Nightshift planning

For those of you who have read my previous posts you are forgiven for thinking that nightshift traffic police have nothing to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some nights we were run ragged, with no meal break and barely time to attend to nature's callings. If you were lucky. 

However there were exceptions and it was during these rare lulls that we hatched plans for future bike trips/holidays and schemes to wreak havok and hilarity on our esteemed colleagues on other shifts. 

To the uninitiated, we kept a log of all activity, from minor calls to RTC's to meal breaks to general patrols. These logs also detailed the start and finish mileage of the car which then enabled the eagle eyed gaffers to check when patrols had been out working or sitting in the office for whatever reason. Believe me when I say there are legitimate reasons not to be out and about, such as report writing etc.

One (rarely) quiet night - and I have to say  with genuine intent to go out, we became embroiled in planning routes for a forethcoming bike trip across Europe. Needless to say that time disappeared quicker than a junkies giro and before we knew it, piece time (meal break) had come and gone. Not even Mr Hungry and his good friend Mr Glutony could prise us from our undertaking. What is it they say about time flying when you are having fun? 

The moment of realisation eventually came, closely followed by the thought that we needed to apply a little creative writing to the log and some miles to the car, just to play catch up. 

I managed the former with ease whilst, with similar aptitude, Jim manoeuvred the car with great rapidity to Friarton Bridge and back to add a low but believable mileage to the log. 

Next morning, the early shift gaffer - a man of questionable physical fitness and permenant diet - "signed off" the log which eventually passed into the great reams of confidential waste paper which regularly exited our office a lot faster than we did that night. Thanks for reminding me Jim.