:: Chris Turner's Journal ::

:: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 ::

Bored at Work

Here I am, sitting at my desk in perhaps one of the dullest temporary jobs ever. The only saving grace is that it pays well! I'm writing in between people passing behind my desk. There's no strict internet usage policy, but it doesn't look good to be writing in a blog when you're supposed to be working! I work pretty hard as it is, though...but I'm just so bored out of my mind, I need to do something else for a few minutes.

I've been confirmed in my appointment in the Home Office and have managed to negotiate a higher starting salary than the average Fast Streamer, so am pretty happy with that - I've also been able to express my desire to move into the areas of work I wanted to, and the manager seemed pretty happy for me to do that. She also approved of my appointment as a Special, saying it would give them valuable insight into how policing policy actually reached people down on the ground, so I was pretty happy at that - I was worried that they might see it as a conflict of interest, but it turns out to be quite the opposite.

The Home Office building isn't quite what I expected - it's all brand-new and shiny. I think it was only built a couple of years ago, and it looks a bit like any other corporate headquarters. However, in a triumph for design, it is missing a rather obvious large sign saying "Home Office" on the outside. Instead, you're only aware that the building is the Home Office at all by a couple of flags and a sign on the inside of the doorway. It's covered in some sort of weird brightly-coloured ethnic art which I suppose is PC these days, but it looks...well...crap. Reminds me of those old "ethnic" British Airways planes shortly after they ditched the union jack logo. Thankfully, they got rid of those. Inside, it reminds me of the old Children's Television department at the BBC (CBBC) - it's all bright primary colours in the meeting rooms and communal areas. Whether this is to stimulate staff or pander to their childlike tendencies is unknown :)

The Met Police are currently in my bad books for badly damaging my degree certificate - it was returned to me all creased and folded, and I was not a happy bunny - I'd sent it to them in a reusable hard-backed envelope with a letter containing specific instructions to send it back in that, but instead the recruitment officer just sent it back in a regular envelope - and now it looks like a bit of screwed up A4 paper. I complained to the Met's recruitment management team, and they took it to the Director of Recruitment, who was apparently furious - she promised to reimburse me the cost of getting a replacement certificate and take disciplinary action against the recruitment officer responsible (I know who it was). I'm happy with their response - it's about as much as anyone can do - but I was devastated when my certificate was returned in such a state. I've looked after it for 3 years successfully, and they literally ruined it in one day. Sheffield will give me a new one, but it will say in tiny lettering "replacement". They won't budge on that. Mum's going to try and iron my certificate to take as many of the creases out as possible - hopefully that'll work. I really am so upset by it.

On an unrelated note, I've heard from one of the Inspectors from the Met - he asked me to introduce myself, then said he'd be happy to have me in his borough, and would have a word with the recruitment team to get me into Hendon quicker for training, so it looks like I'll be starting soon and getting posted to the borough of my choice. I can't wait to get started - I'm sick of waiting for everything!

We've arranged to go camping for Sally's birthday in a couple of weeks time down in Devon. I'm really looking forward to it - I haven't been camping in years, so it'll be great fun. All the usual gang are coming along (Sally's friends), and I get on well with everyone. I really need a break - I'm off on the 12th/13th/14th anyway, so it'll be a well-deserved 5 day rest! Nothing but pub lunches, great countryside and sunshine. Perfect!

:: Plod 11:28 [+] ::
...

Got in!

I passed the physical assessment for the Met Police, and so am now a Special Constable. I've decided to keep up with the voluntary side of things and see how things go in the Civil Service - I think I'd be silly to turn down the career I've got, since I'm going to be working in some really interesting areas - but if it doesn't work out, I can always switch to being a full-time regular.

The physical assessment wasn't bad at all - all my training paid off, and I got through comfortably. There was someone in our group of eight who failed the strength test (weedy guy), but he can retake it in a few months' time. I'm also a prime medical example :) The nurse told me I still have the hearing of a young teenager, and that it hasn't deteriorated - I guess that's because I never spent too much time in clubs, or with headphones blasting down my ears. I'm also drug-free, though one lad apparently wasn't because he had a swig of Lucozade in the heat - it was 32 degrees! Apparently Lucozade contains a trace of a stimulant substance, but he was signed off and cleared by the doctor.

I'm putting in for my borough choices now and just waiting a final letter to begin training - then it's off to Hendon every weekend for 18 weeks. Very much looking forward to it.

All is well with Sally, and we're now at a point where we can enjoy spending money without worrying about it - going out for dinner, to the cinema, etc - so am having lots of fun at the moment. Also achieved my best ever cricket bowling figures last weekend, so am also very happy :)

:: Plod 07:30 [+] ::
...