talkmagic.co.uk

need to rush now but two answers:

SMOKING - The only proper way I know is self hypnosis.

POLICE - Join the Prison Service instead. Seriously. Much more rewarding.

I know you're getting a huge amount of feedback from others so I'll confine myself to saying if you need any advice with either issue, please PM me and I'll be happy to share some thoughts.

I spent nearly 6 years in the Met Police (beg 1993 - end 1998). If you want to be 'on-duty' 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week (the police own your life), do a job which isn't paid brilliantly but where your life is on the line all the time, do shift work for the rest of your life, have to obey senior officers who are often idiots, have to justify all your actions all the time, have to fit into a system that favours single beer-drinking extroverts, be aware that your holidays and time off can be cancelled at any moment (and often are), work in undermanned teams, be hyper-politically correct, have your ethics challenged by numerous situations and probably not allowed to earn extra income through magic then it's the job for you !

I would strongly advise joining the Specials or become a Community Support Officer first to give you a taster.

Kevin Cann wrote:I spent nearly 6 years in the Met Police (beg 1993 - end 1998). If you want to be 'on-duty' 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week (the police own your life), do a job which isn't paid brilliantly but where your life is on the line all the time, do shift work for the rest of your life, have to obey senior officers who are often idiots, have to justify all your actions all the time, have to fit into a system that favours single beer-drinking extroverts, be aware that your holidays and time off can be cancelled at any moment (and often are), work in undermanned teams, be hyper-politically correct, have your ethics challenged by numerous situations and probably not allowed to earn extra income through magic then it's the job for you !

I would strongly advise joining the Specials or become a Community Support Officer first to give you a taster.

I appreciate your feedback mate, but I think the Cambridgeshire Constabulary is likely to be less busy and less "on duty 24/7" than the Met would be... I know several police officers who all love their job, they've all told me to fill in the form and come and join them...

Whilst I have no illusions of it being like the movies, all car chases and high profile arrests, I'd settle for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, a fairly good paycheck at the end of every month, and being able to sit at home with the warm feelign that I'm actually helping



By the way guys... have started running and have cut down on fags big time (down to 5-6 a day now )... running is going great and I feel brilliant for it.
And!
I've even started eating healthier as well

Knuckling down with the support of some great people at TM has really helped. Thanks guys

EckoZero wrote: likely to be less busy and less "on duty 24/7" than the Met would be

As a police officer anywhere you are always 'on duty'. If anything happens near you whether you are officially on-duty or not you are expected to deal with it.

You may occasionally help people but the majority of the first 2 years you will be arresting drunks, vagrants and shoplifters. You will not be able to use your discretion in that time period as you continually need to justify yourself so you will arrest everyone and give everyone parking tickets etc. (no letting enyone off even though experienced police officers would).

Far from helping people I actually felt I was making a bad impression in my probation as I wasn't allowed to let people off. I can remember reducing many women to tears giving them tickets for parking on zig-zags etc.

In my opinion being a professional magician would bring more laughter, wonderment, enjoyment and happiness to people

I think you made your point. I think Eckozero appreciates both postive and negative feedback, but there is no need to belabor the point.

There are many people who enjoy and had a successful life doing police work. You may find that Eckozero might be one them.

I think if Eckozero wants to do this, and he has made it clear that this is what he wants, I fully support him. I spent 10 years working with law enforcement. There is good and bad in any job you take. That is why it is called "work" not "fun". They have to pay us to do the job.

Anyway, you are probably correct in many of your comments. However, I think anyone who chooses a positive direction in life should be supported, but the person who makes those choices should have informatiion to make an informative decision.

At this point, I think he has been informed. He still wants to do it, he should not have to justify it.

Archimage

Just a quick update to let you all know how I'm getting on...

I've decided to postpone applying to the police until I can drive (hopefully not long now!) so I don't have to rush the first 16 weeks with learning to drive.

I haven't quit smoking yet but I have cut down hugely. Which to me is a huge achievement and a massive step in the right direction.

I've been running since my birthday now... and I'm actually really enjoying it. Still think I look like a bit of a pillock in shorts though lol.
I feel better for it, and a couple of people have asked me if I've lost weight...

Which moves nicely into the direction of...

Healthy eating.
Whilst I aint gonna be winning any prizes for Healthiest Eater of the Year I'm certainly not going to be winning any for Most Disgustingly Unhealthy Eater of the Year which i certainly would have before.

I eat less c*** (not the best), and more veg (never been a fruit man really...) and generally try to make sure that what goes in is at least relatively healthy.

All in all... I think I'm doing rather well, and I owe a lot of it to the help and support and tips i got from you guys

Thanks guys

if you feel better thats what matters! i need to get out again the winters taken its toll

Ahh well