Cleverly synched...
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Farewell
What follows is an article from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph. I can't bring myself to write about the funeral at any great length.
I'm exhausted mentally.
These last ten days have really worn me down on all levels, and trying to get back into the swing of things at work have been hard. Following my usual rest-days and compassionate leave my mind seems to have been all over the place. Though I have had much support from friends and family, at the end of the day going home to any empty house can give you way too much time to think.
But I shall not dwell, rather continue to celebrate the life of a quite wonderful lass.
On a clear, bright and crisp winter day, looking around the interior of a church packed to the rafters for one woman, you truly realise how many lives one person can touch.
Sad farewell to Peterborough police officer
The funeral was held of [Stacey] of Yaxley, who died in a car accident on January 15.
She was a vivacious young woman who had longed to pull on a police uniform since the age of 10.
Last August, [Stacey's] childhood dream became a reality when she was accepted onto the tough training course.But the sheer pride of the Pc's family turned to utter despair when the blonde 20-year-old was killed in a tragic road accident.
I'm exhausted mentally.
These last ten days have really worn me down on all levels, and trying to get back into the swing of things at work have been hard. Following my usual rest-days and compassionate leave my mind seems to have been all over the place. Though I have had much support from friends and family, at the end of the day going home to any empty house can give you way too much time to think.
But I shall not dwell, rather continue to celebrate the life of a quite wonderful lass.
On a clear, bright and crisp winter day, looking around the interior of a church packed to the rafters for one woman, you truly realise how many lives one person can touch.
* * * * *
Sad farewell to Peterborough police officer
The funeral was held of [Stacey] of Yaxley, who died in a car accident on January 15.
She was a vivacious young woman who had longed to pull on a police uniform since the age of 10.
Last August, [Stacey's] childhood dream became a reality when she was accepted onto the tough training course.But the sheer pride of the Pc's family turned to utter despair when the blonde 20-year-old was killed in a tragic road accident.
The Yaxley woman was on her way home after completing her first night shift, when her car collided with another vehicle and veered down a grass verge on the A15, near Market Deeping, on January 15.
On an icy winter's morning, almost 400 mourners travelled to St Peter's Church in the village to pay their respects to fun-loving Stacey. As sunlight bathed the building and silence fell on the churchyard, a guard of honour made up of her distraught colleagues lined the funeral procession. Just the strains of the church organ and birdsong could be heard as the hearse, escorted by three marked police motorcyclists, arrived at the entrance.
At the request of Stacey's heartbroken family, everyone wore a hint of pink in a bid to celebrate the life of the "bright star" who lit up all whose lives she touched. As well as scarves, hats, boots and ties of that shade, all the police offices pinned a pink ribbon – the symbol of a breast cancer charity and the Pyke's chosen cause – to their lapels.
Stacey's white coffin, which was topped with flowers, her police hat and a ribbon, was followed by a second hearse filled with a spectacular sea of pink bouquets.
Her family, including dad David (45), mum Sue (42) and sister Stephanie (16), from Broadway, Yaxley, and her boyfriend, Tom Young (20), wiped away tears as they made the short journey to the service. Due to the volume of people filing into the church, many huddled outside on the gravel path to hear the moving and uplifting tributes to Stacey.
The Chief Constable's words reduced many of the mourners to tears.
He said: "She was energetic, lively and someone with real presence. She was bursting with enthusiasm and showed real courage. Sue and David, Stephanie and Tom, we share your sense of enormous loss. I have every reason to believe she would have excelled as she went on in the same way she started. We, as a society, take for granted the work of the emergency services, but I would like to pay tribute to Stacey's commitment, and it is clear that people are touched by her loss. She was a youngster, but was already making her mark."
He went on to praise her ambitious nature, adding, with a smile:
"She had a tremendous determination to single-handedly sort out all the problems."
When the Chief Constable spoke to a primary school friend of Stacey's, she told him how, as a wide-eyed 10-year-old, she had set her heart on becoming a police officer. He also recalled how the chatty youngster would stop and talk to the public on her beat, reassuring them with her friendly patter.
He said: "Stacey loved people and loved being a police officer. To all of us, Stacey was and always will be, a very bright star."
Stacey's dad David remembered how the day when Stacey rushed to tell him she had got the letter to say she had been accepted into the police force was one of his proudest moments.
Stephanie Pyke's heart-wrenching poem, which she had written herself, drew sobs as she struggled to convey just how much she would miss her big sister.
Recalling how Stacey would dress her up for the school disco and help with her make-up, she said:
"You weren't just my big sister, but my best friend. With you, I shared my troubles, secrets and wildest dreams. I have so many memories, I could go on all day, but I will treasure them in my heart. You were so beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes, but to me you were my big geeky sister."
At the end of the tribute, applause echoed around the church and quickly spread outside. A new trophy for promising police recruits is to be dedicated in Stacey's memory.
Investigations into her death are still ongoing.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Stacey
I first met Stacey in July of last year.
I think it was initially at the pre-course induction evening, I forget the date, but it was about three weeks before we formally started police training. We'd had some presentations from various training staff on what to expect when training began. The talks were a little dry to say the least. People were milling around the generously-stocked buffet table and nervously introducing themselves to each other. Afterall, these were to be our colleagues, our kindred, and we were meeting them for the first time.
I found myself standing next to a tall, striking blonde girl and both of us staring at a plate of chocolate brownies. As a guy, I cannot deny one of the first thoughts that popped into my head was
Wow, she's cute
So nervously-still, I struck up a conversation with her.
Stacey put you at ease when you talked to her. She radiated a certain warmth. To borrow a title of a favourite track of mine, she was
The girl with the sun in her head
I was glad to find out later that night, when we tore open letters detailing our station-postings, that she was going to the same station as me. Some colleagues I wasn't too sure about when I first met them. See, I do believe you can sometimes judge books by their covers, by your first meetings with them. Her, I warmed to straight away.
As the autumn unfolded I became friends with Stacey. As the initial intake of 30 was split into three sub-divisions to be taught & trained in different locations, us southies grew closer. Everyone became friends with Stacey, it was virtually impossible not to. See, Stacey would go out of her way to talk to you. She was magnetic. She couldn't stand cliques and she hated falling out with people. She was bubbly, popular and outgoing. She was the first to suggest going out after work, and made a point of inviting absolutely everyone. She could argue and fight a point like a banshee if she truly believed in it, but she'd hate disagreeing with you afterwards. It wasn't the point itself, but the arguing that upset her. That said, she had a resilience about her way beyond her twenty years. A fierce loyalty too. Wrong her, and you'd know about it. Wrong her friends or anyone she cared about and she pursue you to the ends of the earth. Whatever she did, her enthusiasm was infectious.
Bless her, Stacey also suffered from a complete lack of tact. She'd say exactly what was on her mind, and that is actually a quite beautiful quality in someone. However, this often got her into a bit of trouble along the way, either that or fits of laughter from friends and colleagues.
Stace! I can't believe you just said that!
was often flung her way. But we knew. We all knew whatever it was, a good-looking guy who just passed by or a quite innocent question... She didn't mean it that way. She was just vocalising. Stacey had a naivety that she could not hide; a happy-go-lucky attitude that she never lost.
As training wore on, I developed a crush for Stacey. Her previously described warm and magnetic personality (I cannot put too fine a point on it) coupled with stunning looks... God, she could make most guys melt. I knew nothing would every come of it, I was content to simply fancy her from afar. So on one of the many drunken nights out, after 'a few' drinks, I admitted this crush to a colleague.
"Oh dear," said mutual friend in deep conversation yesterday "you do realise you shouldn't trust me with juicy secrets like that now, should you?"
So then. Stacey had known for a while. But d'you know what? Nothing had changed. She never treated me any differently. I knew she didn't like me like that, but she made sure the course of our friendship remained unchanged. She was there for me, I was there for her. Mutual friend told me yesterday that Stacey had been completely flattered when she'd been told. She'd disbelieved it a first, but when told that they weren't kidding. She'd awwwww-ed and thought it was truly soooo sweet. She'd never suspected in the slighted.
So I'm glad.
Glad that at least once I'd really made her smile.
Glad that I was able to give some of that warmth she radiated, back to her.
* * * * *
Just over an hour later I was in the parade room completing some paperwork when the incident came in over the local channels from another part of the county. As details emerged, my interest was piqued. Something sounded familiar.
Then more details came in.
Interest collapsed into sheer dread.
Until the very worst was confirmed and the world caved-in around me.
There was road traffic collision.
There was one fatality at the scene.
And it was Stacey.
I was one of the last people to speak to her.
And that will haunt me forever more.
* * * * *
Stacey
We miss you so much chick.
You left us far too soon.
Rest in peace.
And we'll do our best by you.
I think it was initially at the pre-course induction evening, I forget the date, but it was about three weeks before we formally started police training. We'd had some presentations from various training staff on what to expect when training began. The talks were a little dry to say the least. People were milling around the generously-stocked buffet table and nervously introducing themselves to each other. Afterall, these were to be our colleagues, our kindred, and we were meeting them for the first time.
I found myself standing next to a tall, striking blonde girl and both of us staring at a plate of chocolate brownies. As a guy, I cannot deny one of the first thoughts that popped into my head was
Wow, she's cute
So nervously-still, I struck up a conversation with her.
Stacey put you at ease when you talked to her. She radiated a certain warmth. To borrow a title of a favourite track of mine, she was
The girl with the sun in her head
I was glad to find out later that night, when we tore open letters detailing our station-postings, that she was going to the same station as me. Some colleagues I wasn't too sure about when I first met them. See, I do believe you can sometimes judge books by their covers, by your first meetings with them. Her, I warmed to straight away.
As the autumn unfolded I became friends with Stacey. As the initial intake of 30 was split into three sub-divisions to be taught & trained in different locations, us southies grew closer. Everyone became friends with Stacey, it was virtually impossible not to. See, Stacey would go out of her way to talk to you. She was magnetic. She couldn't stand cliques and she hated falling out with people. She was bubbly, popular and outgoing. She was the first to suggest going out after work, and made a point of inviting absolutely everyone. She could argue and fight a point like a banshee if she truly believed in it, but she'd hate disagreeing with you afterwards. It wasn't the point itself, but the arguing that upset her. That said, she had a resilience about her way beyond her twenty years. A fierce loyalty too. Wrong her, and you'd know about it. Wrong her friends or anyone she cared about and she pursue you to the ends of the earth. Whatever she did, her enthusiasm was infectious.
Bless her, Stacey also suffered from a complete lack of tact. She'd say exactly what was on her mind, and that is actually a quite beautiful quality in someone. However, this often got her into a bit of trouble along the way, either that or fits of laughter from friends and colleagues.
Stace! I can't believe you just said that!
was often flung her way. But we knew. We all knew whatever it was, a good-looking guy who just passed by or a quite innocent question... She didn't mean it that way. She was just vocalising. Stacey had a naivety that she could not hide; a happy-go-lucky attitude that she never lost.
As training wore on, I developed a crush for Stacey. Her previously described warm and magnetic personality (I cannot put too fine a point on it) coupled with stunning looks... God, she could make most guys melt. I knew nothing would every come of it, I was content to simply fancy her from afar. So on one of the many drunken nights out, after 'a few' drinks, I admitted this crush to a colleague.
"Oh dear," said mutual friend in deep conversation yesterday "you do realise you shouldn't trust me with juicy secrets like that now, should you?"
So then. Stacey had known for a while. But d'you know what? Nothing had changed. She never treated me any differently. I knew she didn't like me like that, but she made sure the course of our friendship remained unchanged. She was there for me, I was there for her. Mutual friend told me yesterday that Stacey had been completely flattered when she'd been told. She'd disbelieved it a first, but when told that they weren't kidding. She'd awwwww-ed and thought it was truly soooo sweet. She'd never suspected in the slighted.
So I'm glad.
Glad that at least once I'd really made her smile.
Glad that I was able to give some of that warmth she radiated, back to her.
* * * * *
Early yesterday morning I walked into the locker room around 06:45. I started putting on my kit for the day. On with the body armour, switching on the radio and checking that all other kit was present and correct. Whilst I was doing my necessary checks Stacey appeared at a neighbouring locker and began to do the complete opposite. She'd finished her shift and was peeling off her armour, switching off her radio and unloading her kit. Following training this was how we'd meet out at station now, either at a shift-changeover, or dealing with an incident should shifts overlap.
She was tired. She'd just finished a night-shift and was looking forward to getting home, and hardly thrilled that she'd be right back there at 22:00 the same evening. But that was the job, that was what we did. She was thrilled, but exhausted by a busy night of incidents.
Some of us came to the job from a number of directions and varied backgrounds, but this was Stacey's dream. She'd always wanted to join the Police Force, and she was now living her dream. She was going to incidents, blue-lighting it through town and making real arrests. She was so proud to be wearing the uniform at last.
She was buzzing.
We exchanged banter in the locker room for a few minutes, each enthusiastically relating incidents we'd been to this far; gleefully peppering our speech with new-found Police acronyms and lingo that no passing civilian would comprehend. I had to get to the morning briefing, she wanted to get home. So as we said goodbye I instinctively borrowed one of her catchphrases and said a cheery
"See you later chick!"
as she left.
I never saw her again.
She was tired. She'd just finished a night-shift and was looking forward to getting home, and hardly thrilled that she'd be right back there at 22:00 the same evening. But that was the job, that was what we did. She was thrilled, but exhausted by a busy night of incidents.
Some of us came to the job from a number of directions and varied backgrounds, but this was Stacey's dream. She'd always wanted to join the Police Force, and she was now living her dream. She was going to incidents, blue-lighting it through town and making real arrests. She was so proud to be wearing the uniform at last.
She was buzzing.
We exchanged banter in the locker room for a few minutes, each enthusiastically relating incidents we'd been to this far; gleefully peppering our speech with new-found Police acronyms and lingo that no passing civilian would comprehend. I had to get to the morning briefing, she wanted to get home. So as we said goodbye I instinctively borrowed one of her catchphrases and said a cheery
"See you later chick!"
as she left.
I never saw her again.
* * * * *
Just over an hour later I was in the parade room completing some paperwork when the incident came in over the local channels from another part of the county. As details emerged, my interest was piqued. Something sounded familiar.
Then more details came in.
Interest collapsed into sheer dread.
Until the very worst was confirmed and the world caved-in around me.
There was road traffic collision.
There was one fatality at the scene.
And it was Stacey.
I was one of the last people to speak to her.
And that will haunt me forever more.
* * * * *
Stacey
1986 - 2007
We miss you so much chick.
You left us far too soon.
Rest in peace.
And we'll do our best by you.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Breathe
Surprised. But in a good way.
Daunted. Nonetheless.
But certainly still enjoying it.
The impression I'd got before we started the tutorship, from other tutors and students, was that was that the first few weeks-or-so I'd ease in to it all. A slow pace. Cherry-picking jobs; my tutor would take the lead, with me meerly observing, and hopefully I'd be growing in confidence.
We'll we're certainly not in Kansas anymore.
Somehow, and my god he must be perceptive, but he's making sure I swim just hard enough, in just the right depth of water, so that I don't drown. He's getting me to take on various tasks (under supervision), well before I expected to be doing them, whilst taking the lead still on the more urgent & critical stuff.
I remarked to a fellow trainee only today
"Wow, I didn't realise we'd be spinning this many plates, this early."
And they couldn't agree more.
Today I...
Daunted. Nonetheless.
But certainly still enjoying it.
The impression I'd got before we started the tutorship, from other tutors and students, was that was that the first few weeks-or-so I'd ease in to it all. A slow pace. Cherry-picking jobs; my tutor would take the lead, with me meerly observing, and hopefully I'd be growing in confidence.
We'll we're certainly not in Kansas anymore.
Somehow, and my god he must be perceptive, but he's making sure I swim just hard enough, in just the right depth of water, so that I don't drown. He's getting me to take on various tasks (under supervision), well before I expected to be doing them, whilst taking the lead still on the more urgent & critical stuff.
I remarked to a fellow trainee only today
"Wow, I didn't realise we'd be spinning this many plates, this early."
And they couldn't agree more.
Today I...
- Assisted in prisoner transportation
- Undertook a lengthy witness interview
- Attended a report of youths causing a nuisance
- Rode shotgun - blue-lighting through a busy town-centre
- Read a prisoner his charges, through an interpreter
- Completed oodles of paperwork
- Made my first arrest
- Searched a number of individuals and a vehicle on suspicion of possessing drugs
- Rode shotgun a number of times on a high-speed blue-light run through a busy town centre
- Completed oodles of paperwork
And this is only shift #4.
Shift-work itself is already taking it's toll however. It's doubtless the step-up, before I get used to it, but 07:00 through 16:00 with frankly no real breaks to speak of (only some periods being slower than others), doesn’t half tire you out mentally and physically. Some 15:00 through 00:00's later in the week, and that lovely brain-melter; 22:00 through 00:00.
Body-clock remains MIA.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
While you were sleeping
Nightshifts are tiring, surreal, but fun.
Thus far.
Stopped a few more drives.
Issued a few more HORT/1's.
Patrolled around a bit on a 'tour' of the less desirable areas of the sector by night.
Rather unbelievably did my first suspect interview at 03:00 this morning, which the seargent suddenly dropped our way. Suffice as to say my head was spinning, but it didn't go too bad. I think.
Now I'm back home and ready to go to sleep.
Breakfast news is on in the background.
The world is stirring and moving, and here I am winding down.
This will take some getting used to.
Thus far.
Stopped a few more drives.
Issued a few more HORT/1's.
Patrolled around a bit on a 'tour' of the less desirable areas of the sector by night.
Rather unbelievably did my first suspect interview at 03:00 this morning, which the seargent suddenly dropped our way. Suffice as to say my head was spinning, but it didn't go too bad. I think.
Now I'm back home and ready to go to sleep.
Breakfast news is on in the background.
The world is stirring and moving, and here I am winding down.
This will take some getting used to.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Week 22 / Day One
Really interesting first day, to put it mildly.
Less admin, more action!
Too tired to blog terribly much, but briefly...
Exciting, disorientating and tiring!
Highlights/notables:
Less admin, more action!
Too tired to blog terribly much, but briefly...
Exciting, disorientating and tiring!
Highlights/notables:
- One for the album - my first ever patrol job? A cheery one. Attempted drug/alcohol overdose. Attended with paramedics, having been called by care worker. Person was severely depressed and suicidal.
- Riding in a police car at high speed with blue lights flashing and sirens sounding, is just as cool as you ever imagined it would be. No-doubt the novelty will wear off pretty soon, but for now...
- Breath-tested my first driver.
My tutor seems like a sound bloke, I think we'll get on well. He also lives in the same town so we'll plan to car-share to work, saving me some petrol-money at least.
Today was a day shift, tomorrow we're on 22:00 through 07:00 the following morning.
So, how to approach the night shift...
Stay up late tonight?
Stay up all throughout tomorrow?
Sleep during the day?
There goes the body-clock...
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Police officers are human too
I should really be sleeping right now, that's what a sensible person would do.
But no.
The excitement, the worry... It's literally pulsing through my veins rendering me fully awake until I finally collapse into bed sometime in the wee hours.
Though our last week of phase 3 classroom study was somewhat anti-climactic (the aforementioned IT training), many of us didn't want it to end. Surprising, considering how bored I was about it all when I last posted.
Over the 20-odd weeks of training, at least once a week someone in my division would think out loud:
"Oh, can't we just get out there?!"
By Friday this had changed to a nervous laugh and
"Ummm, actually we like it here... Can't we stay just a little bit longer?"
Like many things in life though, the longer you put something off, the greater the dread and anticipation becomes. So better now to take that deep breath, that running jump, and dive the hell in, before your dread consumes you entirely and leaves you a nervous wreck.
But we were at least able to take our mind off worrying about worrying (my speciality - that), for a few hours at least on Thursday. A not-very-secret Policeman's Ball closed the week, and the formal classroom training for that matter, in rather spectacular fashion. Rather formal it was too. Tuxedos and beautiful dresses. Long tables, candles and waiter service. Good food, embarrassing dancing.
Much enjoyed by myself, and my date for the evening.
Yes, you read that right.
At this rate I'm actually in danger of thawing out my deep-frozen love life and rejoining the human race.
Truly excellent timing as well, as it takes my mind, once more, off that god-damned anticipation.
But no.
The excitement, the worry... It's literally pulsing through my veins rendering me fully awake until I finally collapse into bed sometime in the wee hours.
Though our last week of phase 3 classroom study was somewhat anti-climactic (the aforementioned IT training), many of us didn't want it to end. Surprising, considering how bored I was about it all when I last posted.
Over the 20-odd weeks of training, at least once a week someone in my division would think out loud:
"Oh, can't we just get out there?!"
By Friday this had changed to a nervous laugh and
"Ummm, actually we like it here... Can't we stay just a little bit longer?"
Like many things in life though, the longer you put something off, the greater the dread and anticipation becomes. So better now to take that deep breath, that running jump, and dive the hell in, before your dread consumes you entirely and leaves you a nervous wreck.
But we were at least able to take our mind off worrying about worrying (my speciality - that), for a few hours at least on Thursday. A not-very-secret Policeman's Ball closed the week, and the formal classroom training for that matter, in rather spectacular fashion. Rather formal it was too. Tuxedos and beautiful dresses. Long tables, candles and waiter service. Good food, embarrassing dancing.
Much enjoyed by myself, and my date for the evening.
Yes, you read that right.
At this rate I'm actually in danger of thawing out my deep-frozen love life and rejoining the human race.
Truly excellent timing as well, as it takes my mind, once more, off that god-damned anticipation.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
T-minus four days...
...Until I go out on patrol with a tutor constable.
That's ten weeks of:
Real people
Real incidents
Real arrests
And
Really lots of paperwork too.
Suffice as to say am excited...
..But bricking-it at the same time.
This last week of phase-three training has been bone-gnawingly dull; learning a whole number of computer systems that we will use during our career, plus tying up various loose administrative ends.
However I suspect I will cherish such relatively slow moments in weeks to come.
That's ten weeks of:
Real people
Real incidents
Real arrests
And
Really lots of paperwork too.
Suffice as to say am excited...
..But bricking-it at the same time.
This last week of phase-three training has been bone-gnawingly dull; learning a whole number of computer systems that we will use during our career, plus tying up various loose administrative ends.
However I suspect I will cherish such relatively slow moments in weeks to come.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Transformers
*sigh*
Okay, okay.
I can already hear the chorus of:
"Yes, but the movie will suck. Big time."
And yes, it's a Michael Bay film, so we're hardly talking Oscar-material here now are we?
However, I like my big dumb fun at times.
This totally takes me back to my childhood; glued to the comics.
It's Optimus-bloody-Prime for godsakes! I'm sorry; how can I not get excited?
All is (still) quiet, on New Year's Day
Good lord, that's one resolution I actually stuck to!
I can't believe...
See, I can be house-trained.
One hopes it will remain in this state for at least 24 hours.
This year's resolutions?
No idea.
Still thinking...
I may be some time.
I can't believe...
- This blog is one year old today - the product of a sudden resolution to actually maintain one, made exactly a year ago.
- That I actually kept it going after more than a handful of entries.
Thanks to all readers, lurkers & passers by for actually taking the time and interest in what has been a sort of therapy and creative outlet for my troubled little mind over the past twelve months.
Nothing terribly exciting to report to kick off this new year. However I did spring clean the house from tip to toe this afternoon, following a deeply lazy sleep-in.See, I can be house-trained.
One hopes it will remain in this state for at least 24 hours.
This year's resolutions?
No idea.
Still thinking...
I may be some time.
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