ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm really not. Just don't tell you're there until after. And no making faces at me while I'm up there...

Greg Lestrade said...

I shall come in disguise - a wig and false nose and glasses. Although then I'll look like a spare judge...

Just don't have...y'know, the dreams.

John H. D. Watson said...

The dreams?

Greg Lestrade said...

You know..suddenly realising you're naked. Or in the dock. Or in bed with a judge - or worse, a defence lawyer ;) Forgetting things. Being torn to shred by aforementioned lawyer... pulling out your notes and finding out it's your shopping list... all that!

John H. D. Watson said...

Oh, gosh, thanks... Just for that, I may not tell you I'm doing it till it's over. :P

REReader said...

Just popping in last minute to wish all a g'mar tov--a good, happy year (without The Dreams!). :)

(11 forms? The better part of a work day? Dear heavens. I'm amazed anyone ever gets arrested, knowing what it entails!)

John H. D. Watson said...

G'mar tov to you as well, RR, and a distinct lack of both Dreams and Forms.

Small Hobbit said...

G'mar tov, RR.

Or your notes turning into a very colourful picture of a unicorn, sprinkling glitter all over the court.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'll find out :) I'm a detective!

You'll be fine. I think you'd be dead cool under cross examination.

John H. D. Watson said...

Not impossible if Sherlock gets near my notes.

Greg Lestrade said...

There are many good reasons my notebooks never come near this flat. That is one of them. About 99% of them are Sherlock-related. 1% dog related.

John H. D. Watson said...

L - I'll be fine as long as you don't sneak in dressed as a spare judge...

Greg Lestrade said...

To be fair, you can't sneak anywhere dressed as a judge...not with the robes and wigs and everything.

If I was a judge, though, I'd be like the one Ray Doyle grew up to be ;) Except...not sleeping with every woman in the courtroom. Just the cute FME ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha! I hope the robes and wig wouldn't be involved in any after court activities.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm fairly sure no one has ever found a judge's wig sexy. Ever. In the history of ever.

How is it so late? Why am I working tomorrow? Why is there an egg in the fireplace? Why is there an ever-increasing pile of conkers in the fruit bowl?

...I should go to bed.

John H. D. Watson said...

I feel sure someone, somewhere has. But not often.

We should both go to bed. Maybe the egg will be gone in the morning.

Anonymous said...

...What's a conker?

Nevermind, I'll google, y'all're in bed. Have a lovely Dream-less night. :)

Ella

Small Hobbit said...

Ella, I expect you found out, but it's the brown nut inside the fruit of a horse chestnut tree.

Trills said...

I know this part of the conversation was ages ago but I couldn't let it pass

Baby owners user manual http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Baby-Owners-Manual-Trouble-shooting/dp/1931686238

(I gave this to a techie/car-loving father-to-be friend of mine and he said that honestly, of all the baby guide books he'd read this one was the most helpful as it spoke in his language)

REReader said...

Bit late, but I'm only now coming online, so--thanks, John and SH! (A year with neither Forms nor Dreams would be lovely! :))

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