Yesterday I had the joy of attending a course run by an external contractor on communicating with people. It was a full day's course, which is something that Met officers are not familiar with. I will be honest and say that I wasn't looking forward to partaking in the day. I feared that it would be a bunch of corporate experts teaching us to suck eggs.
I was right.
The day was filled with exercises in getting to know each other, perceptions of people and how to talk to people. I learned some new things like how to understand people's tells and I relearned some old things.
Whilst I understand that knowing how to deal with people is the most important tool in my job, being told how to do it by people who have never been sworn at, who have never had abuse or items thrown at them and who never have left the office wearing bulletproof armour seem rather condescending.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike the course, but I am sure glad it's out of the way!
As a non sequitur, my housemate Jon no longer has a lovely girlfriend Natalie but now has a lovely fiancee Natalie!
Timmy "Comms Expert" Magic
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
relaxed to the max
Last weekend I was lucky enough to go to Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham. Yes, roll on the Robin Hood jokes, we had them all this weekend.
After an arduous (!) coach journey up, we (Becky, Ben and I) arrived and chilled out with some new friends and some older friends, larked about in the swimming pool, played some Pro Evo and generally had some good banter.
Swimming was order of the morning/lunchtime on Saturday before more chilling out and playing pool (blokes) or belly dancing (women). The highlight of the weekend was to arrive on Saturday night when the gang went en masse to the spa. For those who haven't ever been to a spa, as I hadn't, it is thoroughly recommended. We went to a number of different fragrant and temperate rooms, as well as the outdoor "Zen Garden". Sitting in a near silent forest, wearing swimming trunks and a towel in the pouring rain is one of the nicest thing you can experience. Being able to reflect on nature and head back inside to a 100°C sauna is great.
Sunday morning brought us to the Jazz Brunch, with the 5 piece band, the Center Parcs Discount Jazz Quartet. The band were really good, the atmosphere relaxed and the food delicious and filling. While the real men played football, the girls and I swam once more before home time.
It was brilliant and I will definitely go back
Timmy "Magic says Relax" Magic
After an arduous (!) coach journey up, we (Becky, Ben and I) arrived and chilled out with some new friends and some older friends, larked about in the swimming pool, played some Pro Evo and generally had some good banter.
Swimming was order of the morning/lunchtime on Saturday before more chilling out and playing pool (blokes) or belly dancing (women). The highlight of the weekend was to arrive on Saturday night when the gang went en masse to the spa. For those who haven't ever been to a spa, as I hadn't, it is thoroughly recommended. We went to a number of different fragrant and temperate rooms, as well as the outdoor "Zen Garden". Sitting in a near silent forest, wearing swimming trunks and a towel in the pouring rain is one of the nicest thing you can experience. Being able to reflect on nature and head back inside to a 100°C sauna is great.
Sunday morning brought us to the Jazz Brunch, with the 5 piece band, the Center Parcs Discount Jazz Quartet. The band were really good, the atmosphere relaxed and the food delicious and filling. While the real men played football, the girls and I swam once more before home time.
It was brilliant and I will definitely go back
Timmy "Magic says Relax" Magic
Monday, January 14, 2008
bbc iplayer - making the unwatched, watched
The BBC have recently fully launched their iPlayer to the waiting masses. Well, perhaps not masses, but certainly to the people who have been waiting!
The player, which I was lucky enough to be able to beta test, allows UK viewers to see or repeat the best of BBC programming of the last 7 days. Whilst there is some content missing, the selection is vey good. It has the best bits of BBC One to BBC Four, BBC News 24, BBC News, BBC Parliament and the two children's channels, CBBC and CBeebies. Conspicuous in its absence is the BBC's sports coverage and eviews programmes, but this may be due to licensing issues.
As much as it pains me to say, the site works at its best with Microsoft IE, but as it uses similar technology to YouTube and other video sites, it is accessible from FireFox (for sensible Windows users and Linux users) and Safari (for Mac-ites). Downloading video content is possible for users of Windows XP and Vista, but up to now, streaming online has been good enough for me.
I recommend sitting down for an hour or two and catching up on any PC, sorry, TV, you may have missed this week.
Timmy "real life iPlayer" Magic
The player, which I was lucky enough to be able to beta test, allows UK viewers to see or repeat the best of BBC programming of the last 7 days. Whilst there is some content missing, the selection is vey good. It has the best bits of BBC One to BBC Four, BBC News 24, BBC News, BBC Parliament and the two children's channels, CBBC and CBeebies. Conspicuous in its absence is the BBC's sports coverage and eviews programmes, but this may be due to licensing issues.
As much as it pains me to say, the site works at its best with Microsoft IE, but as it uses similar technology to YouTube and other video sites, it is accessible from FireFox (for sensible Windows users and Linux users) and Safari (for Mac-ites). Downloading video content is possible for users of Windows XP and Vista, but up to now, streaming online has been good enough for me.
I recommend sitting down for an hour or two and catching up on any PC, sorry, TV, you may have missed this week.
Timmy "real life iPlayer" Magic
Saturday, January 12, 2008
new things
So, a new year normally means change. We all know change happens. It happened to such an extent that it led Robert C Gallagher to say:
"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine"
I digress. New Year means new things.
1) Tim's new laptop
I have a new laptop and I am blogging from it now. It's very nice and I like it lots.
2) Tim's new camera
I have purchased a new digital camera as my last one died the other day. It does all kinds of wonderful things like take photos (obviously) and create YouTube videos.
3) Tim's new YouTube account
New camera. Does YouTube videos. Fill in the blanks.
4) Tim's new found love of podcasts
I have had an iPod for a few years now and listened to podcasts before, but as it was early in the life of the technology, they weren't great. Now I have a nice video iPod and a lovely speedy broadband connection and a cool new laptop, I can watch video podcasts (or vodcasts). I am now fully up to date with the news in Germany, France Sweden and Norway as well as here at home. If anyone can recommened any other good videos, feel free to let me know.
Timmy "Same Old Magic" Magic
"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine"
I digress. New Year means new things.
1) Tim's new laptop
I have a new laptop and I am blogging from it now. It's very nice and I like it lots.
2) Tim's new camera
I have purchased a new digital camera as my last one died the other day. It does all kinds of wonderful things like take photos (obviously) and create YouTube videos.
3) Tim's new YouTube account
New camera. Does YouTube videos. Fill in the blanks.
4) Tim's new found love of podcasts
I have had an iPod for a few years now and listened to podcasts before, but as it was early in the life of the technology, they weren't great. Now I have a nice video iPod and a lovely speedy broadband connection and a cool new laptop, I can watch video podcasts (or vodcasts). I am now fully up to date with the news in Germany, France Sweden and Norway as well as here at home. If anyone can recommened any other good videos, feel free to let me know.
Timmy "Same Old Magic" Magic
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
the return of cyclocop - dm style
Today saw the welcome return of Cyclocop to the streets of London. After a brief respite in late 2007, while I puppy walked some new people, I was back in action for the first time in 2008.
It also saw the first time I had patrolled from my new home at Marylebone Police Station following the borough restructure. It was fairly painless although some things did go missing and it is a dive. We won't dwell on that though - we will remain positive!
As part of Cyclocop patrolling today I went through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. On the way back into the station I hit a slight snag. I entered Kensington Gardens a little before 1645 via Bayswater Road. I made my merry way towards Marble Arch and when I arrived at the exit, it was locked. As were all the other exits I could find. Therefore I had to lift my bike over a fence, climb over the fence, stand on my bike then cycle away. Not necessarily an issue unless you are lit up like a Christmas tree and in a bright yellow jacket!
Hopefully no-one saw me, but keep your eyes on YouTube just in case!
Timmy "Cyclohop" Magic
It also saw the first time I had patrolled from my new home at Marylebone Police Station following the borough restructure. It was fairly painless although some things did go missing and it is a dive. We won't dwell on that though - we will remain positive!
As part of Cyclocop patrolling today I went through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. On the way back into the station I hit a slight snag. I entered Kensington Gardens a little before 1645 via Bayswater Road. I made my merry way towards Marble Arch and when I arrived at the exit, it was locked. As were all the other exits I could find. Therefore I had to lift my bike over a fence, climb over the fence, stand on my bike then cycle away. Not necessarily an issue unless you are lit up like a Christmas tree and in a bright yellow jacket!
Hopefully no-one saw me, but keep your eyes on YouTube just in case!
Timmy "Cyclohop" Magic
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
lapsed blogger cull
In an attempt to stick with my New Year's resolution (to be tidier) I have cleared up my blogroll!
If you feel you need putting back on the list, tell why and I might re-add you!
Timmy "Culling Made" Magic
If you feel you need putting back on the list, tell why and I might re-add you!
Timmy "Culling Made" Magic
mmviii/2008/year of the rat
So here we are in 2008! Happy New Year everyone!
I hope that your celebrations were good fun and didn't end in too much trouble!
As I enter my 4th(!) year of blogging I hope to continue to amuse and provoke deep and meaningful thought (see - amusing!) for the next 365 days. It's a leap year.
Timmy "MMVIII Blogger" Magic
I hope that your celebrations were good fun and didn't end in too much trouble!
As I enter my 4th(!) year of blogging I hope to continue to amuse and provoke deep and meaningful thought (see - amusing!) for the next 365 days. It's a leap year.
Timmy "MMVIII Blogger" Magic
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