Tuesday, October 30, 2007

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

Thursday, October 25, 2007

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

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

blog action day - 5 days to go

Bloggers Unite - Blog Action Day

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

Monday, October 08, 2007

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

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

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?

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

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