festive felicitations

Not much to say except

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Timmy "Yule Blog" Magic

miss belgium misses the point

BBC News reports on the recent furore in Belgium - it's not the governmental issues but those regarding the "Miss Belgium" contest.

The newly crowned Miss Belgium, Alizee Poulicek, doesn't speak Dutch. She does speak French, through living in a Francophone region of Belgium, Czech through parentage and English. This, though, was not acceptable for the audience in Antwerp, who booed Miss Poulicek at her crowning ceremony.

While Dutch speakers make up 60% of the population, is it reasonable to shun someone who doesn't speak the language. French is still an official language of the country, as well as of other world nations. It is an official language of the EU. It is the second language of a large proportion of school learners in the UK.

When I spent time in a Dutch speaking area of Belgium a number of years ago, a Francophone friend entered the reception of the place we were staying and asked a question in French. The receptionist then asked if he spoke English and, if he did, would he use that instead.

How does the political (as it ultimately is) situation get so bad that a member of staff at a tourist location would decline to speak an official language of their country for the sake of what would be a foreign language? Equally, how does it get so bad that it can have repercussions on a national beauty contest?

Timmy "Magique/Magie" Magic

blind opera singers and childrens toys

This YouTube video combines two things I like a lot - Classical music and child's toys.
It doesn't feature Moses, but it does feature Andrea Bocelli and Elmo from Sesame Street!



Plus its a great song too!

Timmy "Time to Say Goodnight" Magic

surreal carolling experiences

It must be nearly Christmas - the carolling season has started! Those famed 25 days or so when people abandon families, wives, girlfriends, housemates and friends for evenings and weekends.

I have done 3 carolling jobs in the past 3 days detailed thus.

1) Thursday - The Norwegian Christmas Tree

Each year since the end of World War 2, the people of Oslo have given a Norwegian spruce tree to the people of London to show gratitude for the support given to the Norwegian people during the war years. Regent Hall Band were present at the lighting of the tree in Trafalgar Square this week. The Norwegian PM waved at us, and we played "Ja, Vi Elsker Dette Landet", the Norwegian national anthem

2) Friday - NAWCs

The National Association of Women's Clubs. NAWCS.
The favourite Christmas band job of the year. It is inside, its warm and we dont have to wear scarves, caps or coats. We played assorted Christmas marches and carols and listened to the dulcet tones of a couple of soloists and choirs.

3) Saturday - YP Band Carolling

The YP Band carolling was reasonably uneventful apart from a couple of things. The father of the composer of one of the band's cornet solos, "This Is My Story" was present and took a large number of photos of the band as they carolled. I, on snare drum, was then approached by a Finnish lady who asked about the "carol" we had just played. The carol was "Frosty The Snowman" and apparantly the chamber choir that the lady lead had been singing it. The lady then asked for me to write a note to the choir saying that we had played it.

So I wrote

We played 'Frosty The Snowman'
Kind Regards
Regent Hall YP Band

Timmy "Scandinavian Carol Player" Magic

magic's phone thoughts

Timmy Magic was wondering if it was possible to blog from his new iPhone - it is!

By the way, I have an iPhone

Timmy "iLike my new phone" Magic

mounties kill man with taser

The debate about the use of Taser in the law enforcement community has been in full flow for a while now. Most British forces will not issue them to officers who do not routinely carry firearms, although the trial has been extended to non-AFOs (Authorized Firearms Officers) in recent weeks.

A video on YouTube (which, for the sake of sensitivity, I will not link to, but it can be found by searching "RCMP Taser death video released to public" on YouTube) and BBC News report demonstrates how it can get out of control and go wrong very quickly in situations requiring the use of non-lethal restraint equipment.

In all honesty, I don't know how I feel about this particular event, but know for sure it has made me think about whether I could ever carry and use a firearm in the line of duty

Timmy Magic

a chocolate vehicle? is it a double decker?

BBC News reports that two adventurers from Poole are attempting to drive from Great Britain to Mali in a lorry powered by chocolate.

Well, not by chocolate as such, but by bio-fuel created from 4,000 kg of misshapen chocolates.

They used the equivalent of 80,000 chocolate bars to create 2,000 litres of bio-diesel to fuel their trip.

Let's hope this project gives the 'boost' to bio-fuels for the future - maybe one day we could have a rocket leaving Mars behind as it journeys into the Milky Way!

Timmy "Enough Chocolate Puns" Magic

in 1 day

I have achieved a goal today - I am now defib trained once again!
It was a risky 6 days for the people of Paddington but fear no more, for I am now qualified to electrocute people!

(But only if they are suffering from ventricular tachycardia or ventricular defibrillation and not if they have sinus rhythm or are asystolic)

Timmy "Big Medical Orator" Magic

in 14 days

In the past 14 days I have

* finished an 80 hour week at work
* not been retrained in defibrillation
* lost broadband access
* been a Household Trooper
* marched from the Rink to the Cenotaph
* cycled at work
* watched High School Musical
* helped with an immigration arrest
* been to Boscombe with Regent Hall Band
* met some new friends
* had some deep and meaningful conversations
* purchased "Hairspray" on DVD
* eaten brunch with friends
* eaten lunch with friends
* eaten dinner with friends
* eaten half a Golden Syrup cake and half a tub of custard in one sitting

In the next few days I intend to

* try and relax at work
* sleep
* be retrained in defibrillation

Timmy "Busy Bando Bobby Broadband-less Buddy" Magic

following the trend

Like many other fellow bloggers have done, I seem to be blogging for the sake of it.
This, however, isn't true

I have something to say - I am not blogging much because I am working too hard/much

Today was day 7 of an 8 day stretch at work - 80 hours of fun filled crime fighting all crammed into the time when I am not sleeping or eating.

So I will blog later in the week with thoughts on the previous few days - I guess this serves as a warning/teaser trailer

Timmy "Roll on Thursday!" Magic

moving magic

It is with great sadness that I inform you that today I left House 2 of William Booth College, never to live there again!

However, bloggos and bloggas, I moved into House 1 with Dave "the Cotch" Cotterill and Jon "Pipester" Pipe! I am now officially a House 1 Hottie!

I have such home comforts as:-

broadband
a fully working freeview box
a dining room table
a sofa
the ability to eat, sleep and dress in different rooms

Simple things, I know, but important to me!

Timmy "Moved and Weary" Magic

reasons i love my job part 2

As an addendum to my post the other day, I have 2 more reasons that I love my job!

This conversation occurred yesterday in my office at about 5.50pm, 40 minutes before home time

Inspector: "Everybody, go home, b***er off, get out of my office"
Everybody: "OK - bye Guv!"

This conversation occurred today around Marble Arch

Pink Umbrella Lady: "Ooh it's so nice to see policemen on bikes instead of those awful community support people"
Tim: "Thanks"
Pink Umbrella Lady: "Are you a policeman?"
Tim: "No, I am an awful community support officer"
Pink Umbrella Lady: "Oh! Why can't you do anything but write on bits of paper?"
Tim: "I do have powers, they are just not as extensive as a police officer's"
Pink Umbrella Lady: "But why don't you stop the robbers and muggings?"
Tim: "We provide a visible police presence and as such, are a deterrent"
Pink Umbrella Lady: "But that's not very good - I never see policemen on the streets"
Tim: "So apart from community support people, you never see police officers? Surely that's a visible presence so it works?"

Pink Umbrella Lady walks away

Tim: "Thanks madam - have a nice day!"

Timmy "Home Early But Feeling Worthless" Magic

blog action day - 4 mins late

I missed it by a few minutes but the post is still here!

I like cycling. This can be seen by

a) the fact I own a bike
b) the fact that I blog frequently about cycling
c) the fact that I am a police cyclist

A few weeks ago, there was a tube strike. During it, did you notice anything extraordinary in the press? It wasn't the fact that people were "working from home" nor the fact that the bus queues were far longer than they normally are. It was the fact that there were loads of cyclists on the roads. People dusted down their Raleigh racers and their muddy mountain bikes for a few days.

So why didn't this burst of environmental friendliness stick?

Did people get too hot and sweaty on their way to work? Were the roads too chock full of bikers? Was it just not easy enough?

TfL have recently launched a campaign to promote safe cycle usage in London - maps are more freely available, the journey planner can now do bike specific routes and we are encouraged to not jump red lights or cycle on the pavement.

So I, Timmy Magic, encourage you to cycle somewhere this week.

It's good for you, its great for the environment and you never know, you might enjoy it!

Timmy "CycloCop and CycloBloke" Magic

blog action day - 5 days to go

I am going to try and support more worthy causes as of now, starting with Blog Action Day this week.

It aims to promote environmental action via the medium of blogging. Around 9,500 blogs worldwide will be posting about something environment related on the 15th October! Come back and see what mine will be about!

Timmy "Green Blogger" Magic

reasons i love my job

On the left hand side, two new links have magically appeared - first up is Mark Aspin, former school chum of mine, F1 fan and all round nice chap

Next is Katie Allen - friend of a friend, London North East buddy and purveyor of education to the small.

Her current latest post is about the reasons she loves teaching, and recounts some of the things she has heard in the past week. I have reasons I love my job too.

The cycling is great fun
The colleagues are great
The opportunities to learn new stuff are excellent

Then, of course, there are the conversations, such as this one today

Tim leaves junction of minor road into major road on the way to an emergency call. He makes a close call regarding the taxi approaching him. He thinks he has enough room, the taxi driver doesn't

Taxi Driver: "You are a f***ing idiot, aren't you?"
Tim: "Pardon?"
Taxi Driver: "I said, you are a f***ing idiot, aren't you?"
Tim: "I am going to an emergency call, I am doing my job!"
Taxi Driver: "Yeah but you are still a f***ing idiot"
Tim: "Thanks! Have a nice day!"

Tim approaches Subway. He slows down and crosses the other lane of traffic. He mounts the pavement. He goes in to Subway, then exits a short time later. Tim is outside Subway with the sandwich he has just bought. A man on the pavement waves at him. Tim approaches him.

Man on Pavement: "Officer, can I take your number?"
Tim: "Of course, why?"
Man on Pavement: "I am going to make a complaint"
Tim: "OK"
Man on Pavement: "You were cycling on the pavement. I was nearly hit by a cyclist the other day"
Tim: "OK"
Man on Pavement: "You signalled and then pulled over and then went on the pavement"
Tim: "Yes"
Man on Pavement: "I am going to complain, where are you based"
Tim: "Paddington Green"
Man on Pavement: "I am going to go and complain right now"
Tim: "OK! Have a nice day!"

I meet such nice people on a daily basis - and no-one had done anything wrong! Apart from me, cycling on the pavement, of course.

Timmy "Flipping Pavement Cycling Idiot?" Magic

flight of the conchords

I was introduced to Flight of the Conchords by a friend from New Zealand a few months back. But they didn't crack Britain then.
One of the Conchords (Jemaine) was in a Hollywood(ish) movie. Still they didn't quite crack Britain.

Now their show, from the US channel HBO, is being shown on BBC Four! If that isn't making it big, I don't know what is!

Here is a contextual YouTube video



These guys are really funny, and their material is original.
The video above is of their take on the urban music scene, "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros"

Enjoy it - BBC Four, Tuesdays 2130 - 2200, repeated Fridays 2300 - 2330

Timmy "Not hip or hop" Magic

PS - This is post number 250 - aren't I doing well?

old school eating

This afternoon I went out for lunch in Clapham with a friend from work. It was nice.

Afterwards we went to Sainsbury's, which may not sound exciting but it really was! I found Marshmallow Fluff! Again, this may not sound overly exciting but it was for me. I haven't eaten Marshmallow Fluff in years - not since I lived in Cwmbran about 14 (eep!) years ago.

If anybody sees me in the next few days and wants some - give me a yell, though I cannot account for me having eaten it all before that moment!

Timmy "Fluffing Happy" Magic

lapsed bloggers

A few definitions to start

lapse (lăps) pronunciation

v., lapsed, laps·ing, laps·es.

v.intr.

1.
1. To fall from a previous level or standard, as of accomplishment, quality, or conduct

blogger

(1) A person who writes Weblogs

On my left hand links, you will see a number of examples of "lapsed bloggers"

* Mike Owen - travel blog, not travelling anymore, no more posts - excused
* Andy McMillan - teaching hard, newly married - excused
* Matt White - busy man, has blogged numerous times about the iPhone - not excused
* Garry Smith - busy, son at new school, as rugular as ever he was - excused
* Nick Hanover - new baby plus another young son - excused
* Mike McCredie - its Mike - excused
* Beth Hampel - full time student/tax dodger - not excused
* Richard Bradbury - in Africa, still blogs and has a baby - doesn't need excusing
* Glyn Harries - vlogging sometimes, blogging others - excused
* John Mitchinson - blogging funnily and consistently - excused
* Simon White - full time student/tax dodger - not excused
* Matt Leeder - a new mac and all we get is a link and a YouTube video - not excused
* Graham Owen - in Denmark but has slowed up, elder statesman, very busy - excused
* Lloyd Kinsley - still blogging - doesn't need excusing
* Gordon Cotterill - still at it - doesn't need excusing
* Clare Bradbury - now cadetting and still blogging - doesn't need excusing
* Steve Taylor - new son and job - excused
* Lucy Aitken Read - still blogging despite retirement - doesn't need excusing
* Tim Aitken Read - had all summer off and didn't blog - not excused

I feel a link list cull might be in order! Feel free to defend yourselves or others in the comment section

Timmy "Might not get round to culling" Magic

tim(p)y magic

A few months ago, I decided to take a break from playing in the band as I didn't feel quite right about it at the time. Having taken a few months out of the band, I made my return a couple of Sundays ago.

Having been to practice this week, I got my drumming mojo back. As it was Glen's stag do yesterday he was at home for the weekend. Davo was in Manchester. These three mutually exclusive facts meant that I was the head percussionist at the Rink today.

I was great!

I know that sounds big headed, but I was in fine form today. Two people whose musical opinions I trust said that I sounded good and another still (whose musical opinions I trust slightly less) said it was the best he had heard me play! Now that's got to be a good thing!

Timmy "Buddy Rink" Magic

(PS I know the title says Tim(p)y Magic and am very aware of the fact that a) timps weren't mentioned until now and b) it should have another 'm' in it)

sa leader in pakistan killed

News broke today of the death of Colonel Bo Brekke, Territorial leader for Pakistan. He was shot in his office complex in Lahore at around 6.00pm local time yesterday

The news is reported, with varying degrees of detail and accuracy on the following websites

Salvation Army International
Pakistan Daily Times
Aftenposten (English)
Aftenposten (Norwegian)
TV2.no

Thoughts and prayers go to his wife and two sons

Timmy Magic

shattered dreams

I found this on the Facebook profile of my chum Heather and felt it worth sharing.
It's moments like this that mean I love watching the early stages of talent shows!

Simon Cowell ruins a woman's life in a few sentences



Timmy "Will stick to carolling" Magic

90ish days too soon

I went into London this afternoon, in search of food, DVDs and somehwere that wasn't the college.

I ended up, as I often do, on Oxford Street. I felt the need for a little culture so instead of heading straight to HMV and Virgin Megastore, I went to Books Etc/Borders (whichever one it is next to Superdrug on the east side of Oxford Circus)

I ventured towards the crime section. It was all very good. Likewise with the computer book section, the language book section and the music book section.

It was only as I descended the escalator (which I suppose would make it a de-escalator) I spotted something that sickened me.

Calendars.

More specifically, calendars for the year 2008. If you glance to the top of this post you will see today's date. 25th September 2007. 97 days before we greet the New Year. That is over 3 months until the festivites. Over a quarter of the year is still left.
So why do we need next year's calendars now? We don't for a few months!

Timmy "Dust off the decorations" Magic

i love perry

I love perry! Not Como, not Kevin's chum but the drink.

Only the non-alcoholic version however. This is, of course, essentially just fizzy pear juice but it's nice nonetheless.

Kopparberg in Sweden is the home of the drink, and it has made the town famous.
The Wikipedia page for the drink states that it is actually a pear cider, but I am not sure!

Sadly it is only available in a very limited range of places, such as Swedish uber-furniture store, IKEA and JD Wetherspoon's pubs. Whilst there are quite a few Wetherspoon's around, most of them are havens for those who like to start drinking before lunch and not stop until they fall over.

In conclusion, pick up a bottle or can soon - it's great!

Timmy "Eat, Drink and be Perry" Magic

i am magic and i'm an addict

Yes - that's right, I have a problem. I am a Facebook addict. I know I have blogged before about how great Facebook is but I discovered yesterday that I have an addiction to it.

The story goes thus...

I was kindly invited to visit my good friends in Wickford, Mr Mike and Mrs AJ McCredie for a curry and some banter. I accepted this cordial invitation and made my way to sunny Essex. As more time passed, more people arrived and so on.

Shortly after the arrival of various people, I began to muse how many of the people in the room were my Facebook friends. For most of the evening there were only 2 people who were not also virtual chums. I then logged onto Facebook via the medium of my mobile and began poking people in said room.

This worried me. Why was I facebooking (new word!) people who were sat in the room with me? I could have just talked to them!

So that was the day I realised I had a problem

Timmy "Facecrack Addict" Magic

twenty20 cricket - is it or isn't it?

Over the past few days, the Twenty20 World Cup has been taking place. Some cricketing purists don't like the fact that it is shortening the game even more than 40 over games and the now-extinct Power Cricket (BBC News report).

I, however, am not that much of a purist and therefore love the game! It is exciting and fast paced and is bringing people back into grounds to watch live cricket.

The elation from the Ashes win is now but a distant memory and interest has waned once again. If this game can re-energize the interest of people, especially children, that can only be a good thing.

Timmy "Twenty20 Approver" Magic

lack of blogging

I know that a number of fellow bloggers have lapsed into not blogging, some have retired, so are resting and some are awaiting inspiration.
Others still have fallen foul of Facebook addictions, possibly including myself.

But I feel that there are other reasons I haven't been blogging.

a) If you don't have anything to say, don't say anything

This has been said by a number of people as to why blogging is not as prevalent.

b) I have rediscovered having friends nearby

When I was in halls, I had friends nearby to hang out with. At home in Edgware and Chelmsford, I had my parents and a few mates close by. Now in the Denmark Hill ghetto I have a great bunch of close friends (all of whom I love dearly and hope they know that)

c) I have been working a lot

Summer has happened, people have been on school holidays and it has been busy

d) I have been hob-nobbing

I have in the past 2 days had dealings with three celebrities, two of whom are well known TV stars and one who is a former international sportsman

e) I have not got very good Internet access

I don't need to explain this. I have dial-up

Timmy "May be back to the blogosphere soon" Magic

not pc magic

It just occured to me that as I haven't told many poeple, most blog readers won't know that I got my results for my Met Police PC interview last week and I was unsuccessful.

I did better on some things from my last interview but worse on others, so the end result was the same - not getting the job!

I am going to give it another go in 6 months time but for now I will still be rolling around the streets of West London on my bike!

Timmy "CycloPCSO" Magic

trilingual weddings

I say weddings, but I refer to just one. The marriage of Alex and Sian in Wales this weekend. Here is a whistlestop tour of the happenings.

We stayed in a Travelodge in Llanelli - amusingly named "Lalalelly" but a certain Antipodean lady amongst us

We dined on American breakfasts in the Little Thief next door

We sang in English, Welsh and Latin at the service

We (I mean, I) flew kites on the beach

We ate at a Welsh pub, where we irked the owner by all wanting to sit down

We had a fun time at the reception overlooking sea or river

We came home

Timmy "Welsh Rare Bit" Magic

a week of discovery

I, Mr T Magic, have discovered a number of things

1) Films from childhood are cool

Especially ones you never saw as a child. I bought both Ghostbusters fils, the Naked Gun trilogy and rewatched The Breakfast Club. Movies back then were far simpler and its great to see how far special effects have come, but how humour doesn't really change

2) World cinema is pretty good

I have got a few foreign films that I hadn't watched until recently. Black Book, a Dutch film is powerful, U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, an African film is a great reworking of a classical opera and any of the Studio Ghibli films (Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away and My Neighbours The Yamadas) are a good use of time.

3) Becoming a police officer isn't easy

I found out on Wednesday that I was unsuccessful in my application to join the Metropolitan Police as a police officer. I am really bummed out by this but realise that I still have a job I love to do, which many don't! I have to wait 6 months before I can apply again but I am going to use the time to prepare.

4) Kite flying in a storm is bad

I flew my kite in Hyde Park today. Well, I sort of did. It wasn't especially windy or consistently windy so it didn't fly very well. It then started to be mega windy and I realised that a) it was a storm, b) there would be lightening and c) it was raining really hard! Maybe another day.

5) Pringles Rice Infusions are nice

There is no explanation to that. They just are.

6) When you need it, friends are really great

The people I have seen in the past few days have been good mates to me, as it hasn't been the best of weeks. They know who they are (hopefully) and realise (hopefully) how much their support is valued.

Timmy "Glad the week is over" Magic

star spangled screamer

Sorry to follow on the trend for putting YouTube videos and here and claiming it's blogging, but this just has to be heard/seen!

Davo, myself, Stuart and Marjory are fans of this group and often try to imitate them on the way to the Army!

Enjoy...



Timmy "Trying Tenor" Magic

magic is back in action

I am back from Italy, I am back from Ireland, I am back from my PC interview and I am back at work.

My interview yesterday went pretty well. I feel confident that I should get it but am realistic to the fact that I didn't last time! The interviewers were all nice and I wasn't quite as scared this time round.

Ireland was also good. I managed to catch up with a few chums while I was there and overall, the craic was good!

Italy was nice and warm, but I was there for too short a time to -

a) get a great suntan
b) fly my kite
c) catch any fish
d) learn any Italian

Timmy "Continent Trotter" Magic

tour de londres

Since I became CycloCop and got my own bike, I have been cycling more.
Having done my huge amount of miles in a fortnight a few weeks ago I think it would be worth doing a Tour de Londres - if anyone fancies it, get in touch and we can see the sights on our bikes!

Timmy "Pedal Power Hungry" Magic

facebook - the world's greatest waste of time

I have discovered the worst waste of time ever - Facebook

Even as I wrote this post, I had to stop twice to check it. Hours literally disappear at the behest of this website.
At the same time, however, it is wonderful! I have got in contact with friends in California and Panama. I have rekindled relationships (albeit virtual) with former school chums and former workplaces. I have internet friends who I haven't seen in years and real life friends who started out as random meetings and internet friends!

If you haven't hopped on board the good ship Facebook, it is worth it!
But wave goodbye to the shore of reality and social life...

Timmy "Facebook Fanatic" Magic

magic - navigating honourary usher

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the marriage of two of my dear friends, Andy and Liz in Gloucester. This is the same Gloucester that for a bit of last week was underwater!

Davo, Stuart, Marjory and myself jollied off from Denmark Hill towards the wedding and arrived (after a slight detour to Asda in search of the new Harry Potter book) at the church. We met up with a few other Rinkers who had sojourned to the Shire and unloaded Dave's drum kit.

Upon setting up the kit, we discovered that the legendary Mr Cotch had forgotten his snare drum stand. We made some frantic calls to Gloucester and Cheltenham and found a stand. The ushers were busy ushing, so it fell upon Alex (as driver) and Magic (as navigator) to go to Cheltenham SA to pick it up.

Google Maps assures me that it is 7.6 miles or 19 minutes from door to door each way. Alex and I left the hall at 14.52 and were about 3 mins late for the wedding!

As mentioned previously, Gloucester was somewhat flooded. Tewkesbury, the reception location was "an island". As most of the wedding guests had forgotten their scuba gear, the location was changed to a lovely hotel in Cheltenham.

A fun old evening was had eating together, but owing to the need to be up early we didn't stay for the dancing.

Then the bad bit came. As we passed J14 of the M4, we saw a notice saying that the road was closed twixt J13 and J12. Hence we were stuck. We sang songs and choruses and whiled away the hours. So by 2.30am we were home and in bed!

Timmy "Last Minute Hero" Magic

where there's a chav there's the salvation army

I know I haven't blogged for a while and some readers have been posting about this and this is not in the slightest bit sensible but...



I found this on the BBC News website! It makes me so proud to be part of our Army

Timmy "Harold and Vicky - but no Madge" Magic

cyclocop and cyclomagic

Last week I cyclocopped just over 90 miles.
The week before that I cyclocopped 150 miles.

That's 240 miles in 2 weeks!

I did no cycling over the weekend but did 6 miles to work, 10 miles at work and 6 miles home today!

Timmy "Cycle tour anyone?" Magic

george canning's steak

I have just eaten steak and chips at the George Canning, my local pub. It was nice!

When talking about steak to someone recently, I asked how they liked it. Allegedly it is best if you wipe its bum and cut off its horns!

Mine wasn't quite like that but it was nearly alive in the middle

Timmy "The steaks are high" Magic

smoke free blogging

So this is it! England is smoke-free! As l write this l am sat in the pub across from the college enjoying my food without the free cancer. Two gents on the table behind me are annoyed at having to go outside to smoke and their mates are talking about them while they are away

It's jolly funny!

Timmy "Smoking Bard" Magic

magic tackles armed man

Today I helped my friend Karen move house. It was uneventful aside from a few moments of great hilarity that were funny to us but wouldn't be to anyone else.

That was until we decided to go to the Old Kent Road to drop some furniture off at the BHF shop. As we were driving along, Karen spotted a man collapsed on the floor outside a shop. Karen, in her caring, nursing manner, asked if we should stop to help. So we did.

A girl had called an ambulance but was a bit nervous so I helped the ambulance operator understand what had happened. As the man woke up from his drunken unconsciousness, I spotted something in the waistband of his trousers. It was a big knife. So I asked him what it was and he said it was a "shooter". It clearly wasn't so I gave him fair chance to get rid of it while Karen was checking up on him.

He then decided to stand up and take the knife from his waistband.
So I did what one would expect. No, I didn't run away.

I used a Home Office approved restraint technique and threw him against a shop window. After several good hard shoves and some assistance from a very helpful builder he dropped the knife and we got the paramedic to get a police officer to come along!

All in a day off I suppose

Timmy "Sharp spotting" Magic

cyclocop in action

Further to my post a few weeks ago about being CycloCop, here is a picture of me in my CycloCop uniform!



Timmy "6 consecutive CycloCop days" Magic

magic and the tate

No - not the gallery, the comedian!

In the past few weeks I have rediscovered the wonder of Catherine Tate! I had forgotten how funny she was.



This video made me chuckle, particularly in light of the conversations I have had about language in the past few days

Timmy "Est-ce que je suis bothered?" Magic

magic's movie advice

Don't see the new Ice Cube film, "Are We Done Yet?"

It's rubbish!

Timmy "Wasted 90 minutes" Magic

pc magic - maybe

Now that all the people who need to know, do, I can tell you that I have passed the application form stage of my Met PC application.

Roll on the interview!

Timmy "Bye bye SO?" Magic

magic at the movies

Being the holder of a Cineworld Unlimited card means that I can see more films than the average person. I go to the cinema at least once in every set of rest days.

This afternoon was no exception to that rule. I saw Oceans 13, the third installment of the "Ocean's" series

It was very entertaining and well worth a watch. It is not as good as the first one, but better than the second. Let's hope that this is the case for the other "three-quels", Spiderman, Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean are also as good.

Note that this post, unlike my previous few, is not about Ireland!

Timmy "Casino Cool" Magic

close to the collapse

While perusing the BBC News website, I noticed the article about the collapsed building in Victoria.

I was really close when it happened.

Look!

Timmy "Glad he isn't stuck on the cordon" Magic

flooding near mum and dad's

Today there was the biggest rain fall my Dad had ever seen. It resulted in some really bad flooding.



A picture from the BBC shows the shopping centre near my parent's house.

Timmy "Dry in London" Magic

dave and magic's foliage fiasco

On Sunday evening, after the Army and after the pub, Dave and I decided to make the most of the lovely Sunday sun and chill out on the quad at the College. We got my frisbee out and had a few throws, but they kept hitting the sides of the houses so we gave up in favour of the famed yellow boomerang.



After a few throws, we hit a slight snag. The boomerang got stuck in the tree on the quad.



The boomerang was unreachable so we decided to use a football to try and dislodge it



After a few tries, we arrived at another slight issue. The football got stuck.



The blur in that photo is because I couldn't stop laughing.

Dave then had an idea. He would go and see his uncle Gordon too see if he had a ladder. He did.



He also had a broom which Dave tried to dislodge the ball and boomerang with. Note the blurring once again - it is really hard to take photos through tears.



It got the football down, but not the boomerang. So we called in India 99, the Met Police's helicopter.



Not really, but it did come close.

Finally, with the help of Private Pipe, rushing to our 609 situation, the boomerang was dislodged and fell to the ground. We rejoiced greatly.



This isn't Private Jon Pipe but is indicative of a soldier

Timmy "Be the Second Best" Magic

a magic weekend

The past weekend has been quite busy with all the goings on. The goings on have been thus.

On Friday evening, the Ireland Youth Chorus, over for the whole Gospel Arts weekend, did a concert with the Household Troops Band. It was a great evening, with some fantastic music by both band and choir, as well as by Damian Wileman as vocal soloist.

Saturday was the Gospel Arts concert itself at the Royal Albert Hall. There was no visiting band this year, but a Massed Youth Chorus from all corners of the territory. The evening was as good as it has been in the last few years and the selection of music was great. A particular highlight was the "Hillsong Praise" finale, four Hillsong songs in an arrangement by Andrew Mackereth, bandmaster at Nuneaton. It featured "That's What We Came For", "The Potter's Hand", "Church on Fire" and "The Power of Your Love" and was performed by the International Staff Band, the International Staff Songsters and Massed Youth Chorus.

In a move from the tradition that one would expect from a Gospel Arts festival, Electralyte were featured playing two of their songs. The guys from the band are all top blokes and I thoroughly recommend their first album, "Breakout" and their new album being recorded this summer when it comes out.

Phil Cobb, former Expressions guest soloist, played with the International Staff Band and was in fine form. It is great to see that the Army is still raising talented musicians in "traditional" and "modern" circles. He played Kenny Baker's "Virtuosity" with the level of skill that he has displayed for a number of years.

On Sunday morning I ventured to Staines Corps to see the Youth Chorus and my Irish chums again. The songs were excellent, the drama was entertaining and relevant and Adam Moore did a great job of preaching. The whole meeting was rounded of by a number of people kneeling at the front in response.

Having a father who is the Director for Evangelism for Ireland has its perks, as I was invited to share in some lunch with the choir before their return. The gang got changed from their morning meeting gear into their flying gear and I was met by my dear friend Heather. She was wearing a t-shirt commemorating the "great" victory of "Norn Iron" over my homeland. So just for all those Ulster based readers:-



That of course led to a bit of banter, so ribbing about the rivalry and a couple of verses of some NI football songs. I quote.


Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where HEALY, HEALY, HEALY!

I gave in and played "We're Not Brazil, We're Northern Ireland" on my phone.

Timmy "Norn Iron 24% win rate" Magic

sony price cut for blu-ray player

It is good to see the Sony price cut for blu-ray player reported on BBC News. It looks like the future of HD TV and DVD is getting affordable! Yay!

Timmy "Magic Ray" Magic

tim's outdoor toys

On Sunday afternoon, twixt meetings, Glen and I went to Hamleys to purchase some outdoor toys.

We bought a nice fluorescent orange Frisbee ring type thing, which flies absolutely miles when you really chuck it. We discovered this by letting a small child in Cavendish Square throw it, It ended up in a hedge on the other side of the park and narrowly missed the sleeping homeless man who would have, no doubt, shouted if we had woken him.

It also flies miles in Green Park, with a tendency towards heading for deaf-blind men. Don't even begin to ask how we found that out.

We also bought a boomerang called "Outdoor Magic" to go with the "Backyard Magic" I bought the other week. We had slight issues getting it to come back but found it delightfully easy to take big chunks out of the blades by landing it on concrete.

All I am waiting for now is my kite, hopefully arriving tomorrow.

Timmy "Indoor/Outdoor/Backyard/Everywhere" Magic

the man and the lamppost

As I was walking across Bishop's Bridge with Charmain, one of our PCs, a man was walking towards us on his mobile.

As he was on his phone, he was clearly not playing attention to the pavement. He walked straight into a lamppost. His phone flew out of his hand, did a 360° somersault in both axes and landed back in his hand. I looked at him with a straight face. He looked at me with a straight face.

When Charmain and I got around the corner, we fell about laughing!

Timmy "Post-man Prat" Magic

a happy day

Yesterday marked one of the happiest days of the year! It wasn't just that it was Mr Matt White's birthday. It wasn't even that it was Norway's national day or even the 64th anniversary of the Dambuster raids.

It was the first day of the England vs West Indies Test match. The first day of a whole cricketing summer of fun. As soon as Saturday's FA Cup Final is over, and Wednesday's Champions League Final is finished, the cricket joy can take centre stage!

Unrelated is the fact that I am watching Shazia Mirza, the least funny woman in the world, on "F*** Off, I'm A Hairy Woman". I have seen her live twice and she is rubbish. She is a Muslim and a woman and a comedian and she expects the world to be shocked. Someone should point out that this is London in the Noughties, not Karachi in the 70's

Timmy "Straight, White and Male - bad comic combo" Magic

afghan commander killed

BBC News reports that an Afghan Taleban commander has been killed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

There is one slight problem. The bloke's name. He was called Mullah Dadullah.

Now I appreciate that the UN and America need to justify called the Taleban evil and still considering it a threat, but they could make up a more plausible name for the bad guy.

I can almost hear the conversation in a New York office, late last night

UN Bloke 1: "What about Marty Al-Party?"
UN Bloke 2: "Nope - far too frivoulous"
UN Bloke 1: "Willy McNilly?"
UN Bloke 2: "Too Scottish"
UN Bloke 1: "Mullah... Dadullah?"
UN Bloke 2: "Yeah, that will do nicely. Send it to CNN, Reuters and the BBC..."

Timmy "Dimmy Tragic" Magic

3 new links

I have added 3 new links to the left hand side. Steve, Lucy and Tim are all related to John and Anne, officers at the Rink.

Lucy is their daughter, Tim is her husband and Steve is their other daughter's husband. All three of them are jolly nice people and have witty and insightful blogs!

So get clicking!

Timmy "Not the only blogger called Tim" Magic

my new thing for wednesday

I am a police cyclist.
Police cyclists have to wear eye protection.
Without my glasses I can't see past the end of my nose.
I wear contacts.
Police cyclists get sweaty from the bulletproof vests.
Today I wore contacts.
I have just had a shower.
I forgot to take my lenses out.
I could see where and what I was washing for the first time in about 8 years.

It was good.

Timmy "Visibly cleaner" Magic

roots 2007

So this weekend has been Roots 2007, the Army's annual jolly to Southport. Once again I was working on the Medical team. Let's just say we were kept busy but not too rushed!

I took the train from Euston on Friday afternoon and did my Dutch study on the way up. When I arrived I booked into my hotel, got my wristband and badge and, much to the delight of the Med team, arrived at the team meeting (I should have been working until 11pm but had the day off.)

First thing to do was to be medi-man at the Parklife venue for youth and young adults. My good chum Matt White was the leader of the venue and was preaching on Friday night. I didn't hear his preaching but from what those who were levaing said, it was up to his usual high standard. The after hours gig at Parklife was a chat show with Matt, Glyn and Chell (all linked on the left hand side.) Chell was the intelligent questioner, Glyn was the pretty one and Matt was the one who ripped everyone to shreds. It was quite funny.

Saturday morning was started with a lovely cooked breakfast followed by Good Morning Roots! The band were, as always, fantastic, with the now traditional fixtures of Geraldine Latty, Raul D'Oliveira, Nick and Trish Parrans-Smith and Calvin Hollingworth. I gave the first bible study (on Jonah) a miss and went for a shower and half an hour's sleep. After a healthy luncheon of cheeseburger and chips I went to the football tournament. I have no idea of who won, as the final was on Sunday and it was raining. I have no idea why the only casualty of the day walked back to the medical centre. I do know however that I spent all afternoon talking to the world's worst blogger, Mike McCredie.

After meeting up with StopGap buddy, Laura Barton, we jollied off to the evening venue at Parklife. Chick Yuill was speaking, and attending Roots for the first time since leaving officership. As was to be expected, he was excellent and great to listen to. After hours was Electralyte and [dweeb] in concert. They were both very good, although only one of them is my style of music. (Don't worry Matt, Jon and Paul - it's you!)

Once again I was one of the medical bods for Good Morning Roots! Once again I skipped the bible study and went for a shower. In the afternoon I watched a bit of the football then played some pitch and putt with Dennis and David. An evening in the Big Top with Steve Chalke followed before another After Hours with [dweeb] at Parklife. After that I went for a curry with the bands and the wives and girlfriends and assorted hangers on. Eating a curry at 12.50am is a fun experience.

Monday was a day off, so I went to the Big Top with a friend who I caught up with over the weekend. After that, pizza was eaten and I wended my merry way back to the hotel and then to the train home.

Finally I arrived back in Denmark Hill at about 7.30pm quite tired and well in need of sleep (which came at about midnight...)

Timmy "Medical Man" Magic

post roots blogging

I have been at Roots but now I am back and will tell you all about it tomorrow!

Timmy "Tired Medic" Magic

blues were best?

BBC News reports that the special one, Jose Mourinho says his side were the best tonight in their match with Liverpool.

Tim has 1 question for Mr Mourinho - why didn't Chelsea win then?

There is confidence and there is arrogance - guess which one this is...

Timmy "Fan of the 2nd best (but top of the league) Premiership team" Magic

salvationism recognised

Today I have been filling in my online Police Officer application for the Met. I have done all the non-important bits (name, date of birth, education history) and will embark on the competency based questions later on.

However the last thing I did before I logged off was the diversity section. I was asked to list my age (18 - 24), ethnic origin (White British), sexual orientation (Heterosexual) and my religion, faith or belief. So I scrolled to Christian and saw, amongst others listed, Church of England, Church of God, Church of Ireland and Church of Scotland. So I scrolled down a bit more, in the general direction of the letter 's' and found Salvationist!



I really didn't expect to see that kind of specifics, even in a politically correct organization like the Police.

Timmy "Shocked Salvo" Magic

its a tv and a phone!

This week I splashed out on a new mobile! Its a mobile phone and a TV!
It is the Lobster 700TV from Virgin Mobile and it has a built in DAB radio and DVB TV.

It has only got a few channels (BBC1, ITV1, Channel 4, E4 and ITN News) but its great!
Plus it looks great



Timmy "Watched Countdown on the train home" Magic

magic's kingdom

Here is a photo that I surreptitiously took while exploring the balcony of one of our shops! It really shows off the bit of London I have the pleasure of policing



Oddly enough, as I was on my way out to survey my kingdom, I saw HRH The Princess Royal as she got off the train at Paddington. There were lots of SEG (Special Escort Group) police officers and bomb dogs (that is to say, bomb searching dogs, not exploding dogs)

Timmy "King of the Grove" Magic

clarebear bradbury

Clare Bradbury, brother of Richard and something children related for the Army somewhere in the South, has a blog.

Said blog is linked left. I decided to link Clare's blog for two main reasons

1) She's my friend and I like her

2) She says things like "I'd like to tell you Timmy "Jones" Magic that your blog makes me laugh!" and I feel valued!

Timmy "Funny blogger" Magic

owen vs cotterill

Mike and Dave, Owen and Cotch, stalwarts of masculinity, are sad that they have not been mentioned on my blog.

So here it is!

Dave - drummer, striker, trend setter and comedian extraordinare



vs



Mike - guitarist, style guru, cook and football legend

Who is more "the man"?

Votes and answers in the comments section please

Timmy "Friend to all" Magic

avenue q

Yesterday night I decided to engage in a little culture, so I went off to see a West End musical. However, being Magic and single I decided that I would go and see Avenue Q, a grown up version of Sesame Street.

It is quite risque but it is excellent. I managed to pick up a cheap ticket from the Internet at about 3pm and went for the show at 8pm!

If you get the chance to see it, seize it, but expect to laugh!

Timmy "Broadway brilliance" Magic

mashbury's marathon man

Former boss, chum and all round decent bloke Garry Smith (linked left) is doing the marathon in aid of NCH this year and asked for a bit of publicity!

So here it is

Click here to sponsor Garry - its for a good cause!

Incidentally I do know that Garry is no longer Mashbury's corps officer - but it fits the alliteration of the title

Also, as Blogger reaches it's 1000th blog of note, I reach 200 blog posts!
I feel all charitable using my 200th post to encourage giving money!

Timmy "Missing the Marathon" Magic

a foray into westminster

At work today, I had a couple of quick errands to run around Westminster so I hopped onto my policeman bike and headed down towards Hyde Park from Paddington.



I went down to see the Queen at Buckingham Palace, via Buckingham Palace Road where Belgravia police station is. From there I went to Scotland Yard and City Hall.



When I was at City Hall, I parked up my bike and went in. As soon as I had walked through the door, the lights went off, the computers stopped working and the lifts stopped. The council went into meltdown.

People tried to push the revolving doors round so I used the disabled doors, which stayed open when pushed.

People complained that they couldn't get to their offices on the 4th floor. I suggested they use the stairs.

The receptionist couldn't print my visitors pass so I suggested that people may notice that I am an authorized visitor by the cycle helmet with "police" on it, the hi-viz jacket with "police" on it, the epaulets with "police" on and the bulletproof jacket!

I then went to Westminster Abbey and up Whitehall towards Charing Cross police station. (Spotted the theme yet?)
From there I went through Leicester Square and Piccadilly to West End Central and up towards the Rink for tea and biscuits.



Next on the list was Seymour St, where Marylebone police station is.

To finish the morning's journey I went into Hyde Park to the Royal Parks police station.

So with the exception of Harrow Road (part of Paddington) and St John's Wood (part of Marylebone) I visited every nick in Westminster!

Not bad for a day's work even if I say so myself!

Timmy "Cyclo-cop" Magic

magic's new notebook

Following in the footsteps of artistic and literary greats as Van Gogh, Chatwin, Hemingway, Matisse and Céline and other such muses, I have bought a Moleskine notebook.

Alas the opportunity has not yet arisen to write anything in it except the details in the front page - who to return it to when it gets lost and how many dollars the reward is. The only issue is that I have no dollars!

If anyone can suggest things to write (or with my limited artistic talent, draw) in my new book, I would be most grateful

Timmy "Cahier Carrier" Magic

magic's new t-shirt

I have a new t-shirt. I bought it from Google. It is nice. It says what I am.



Timmy "T-shirt blogger" Magic

the merry rinkers of windsor

Today seven Rinkers and one honorary Rinker (you'll see in a minute!) journeyed to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to see the Queen, have a bit of lunch and have some fun banter.

Well, mainly to see the Scots Guards Band doing the Guard mount at Windsor Castle. HRH was in, but sadly did not feel the need to come and see the Rink delegation to congratulate them on 125 years of West End witness.

The honorary Rink member was Moses, Swiss cow extraordinaire! He was a post-skiing purchase in Les Mosses (hence the name Moses - it was a Christian skiing holiday after all!)



Moses on the train



The bit of the Thames where we nearly crashed into a big boat in our small boat



Moses by the near death spot



Moses on the motorboat coming up to the Castle



Moses and Kate in a poncho



Moses and a crocodile in Tchibo

So, that was Windsor!

Timmy "Eton in a Windsor pub" Magic

spawn of magic

Imagine the scene - a number of Regent Hall youth are sat in the youth room, enjoying a bit of lunch. The conversation comes round to that of naming children.

It was suggested that it would be fun to marry someone and then name your child after someone famous using the newly acquired surname.

I said to Hannah Jeffery "Hannah - we could get married and name our son Tom"

Hannah said to me "What? Tom Magic?"

Yes, Hannah - Timmy Magic is my real name...

Timmy "Jones" Magic

things that worry me

I have been on nights this week, on an operation in the area I work in. Hence last night, it was 5.00am when I walked in the door and went to bed.

I have noticed a number of things that concern me slightly.

1) I got the first 484 bus of the day. That means that the bus company thought "It is too late for people to be going home but early enough for people to be going to work"

2) When I put the radio on, Alex Lester was wishing people a good morning as they got up. Good morning? It was still night! I hadn't slept by then!

3) My house mates knocked on my door at 2.30pm because they were worried about me. I was asleep as I had only been in bed a few hours. Much like I was when they were playing football in the corridor at 11am!

4) I was too tired to play football

So that's off my chest and I am just watching the cricket before attempting to re-enter a normal sleep cycle!

Timmy "Nights Fever" Magic

japanese name bandwagon

I am going to join the Japanese name generator party! Inspired by Lloyd, who is now on the link list on the left hand side

My Japanese name is
猿渡 Saruwatari (monkey on a crossing bridge) 亜門 Amon (asian gates)

Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

Incidentally, the WBC computers block the website as "tasteless" - I have no idea why...

Timmy "Moshi Moshi" Magic

alors! une annonce de blog

Le mercredi j'ai acheté tous les DVDs d'Eddie Izzard, un comedien anglais. Dans un section d'un DVD il est fait un spectacle totalement en français.

Il m'inspire a faire 2 choses. Premièrement je dois retourner aux ètudier la langue français. Deuxièmement je dois ecrir une annonce de blog en français.

Maintainant j'ai fait un des deux! Magnifique!

Et pour les gens qui ne sont pas Bramwell ou un autre personne qui parlent français

On Wednesday, I bought all of Eddie Izzard, English comedian's DVDs. In one section of one of the DVDs he does a show entirely in French.

It inspired me to do two things. Firstly, I need to take up my French studies again. Secondly I need to write a blog post in French.

Now I have done one of the two! Magnificent!

Timmy "Magique" Magic

i like burton

Recently I have become a fan of Tim Burton. His dark take on life, reflected in his films, is really funny. He is, of course, best known for his films, including Batman, Edward Scissorhands and most recently, Corpse Bride.

He has also written a book of short stories and poems, entitled The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories. It also displays Burton's dark nature and is very much inspired by Edward Gorey. It is only 60 pages long and takes about 20 minutes to read from cover to cover (it has lots of pictures!), so is well worth buying or borrowing from a library (or me)

Timmy "Black Magic" Magic

cricket in turmoil

After the sudden death of Bob Woolmer, former England cricketer and Pakistan coach, following Pakistan's shock exit form the World Cup, most fans would wonder what else could unfold in this devastating tale.

BBC News have just reported on a statement by the Jamaican police that Woolmer was murdered, his cause of death being "asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation."

Timmy "RIP Bob" Magic

skiing in les mosses

I have just been skiing in Switzerland. It was fun. Thought there were some slight issues to overcome over the course of the week.

1) The fact that we had 5 coaches to get us to Switzerland and back

Coach 1 - Gerrard's Cross to Maidstone Services - broken (overheated engine)
Coach 2 - Maidstone to Les Mosses - broken (clutch)
Coach 3 - Leysin to Les Mosses - not broken (just borrowed)
Coach 4 - Les Mosses to La Barre- not broken (came to tow away coach 2 after its final expiry)
Coach 5 - La Barre to Gerrard's Cross - not broken (Swiss coach)

Coach 2 was actually repaired 3 times while in Switzerland.

2) The fact that the leader of the tour didn't speak French

I do. Hence I was one of the officially sanctioned interpreters for the week. Such delights included

"Nous sommes perdu notre billet de peage"
"Notre autobus ne marche pas"
"Notre autobus ne fonctionne pas"
"Notre autobus est mort. Encore"

3) I skied without suncream and a jumper and jacket on the first day

Thus I was quite burnt and now have delightfully panda-esque eyes.

4) I fell over lots

On the first day I fell over and have a sizable scab even now. My discomfort was not helped by my instructor informing me that there was only one thing for my bleeding arm. Snow. Snow which he felt the need to press onto my arm.

5) Brief stop at Maidstone (2 hours) meant we missed the ferry

No ferry means no bureau de change. No bureau de change means that I had 3 days of surviving on €50 and £140 in Switzerland.

6) Being British meant we couldn't waste food

Hence we had sausage and beans sandwiches one day and pork curry sandwiches another.

Having said all that, I had an amazing time and I am already looking forward to going again soon.

Now for some pictures



The view from our room on the first day



The air ambulance picking someone up



My panda eyes

Timmy "Got the ski bug" Magic

camberwell village

Today I was standing at my local village bus stop (15 buses an hour every day!) waiting for the bus to go to the local (super)market for a few groceries when the local Indian takeaway owner said hello.

I am slightly concerned and at the same time, slightly flattered, that the Denmark Hill Tandoori man knows me!

When you add that to the fact that the man from Oriental Cuisine knows when we (Stuart, Marjory and I) go in and on the last visit commented that I was having something different, I figure I might eat too much fast food!

Timmy "Carryout King" Magic

PS I will return tomorrow with my skiing anecdotes and some pictures

tears of magic

Today I did a bad thing. I made a woman cry.
She was cycling along a narrow pavement on her mobile, so I pulled her over (it is, after all, the only traffic power I have.)

When I told her she was going to get a £30 fixed penalty notice, she asked me to have a heart and began to cry. I then proceeded to discuss the fact that I do have a heart, that she had done something illegal and that we were only getting cold, wet and wasting time by discussing it.

She then asked if I felt good about giving her, an "innocent woman", a ticket. I told her that I didn't, but as it was my first ticket, I secretly did!

Timmy "FP-anyone caught will get a fine" Magic

political hob nobs

I was at on the train to Heathrow last Monday, on my way to see my parents for a few days. I was minding my own business and digesting the Metro when I looked up and saw the man sat next to me.

"Hello Mr Cameron" said I
"Hello!" said David Cameron MP

He was also at check-in at the airport and he was also on my flight.

On Tuesday, I was walking through Dublin city centre when I saw a man. A man with a beard. A man who looked like this



It was Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Féin.

Timmy "Two party leaders in two days" Magic

a rinker with rank

It's official - I have passed my probation as PCSO in the Metropolitan Police. I have my rank as of midnight! Exciting eh?

Timmy "34 years until retirement" Magic

heading in the right direction

I spoke to my old folks earlier in the evening and they informed me that they had been to Bangor (and yes, they did have a lovely time.)

Whilst they were there I was used as a sermon example, as my parents particularly like to use anecdotes from my younger days. This leads me onto another of my top tips, which comes from advice my dad gave me:-

"It helps if your eyes and your feet are going in the same direction"

Timmy "Now knows why he keeps falling over!" Magic

england got good again

BBC News reports on England's "historic" victory over the now not quite so mighty Australians in the Commonwealth Bank ODI Series.

Sadly as I no longer have Sky I couldn't watch it, but I did follow the score avidly on the Cricinfo mobile site.

Now, as I watch the highlights, it appears that the Aussies look tired in their game, perhaps as a result of the long winter of games very close to each other. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, and that the absence of Warne and McGrath will have an effect on the side.

Roll on the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies!

Timmy "27 days to go" Magic

snow time for shopping at gap

So I was a day early with my snow related blog but didn't take any pictures today so won't do it again.

What I will do is tell you about my bargain filled shopping trip to Gap today.

Along with a colleague, I nipped into Whiteley's shopping centre to escape the cold and rain and visited the Gap store inside. There we found the super savings. I bought 2 t shirts and a jumper and it only cost me £6. Between us we bought seven items and only spent 11 quid! £2 for a jumper and 47p for pants! Well worth going to find some bargains!

Timmy "Cheaper than a charity shop" Magic

snowy college

Three more B&W photos of the College, taken during the snowfall last week







Timmy "Snowy Magic" Magic

7 men in a lift

Picture the scene - 7 men, weary after a day of work and a tough game of football, followed by 2 extra large pizzas. This was the start of it all for these 7 men - an ordeal they would remember forever.

The men, heavier than at the start of the evening, stepped into the lift. One man said "If the doors close and the lift goes 'clunk' then we are stuck!"
Then it came. The 'clunk'.

We were stuck!
We pressed the emergency button. Nothing happened.
We tried ringing someone on our phones. We had no signal.
We shouted and someone heard us. Hurray!

That person then called the Fire Brigade who came to rescue us. There was one nice fireman (who was somewhat ambiguous gender wise) and a firelady. Needless to say we were suitably embarrassed at having taken the lift DOWN 2 floors and then having to be rescued by a lady fireman.

Having said this, we all made it out safely with nothing but bruised egos and expended laughter muscles.

Timmy "Moving On Down" Magic

divis tower

Since my folks moved to Ireland, I have become quite intrigued by the Troubles that have plagued the North of the country for a number of decades. As a result of this I have taken a few photos of political murals and historical sights in Ulster.

Particularly interesting is Divis Tower, linked below.

Close up

Taken from peace line

The tower is a block of flats that lies on the peace line between the Shankhill Road and the Falls Road (Bóthar na bhFál), which was used by the British Army as a lookout post.

The BBC News website reports about the dismantling of the lookout post, as does the Sinn Féin website.

Timmy "More good photos" Magic

william booth college - my home

I have taken 3 great photos of the college in my time here

B&W from my room
B&W of tower
Slightly blurred but still nice

Timmy "Just Call Me Bailey" Magic

subtle differences

When I order stuff from the internet, I normally get what I order. In fact I have never had a bad experience with online shopping. Until now...

This picture is one of a bra. It isn't the bra I received in the package, as it is much smaller and lacier, but it is indicative of what a bra looks like.

This picture, however, is the actual beard trimmer I ordered and received a few days and a phone call after I got the bra.

Now I understand that "beard trimmer" and "bra" begin with the same letter and that the word "beard" is the word "bra" with a couple of letters added and jumbled around, but the difference is clear - one is an item for larger, hairy people and the other is a beard trimmer.

Timmy "Trimmed Beard and Unsupported Bosom" Magic

bearded magic

I got myself a great Christmas and New Year's gift this/last year!

I have a beard (picture taken pre-trim).
This evening I made the first attempt at a trim with my new beard trimmer (there is a story to that - come back tomorrow to find it out)

The result was excellent - at least I think it is!

Timmy "Billy Goat" Magic

kebab for breakfast

Yesterday I discovered a really nice kebab place (yes - you read that right.) It is located in the West End, on the corner of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, near Centrepoint and is very cheap (yes - cheap and in the West End.) Best of all it is quiet (yes - quiet, not busy, unpatronised, peaceful etc)

It is called Dionysus and does takeaway and sit down meals or a reasonable price.

Timmy "Kool Kebabs" Magic

glyn harries' blog

Glyn's blog, linked on the left, is well worth a read - he is witty and insightful, though only when he is not enjoying custard.

Timmy "Look at Matt White's blog for an explanation of this random post" Magic

happy new year

May I, Magic, be one of the later ones to wish everyone a Happy New Year?

I have but 2 resolutions this year - the first is to pass my driving test and the second is to pass my motorbike test. These are strategic aims - if I fail them first time round I can try them again! Clever eh?

Random thing for the day - a video of the Korean Staff Band playing I'll Not Turn Back

Timmy "2007th Heaven?" Magic