On Parade

Mr Bill had to leave early this morning as they were on parade - I think I had visions of them square bashing and having someone shout at them for not having shiny shoes but I think in actuality it was just a uniform check! It was a little fraught in the household with Mr B trying frantically to make sure he had everything he needed and then realising he might not be supposed to wear his shirt in the car on the way to HQ and so sorting out something else to wear; the children tried to stay out of his way. Mr B had an interesting day, the parade was just a uniform check and he came home a little early and we had a joke about it at tea time.

Tenterhooks

I have been on tenterhooks today waiting to hear how Mr B has been getting on. He was slightly apprehensive but generally looking forward to his new career.

6.05 pm Well I have heard from him - he has just finished for the day and said it all went ok and he will tell me all about it when he gets home. I am relieved it all went ok. He got his uniform and they want them to look smart with everything pressed for tomorrow.

8pm He is home and has had tea and has brought in a shed load of stuff: uniform, jackets, stab vest, belt, baton, handcuffs (which just about everyone tried on), numbers on pins to put on epaulettes, and some wallets and notebooks. He has got to go on parade tomorrow but no one has shown him how to assemble all the epaulettes and the number pins - we have done what we think and are hoping for the best

Getting Nervous

Mr Bill is starting to get a bit nervous now - how much joshing is there going to be and how much of the pre-reading pack will they expect him to have learned?
The children want to see all the kit he is going to have - but I don't suppose you get all the stuff you are going to use catching criminals on day 1 - I'm assuming it is just the uniform.
We watched "Hot Fuzz" yesterday (it finally arrived - thanks Play.com) It was so funny - I think there will be more things to spot on a second viewing. I listened to an interview with Simon Pegg and he said there are lines from films in it for those into that kind of thing.
We have been watching some of the reality Police programmes to see real Police officers but we also watched 'Holby Blue' a few times to see if we can identify ranks epaulettes and wonder just how inaccurate the portrayal is! I do like the custody Sergeant in it fair but funny. I kind of wonder if 'The Thin Blue Line' is that kind of copper. He writes a great blog:

Police Camera Paperwork

... that is the other thing we've been doing - reading some of the warts and all police blogs.

Not Long Now

Not long until Mr Bill starts and really is 'The Bill'. The boots are shined and worn in, the forms are all filled in and attempts have been made to learn all the stuff sent as pre-reading.

Buff to a High Shine

Well, having been told Police Officers have to provide their own footwear and bearing in mind that Llanffuglen is in the middle of nowhere the internet seemed the only way to obtain suitable footwear. So Mr Bill spent a long time perusing internet footwear to choose some boots. They arrived and most amazingly they fitted (I told him they wouldn't - 'cos he always tries on loads of shoes before he finds ones that fit!)
Having been told that he would be expected to keep his shoes really, really shiny he has started polishing them. I have been examing the footwear of all policemen I have seen recently - so if you are a Copper and some mad woman has been looking closely at your feet it could have been me - and some of you do not have very shiny shoes. There are several ways to get a high gloss finish and we seem to have settled on a spit and polish type method - just no spit, only water, as apparently it is bad for the shoes.
There are people who are experts at polishing shoes -
some have won competitions

Mrs Old Bill in training

Mr Bill received a pack from HQ of stuff to read and learn before he starts
So far we have learned 'The Caution" - the whole family (even the cat) learned it before He did.
You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. anything you do say may be given in evidence.

We also know the codes especially the most important code 4, oh no I mean code 0.

Not too long now - uniform fitting and hepatitis injections and even some of the pre-reading done too!