My Day In The City… On Ice!
Feb. 3rd, 2009 05:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
suzyscottdotcomJoin in Suzy’s quest for a new challenge – on ice!
OK, longer term readers will be well aware that, back in Autumn 2007, I’d started looking for voluntary work… and narrowed it down to three. Started with one, as you know, and still there sporadically. Other one I’d never heard back from, but the third one have just moved, and I got a letter from the organisation in question at the end of last month (see the end of this post). So, last week, while on route to Buckinghamshire, I had a phone call to come in to see them today.
So, first step was to get ready, and get out. The snow had started to melt, but quite a lot had turned to ice (minus ten in Chesham overnight!), so dressed semi-formally to suit.
Next was going for the train, and Live Departure Boards (LDB) said it was going to be late. After walking out of the close, started to slip/slide, don’t quite remember why. All I remember is almost falling over, and then looking around, thinking to myself “I think I got away with that”.
Next I knew, face and knees first onto the ice!
Woman’s voice and a dog from the other side of the road “Are you alright?”
Me “Yes thank you”
So I am used to falling over, but I remember thinking to myself that there was a long way to go… I was barely onto Gower Road!
Anyway, through some miracle, I manage to limp into Platform 2 of Royston Station, and the emergency timetable is sadly, already in tatters. I knew this was going to be late from LDB, but it ended up being 23 minutes down, no sign of the train due between, and none of these odd Royston – Kings Lynn 4-car shorts.
While waiting at the station, surveyed my damaged left knee, quite a wide set of cuts, and my hands too. Oh, and another pair of tights for the bin when I get home! Cleaned up my left knee with a wet wipe, and placed the wipe and wrapper in a paper hankie. Subconsciously somehow, I placed the top of the wipe wrapper inside my right coat pocket.
Made it to Cambridge, before getting the bus into town. An Italian visitor was looking for directions to Parkside coach stop, so I pointed that she should get off at Regent Street, and then go from there. Apparently, her flight back to Italy the night before had been cancelled, following weather issues.
Mine was the next stop, at the Post Office. After backtracking just a few yards, I ended up at the door of Cambridge Magistrates Court, and through the obligatory metal detector, before being waved down with the paddle. The metal detector kept picking up something in my pocket, despite the fact that it was empty. After taking out the tiny bit of paper in there, it set off the detectors. Yes, the top of the sachet that the wet wipe came in was metallic, and that kept setting off the metal detector.
So, up three floors of this brand new building – I’d passed it many times when going for the bus to Milton etc. – and met the people from the Witness Service at Victim Support. After catching up (it was well over a year and a half since we’d last communicated!), we talked about – and to cut a long story short, I’m starting training in March as a Witness Support Volunteer, assuming all references and CRB checks etc. are fine.
So, why do I want to do something else? An extra day a week out the house, in the midst of studying, just might be a welcome break. We talked about issues with being able to cope with upset people, aggression and anger. Personal experience of other less hospitable surroundings, including my time on the underground, seemed to help. It’s something that I would certainly like to try, and give it my best.
After being talked and shown round, left just before lunchtime. Went back for a bus and train back to Royston, went smoothly enough. I get back home, and it’s been one thing after another… never mind, if I do what everyone else is doing right now, and blame the weather… then I should be fine!
Now… Caroline will be home soon, and we can have a quiet one, and enjoy the evening…
OK, longer term readers will be well aware that, back in Autumn 2007, I’d started looking for voluntary work… and narrowed it down to three. Started with one, as you know, and still there sporadically. Other one I’d never heard back from, but the third one have just moved, and I got a letter from the organisation in question at the end of last month (see the end of this post). So, last week, while on route to Buckinghamshire, I had a phone call to come in to see them today.
So, first step was to get ready, and get out. The snow had started to melt, but quite a lot had turned to ice (minus ten in Chesham overnight!), so dressed semi-formally to suit.
Next was going for the train, and Live Departure Boards (LDB) said it was going to be late. After walking out of the close, started to slip/slide, don’t quite remember why. All I remember is almost falling over, and then looking around, thinking to myself “I think I got away with that”.
Next I knew, face and knees first onto the ice!
Woman’s voice and a dog from the other side of the road “Are you alright?”
Me “Yes thank you”
So I am used to falling over, but I remember thinking to myself that there was a long way to go… I was barely onto Gower Road!
Anyway, through some miracle, I manage to limp into Platform 2 of Royston Station, and the emergency timetable is sadly, already in tatters. I knew this was going to be late from LDB, but it ended up being 23 minutes down, no sign of the train due between, and none of these odd Royston – Kings Lynn 4-car shorts.
While waiting at the station, surveyed my damaged left knee, quite a wide set of cuts, and my hands too. Oh, and another pair of tights for the bin when I get home! Cleaned up my left knee with a wet wipe, and placed the wipe and wrapper in a paper hankie. Subconsciously somehow, I placed the top of the wipe wrapper inside my right coat pocket.
Made it to Cambridge, before getting the bus into town. An Italian visitor was looking for directions to Parkside coach stop, so I pointed that she should get off at Regent Street, and then go from there. Apparently, her flight back to Italy the night before had been cancelled, following weather issues.
Mine was the next stop, at the Post Office. After backtracking just a few yards, I ended up at the door of Cambridge Magistrates Court, and through the obligatory metal detector, before being waved down with the paddle. The metal detector kept picking up something in my pocket, despite the fact that it was empty. After taking out the tiny bit of paper in there, it set off the detectors. Yes, the top of the sachet that the wet wipe came in was metallic, and that kept setting off the metal detector.
So, up three floors of this brand new building – I’d passed it many times when going for the bus to Milton etc. – and met the people from the Witness Service at Victim Support. After catching up (it was well over a year and a half since we’d last communicated!), we talked about – and to cut a long story short, I’m starting training in March as a Witness Support Volunteer, assuming all references and CRB checks etc. are fine.
So, why do I want to do something else? An extra day a week out the house, in the midst of studying, just might be a welcome break. We talked about issues with being able to cope with upset people, aggression and anger. Personal experience of other less hospitable surroundings, including my time on the underground, seemed to help. It’s something that I would certainly like to try, and give it my best.
After being talked and shown round, left just before lunchtime. Went back for a bus and train back to Royston, went smoothly enough. I get back home, and it’s been one thing after another… never mind, if I do what everyone else is doing right now, and blame the weather… then I should be fine!
Now… Caroline will be home soon, and we can have a quiet one, and enjoy the evening…
