Police Interview

I went off to Aldershot yesterday to be interviewed for a voluntary role as a "Safer Neighbourhoods Support Assistant". 

I was interviewed by a pair of typical HR people - Caroline and Beckie who asked me 4 questions each, asking me to provide examples from my experience. Questions like "what software have you used?"; "Have you worked in a team?"; "How have you adjusted your behaviour to be more inclusive for minorities?" The last one threw me, I said that I didn't adjust my behaviour for minorities, I treat everyone the same. What she meant was things like storage of files on shelves when working with a colleague in a wheelchair. I was then able to describe not over-doing the wrapping of a christmas present for a handicaped person. I suppose she was allowing me to think about different treatment of different faiths as well as the disabled.

During question 7 the fire alarm went off. I answered the question, then asked if we should react to it. Beckie went to check and then came back to say that the did normally check the alarm on Monday afternoon but it was still going so we were evacuating.

We trooped out into the yard and then into the car park. I noticed that they evacuated the prisoners from the cells too - into a Police Van and left it in the yard with a guard.

After two minutes we went back in, back up three flights of stairs, and did question eight.

Attempted break-in

Heard from the police today that one of our neighbours has had an attempted break-in. Someone used a length of wood to try to open their back gate. So the Neighbourhood Watch is justifying itself!

Portsmouth, etc.

A manic day on Monday. I went out recruiting for the Neighbourhood Watch at about 2 pm. I signed up 2 more people. However I got talking to one of them for 45 minutes - then Maria called me as we had to leave. At that rate it will take 8 hours to do the rest of the street!

We went down to Havant at 3:30 pm. Maria went to the chiropractor at 4, then we went into visit Argos to pick up an item I'd reserved. Then to Hobby Craft to return some of the stationery we got for the wedding. It was too late for a refund as I got the stationery in July and it should have been returned within 28 days so we got a credit note and then spent it on a jigsaw(yes, that's number 4) and some envelopes for Mum's birthday invites (I'd used some of the wedding stationery to do these so I was able to get matching envelopes). 

Then we had to go back to the chiropractor as Maria had left her earrings behind. She dropped me off and I scampered in to get them. When I got out Maria had gone. She'd had to keep moving as she couldn't find anywhere to park and traffice was queuing to get into Asda. She'd gone past Asda and had stopped in a bus stop. So I had to navigate the Asda roundabout on foot. I nearly got run over twice as it was now 5 pm and even busier than usual. 

We then drove in to Portsmouth where Maria had a rehearsal for the Carols and Midnight Mass at 6pm. We went to Starbucks where I had a Gingerbread Latte. The Starbucks closed at 5:30! Then we went to the Cathedral for 6 pm and I wandered round until 7:30. I looked round Debenhams - which was open 'til 10:30. HMV and Carphone Warehouse were open til 7 pm. Everywhere else was shut.

I took some pictures of the Cathedral (St John's) using my camera phone so they are not very good.

Got home late - about 8:15, so we didn't eat until 9 ish.

"Mad" Hatter and The DTs

After doing some more research, notably in the British Medical Journal article "Did The Mad Hatter have mercury poisoning?" it looks like my probable ancestor wasn't mad. It also suggests that The Hatter in Alice wasn't mad either. The chapter in Alice in Wonderland was called "A Mad Tea-Party" though, and the Cheshire Cat warns Alice that he is mad. The BMJ and Wikipedia say that the character of the hatter was based on Theophilus Carter, a man who invented an alarm clock bed - which I thought had been invented by Caractacus Potts in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (or maybe by "Doc" Emmett Brown in "Back to the Future"). The phrase "mad as a hatter" predates the Alice books apparently - and possibly predates hat making as an industry. 

As for James Hamer, he died of "Delerium Tremens": also known as "The DTs" which means he was probably an alcoholic and was suffering withdrawal.

He was in the Union workhouse in West Street, London. This was formerly St Sepulchre's workhouse near Newgate and Smithfield. Conditions here were pretty grim.

The Police came round last night. 3 PC's from Whitehill Police Station, not Sting and the band. They were handing out Neighbourhood Watch packs round the street. 

Street Walking

"Dave" and I walked up and down the street tonight. Visited all 40 houses, signed up nearly everyone who answered the door. It was VERY cold. Some kind people let us come in to their nice warm houses while we explained about the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

Dave is going to get the list typed up and we go on from there.

Neighbourhood Watch progress

"Dave" - a PC from Whitehill called me. We arranged to walk the street tomorrow evening after I get back from my course. Progress at last!

VB again

I did some more VB.net today, working through the online course.

I had an email from the sergeant at Whitehill asking me to call in about volunary work. So I went down there. He was a bit annoyed that the PCSO hadn't been in touch about the Neighbourhood Watch, walking round the street with me to sign up members. So I left it with him.

I hired a car for when the kids are over. Hertz had none left so I found a car hire comparison site and used that. I got quite a good deal I think, but we'll see when we pick it up.

Maria went to visit her sister who has just come out of hospital, She got admitted yesterday with an ectopic pregnancy, apparently all okay now. So Maria got home late and was tired. We watched "Spooks" and she fell asleep on me :-)

Croydon!

I went off to Croydon for an interview yesterday.

I got there nice and early so I was able to walk around and enjoy the sights. The picture is of the "famous" "threepenny bit" building near East Croydon station. I think threepenny bits were phased out in the 1960s so that dates it a bit. The guy in the hoody looks a bit surprised that I was taking a picture.

I used to work in East Croydon, the shop has been converted into a solicitor's office. The buildings opposite have been knocked down and are to be re-developed as Ruskin Square / "Croydon Gateway" This second picture is a view from the station of the development area. At least the Warehouse Theatre will get a make over as part of the works.

Anyway, I've been invited back for a second interview next week which is nice.

I went by train, using the vouchers sent to me by SW Trains after the farce a few weeks back.

The local police Sergeant called me today. They've leafleted the street asking if anyone is interested, but the PCSO who was due to accompany me on a walk about tonight is off sick so I guess we'll do it another day.

Digger

The local council have finally started doing something about the drainage (surface water run-off) in our street.

It floods every time it rains...see picture taken from upstairs at our house :)

This morning a big yellow jcb digger (Nizlopi reference anyone?) turns up and started digging a hole. Good job the neigbours have taken down their trampoline!

I had a word with the driver. I offered to take out the end fence panel to make it easier for him, but he said it wouldn't help as there is a concrete weather board under it.

They are putting in a new pipe under the fence to link our drain to the one 50 yards away in the next street. Then they are putting in a new over-flow to take the extra into the culvert down by the play park (about 200 yards further down). He said they were going to put in a new soak away, but after under 2 metres they hit sand so they gave up on that idea.

I was a bit worried about damage to the fence - loosening the posts, and to the tree - as they have taken out half the roots but we'll have to wait and see what its like afterwards.

I've been painting the cloakroom today as well - I took out the cover for the pipes under the sink, so I've got some more "making good" to do as well now.

I've got a meeting later with the Police about Neighbourhood Watch, down at the police station.

Neighbourhood Watch

I've been emailing the police for the past couple of weeks about the neighbourhood watch. The Inspector called me this morning so I told him that I'd offered to help and to speak with the police sergeant and had no reply yet. So I assume he'll chase it up. I spoke to Mark, Graham and Mary (up the hill) yesterday. They seem interested too. It appears that not only did someone drive into Mark's van and drive off without leaving their details but also someone tried to break into it. Mary said yesterday that someone tried to steal the alloy wheels off someones car the other day.
Maria was wondering if she'd heard the thieves the other night when she woke up at 4 am.
The owners of the car whose wheels nearly got nicked have installed CCTV monitoring.

Neighbourhood Watch

Yesterday (3rd Nov) I went to a Neighbourhood Watch meeting at the Forest Community Centre. I'd registed with the Hampshire volunteer service and opted to help with the Neighbourhood Watch. I was called by the Inspector who passed my deatils to the Policeman who deals with the watch. In turn he suggested I could come along and maybe volunteer as local co-ordinator.
There was no obvious way to volunteer at the meeting, so I've emailed them today.