Drusillas

Drusillas was excellent fun and it wouldnt have been right to leave without Grandad buying Popppy a meercat now would it. I love my meercat.......and my Grandad! Haha.

Bits and Bobs

Well went fishing on Thursday. Steaming hot day and 8 of us went on the chartered boat from the Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne leaving at 7.15am..10 hrs of it.Didnt know any of them but did by the finish! 3 chinese and an Italian from the hotels in Eastbourne and one of them hadnt been fishing before and he caught 3 cod and a sea bass lucky sod! I had a few mackerel and pouting but thoroughly enjoyed myself for £45 pound including rod and bait hire. I thought this was excellent for a day out and we went wreck fishing about 12 miles out into the channel. Had to move out of the way of some big bar steward boats! I recommend it and will be going again in August. Hopefully to get a big conger or big cod!
Had Poppy to myself on Friday so decided to take her with Tom, Emma and Chris Pascoe to Drusillas.(Bought annual membership for 3 of us..me Gill and Laura) which means u can go as much as you want. Poppy is free! I think CP who has a new pi&s off Nikon wanted to take pictures but decided he need the cover of a baby rather than be classified as a perv! Anyway he took some good snaps which will appear here soon as. Tom took Emma in a wheelchair due to her recent op on both her feet and persisted in doing the Lou and Andy wheelchair sketch from Little Britain which was funny...Emma might not agree!!Poor old Gill had to go to work....but then someone has to earn the dosh for my boat trips! So its been a mighty hard week!
Met up with Andy Bliss today, an old mate for breakfast with Gill and Poppy in Bills in Lewes and caught up on the goss and talked about my last week and the old days. Hes a good old boy and good to see he hasnt changed a bit. We then went to Gorringes auctions viewing so the card will get hit this next week I have no doubt!
Wales played NZ again this week after a mauling last week. Lost but with 'hwyl' which for those of you who dont speak two languages is best described as 'inner spirit' or 'warmth'.Considering the side we put out I was well chuffed. I think it was a case of showing serious balls in adversity. Well done the boyos. Some youngsters now now how much work they have to do..looks good for the future and as long as England keep that Martin Johnson bloke theres always hope that Wales will beat England in Cardiff next Feb. Come on Jeff get me a flipping ticket!

Whats this retirement lark like then!

Admittedly its the honeymoon period still but it is rather better than being on the hamsterwheel. Went to Lauras yesterday in Maidstone to cut her lawn!...also saw Poppy who was in her walker watching me in the garden. First time her little feet had been in contact with grass. All was going well til I touched the walker with the mower. OMG! It must have been like us being touched by a 10 foot high steam train. Short cry and she kept on watching! Anyway she had her first incisor today so look out the little nibbler. Went and saw Emma and Tom today p[ost Emmas op. Her feet are well bandaged and it was funny seeing her in a wheelchair! ..with Tom doing Little Britain impersonations. Taking Poppy with them Friday to Drusillas while Laura is on a hen weekend. Off fishing at 6am tomorrow..hjopefully the mackerel will be in on Eastbourne beach. Thursday am going wreck fishing. Have chartered a boat from the harbour to go out 9 miles over some wrecks. Something Ive wanted to do for a long timew so now ive got the time I am! Maybe even catch some big cod or pollack, conger or sea bream. Got a rehearsal Thursday evening for the waldron play which is good fun. Tickets selling fast. I cant say my appearance has dramatically increased sales!

So in short retirement?........just do it! Yippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Dunking Time

I did say that Id post the pics of my drowning post the petrol bombing so here it is. It was a hilarious finish to a good day.

It was always going to happen I suppose!

I also had two good days with Tom on dog patrol. Pulled loads of cars...good proactive policing..good to see it still exists amongst the bureacracy of paperwork. It was fun the 'lads' on patrol , it brought back happy memories of days past. Tom took me back to HQ at 2.15am Monday..I left my warrant card, permits, passes etc and my vest and belt to be sent to HQ Clothing and left to be taken home as Mr Mills. All done and dusted and moving on. Sad..no. Ive had 30 years to prepare for it! Actually looking forward to chilling. Met a woman yesterday to discuss some voluntary work with the Forces... sadly she wasnt up to it so i wont be! Cycled down to see Tom and Emma today in Eastbourne..28 miles in very windy conditions but without a rucksack! Enjoyed it. Emmas op to repair her broken toe etc looks a success but she's off for 2 months. On crutches for a few weeks me thinks. Good its all done tho.Will try to post another pic or two.

Had a wonderful last week. On patrol with Scott in Eastbourne was just great. Brekkie in Pevensey Road. Just like the old times. Went public order training and me and Tom got a petrol bomb trashing as you can see.Hilarious. Jonny Reade did a from the heart speech for me in front of the troops which was touching followed by me getting dunked in the water trough. I wouldnt have expected anything else! Last night tonight 7pm x 2am on patrol with Tom and Maddock.A nice way to finish then hand my card in at HQ 2 am...done and dusted...onto pastures new.

More pics

Wales v SA

Had a really good day at the rugby in Caerdydd. Went with Gill and Adrian Rutherford. Hes a good old boy. We had a right laugh and changed the face of policing also! Took a stack of fotos with the old camera. Also went to the Millenium centre ane the Parliament building. You take Tory boys there when they visit Cardiff. Adrian's first ever visit to the promised land..I did tell him to get out more.Wales lost..whats new against SA, only beaten them once in 104 years in 1999.We could have won but werent quite at the races long enough. I think the coaches will be reasonably happy. The big game will be next year against them in the World Cup though...1st game! Actually quite nice on a sunday afternoon not rushing around..oh am I off tomorrow ..hehe. Have to go with Laura to get a new tyre for the Toureg..only £300+. Shaun could be the youngest guy ever to have a thrombosis! Dont blame him. Its a big tyre though. Glad I dont own a tractor! What must an F1 tyre cost!

Last week in the job coming up!

Well final week has arrived and its going to be a 'playweek'. Wednesday Im having breakfast on the beat in Eastbourne with Scott my old PC mate.Im also walking the route of my first ever night out of training school 30 years ago. I can still remember it. Im also taking my camera to take some pics of the places I closed from the druggies in 2005. They are still closed eg Cambridge Hotel. Hotel my foot!.... the centre of Eastbournes drugs trade..it was until they received some education. Thursday Im seeing the Chief am with Gill. She reckons shes coming so I dont say anything untoward..as if. Then in the afternoon me and Tom are going petrol bombing with the trainers and taking some action pics.Ive done public disorder management all my service..maybe uniquely so..and Im proud of it and know I did the business. Big headed...not really its fact. I know many people have been proud work with me on it so its a fitting finish. Ive had some challenging jobs as many of you reading this will know.Ive really enjoyed this aspect of the job. Critical decision making under pressure. Not everyone's cup of tea. But I believe the true operational leaders deliver under this pressure. Rnt I on a soap box!
Friday Im handing my kit in with Lance Gray and going out to lunch. Saturday Im doing a day shift with Tom in his dog van and Sunday a late late until 3am with Tom again. Only shame is that Laura cant be with us but I cant have everything. Then thats it..all done..and moving on to a new beginning. Time to go I think. Im past the sell by date. Everything very correct. Little humour.HR calling the shots and taking ages to make decisions. Rights of individuals stronger than needs of organisation and thats within. Are we a social agency looking after staff needs and not so much the public? Some of us looked for reasons for doing things not for reasons not too. H&S excuses. Whats happened to get the job done and take some risks. Accountability is over the top. Government and external agencies inspecting our navels and the job acquiesing to it all.Little discretion at the front end. Still chasing flipping targets.I do hope the coalition gets a grip. Bureacracy continues..every government has threatened to tackle it and everyone has farted around it. I could go on..as I said time to go and for others to take up the challenges. Ive done my little bit to make a difference and many enjoyed the ride!

This week

A busy week all in all.It was Gills half term and I was off also. Laura needed Poppy being looked after so she came to us for most of the week in fact they have just left. I think we both forgot the commitment 5-6am x 6-7pm.Anyway she was wonderful and Gill hasnt lost her charm!Took some pictures in the garden this evening so a pair have been loaded on here. Got over my bike ride ok.Funnily enough I havent cycled this week.Seemed a bit cheating to leave Gill holding Poppy! Did Eastbourne seafront where Poppy was introduced to ice cream..or at least watched useating it! She also was mesmerised by Tom training Maddock before work in the field tonight. Managed to chat to Shaun on Skype as well holding poppy. It must be hard being in Afghan in severe heat and seeing us all over here...but good on him.Off to see wales v SA in Cardiff tomorrow 2.30pm kick off. Picking up a mate Adrian Rutherford on the way. After all the stick he's given me all these years regarding welsh rugby hes got some cheek.Only joking..its all been good healthy banter especially when we beat that team that wears white..I cant even bring myself to say the name (laughter). Anyway as I have said before Martin Johnson continues to do so much for welsh rugby!!Long may he reign.