falkor: Is that you Samantha?
SAMANTHA: yes
falkor: Have you got through alright?
SAMANTHA: sorry?
falkor: did you get through alright?
SAMANTHA: I did yes
falkor: was there any connection problems of any kind?
SAMANTHA: no
falkor: straight through?
SAMANTHA: straight through
falkor: you're BT aren't you?
SAMANTHA: no!
falkor: oh you're not?
SAMANTHA: talktalk
SAMANTHA: that's why then
SAMANTHA: <laughing>
falkor: <laughing>
SAMANTHA: there you go, there's your answer!
falkor: well thank you very much for phoning up
falkor: you're one of very few who decided to take up the offer
SAMANTHA: very few??!
falkor: yeah there's a lot of people who were very suspicious
SAMANTHA: why? we dont need to answer certain questions if we don't want to.
falkor: no they don't view it that way
falkor: they think I'm a journalist <laughing>
SAMANTHA: <laughing> But you've got a forum going
falkor: <laughing> Breakoff called me a journalist!
falkor: he said "You journalist you!"
SAMANTHA: yeah among other people yeah <laughing>
falkor: I think he's had a few to drink sometimes y'know
falkor: I'm beginning to wonder how much drink he's got inside him when he writes some of this stuff
SAMANTHA: I know I know but I do love reading his stuff it's so funny
falkor: well yes yes he is definitely a valid member, same as yourself Samanatha
SAMANTHA: OH THANK YOU!!
falkor: well I've obviously had quite a read of some of your posts and you're definitely up there with the top people
SAMANTHA: oh thanks!
falkor: and your avatar is actually your cat
SAMANTHA: yes
falkor: you love your cat
SAMANTHA: yeah he's gorgeous bless him
falkor: what's his name?
SAMANTHA: it's Elly
falkor: oh yeah?
SAMANTHA: well he was called Elliot - he was rescued we kept his name
SAMANTHA: it's not something that I would have called him
SAMANTHA: he doesn't look like an "Elliot" but we kept his name
falkor: and he sits on the side of the bath!!
SAMANTHA: yes <laughing>
falkor: that is amazing!
falkor: so you're having a bath and he's sitting on the side looking at you
SAMANTHA: yes!
SAMANTHA: oh he's funny, the things he gets up to!
SAMANTHA: he's a bit of a lapcat he wants to be round you all the time
falkor: oh super, lovely!
SAMANTHA: I know
SAMANTHA: it's all you want in a cat isn't it?
falkor: it is!
falkor: so does he go out on adventures?
SAMANTHA: he does and he comes back with very different things, y'know in his mouth
SAMANTHA: and a few scratches
SAMANTHA: yep he's had a few fights <laughing>
falkor: <laughing> how long have you had him?
SAMANTHA: about 3 years and 8 months or so,
falkor: well
falkor: sitting on the bath drinking bath water
SAMANTHA: no not drinks but sits on the bath meowing <laughing> he is peculiar, I told you
falkor: so .... you got that how2become CD didn't you?
SAMANTHA: that's right
falkor: oh you plumped up the money for that
SAMANTHA: well it doesn't cost that much and I think it does prepare you to be honest
SAMANTHA: it's a mindset isn't it really
falkor: you said on the forums it was a CD/ download, what's the download bit?
SAMANTHA: you can download it from the website
falkor: is that a good idea?
SAMANTHA: I think so
falkor: so is that what you did Samantha?
SAMANTHA: yes I downloaded it
falkor: ah right, so you never got the CD
SAMANTHA: no, some others did
SAMANTHA: some are selling it on e-bay if you have a look
falkor: yes I know I've seen that happening
falkor: so you've got your fitness test later this month!!??
SAMANTHA: it's in two weeks time!
falkor: TWO WEEKS!!
SAMANTHA: I KNOW!!!!
falkor: oh you'll sail through it
SAMANTHA: oh I don't know
falkor: good luck
SAMANTHA: I'm at the last stage now <laughing>
falkor: and you're running about
SAMANTHA: I'm running!
falkor: how far?
SAMANTHA: not that far
SAMANTHA: about 20 minutes constant
falkor: yeah, that's good
SAMANTHA: I think that's what we need to do, just to make sure you pass
falkor: I think that's good
SAMANTHA: I think preparation in all these tests is the most important thing don't you?
falkor: well yeah, you're doing 10 times more than I can do I tell ya
SAMANTHA: really? <laughing>
SAMANTHA: I feel really unfit and I'm sure people laugh when they see me run past <laughing>
falkor: haven't you got some kind of playing field that you can go to by you?
SAMANTHA: it would be an idea but we're just surrounded by people's houses and I know them <laughing> so they're having quite a fit when they see me run past
SAMANTHA: I'm sure they're saying oh sam's at it again <laughing>
falkor: you were saying that you really got in to your roleplays
falkor: are you able to describe one of them?
SAMANTHA: basically what I would say from the start is how great the actors are
falkor: yeah?
SAMANTHA: apparently 2 of them were actually actors and the reason why I got in to it was that it is just so believable
SAMANTHA: you walk in that room and the whole world doesn't exist then
SAMANTHA: you just get so involved
SAMANTHA: most of it is about diversity really isn't it?
falkor: yeah that's a big thing now
SAMANTHA: a lot of people go on about the racist sexist football coach
falkor: yeah?
SAMANTHA: I actually enjoyed him
SAMANTHA: he was good
falkor: so some of these scenarios are "common" in fact?
SAMANTHA: they are
falkor: WOW!
SAMANTHA: yeah
falkor: oh my god
SAMANTHA: basically you're a manager, you're dealing with every day managerial situations
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: so you can relate to it if you've been working in that sort of field
SAMANTHA: well I haven't worked in a leisure centre or anything but I have certainly "managed people" so I think I probably had an advantage there
falkor: well you've been running a taxi firm with your other half for five years haven't you?
SAMANTHA: that's right - we've taken on staff, some interesting staff
falkor: but what I don't understand Samantha is that you're just quite happy to ditch the whole lot and move to Surrey
SAMANTHA: I know!
falkor: you've done all that work to build that taxi .....
SAMANTHA: ... I wanted a challenge - I want another challenge basically and I want a career
falkor: what about your husband ? y'know he's put all this work into this taxi firm
SAMANTHA: he's so happy to be with me on this
falkor: that is brilliant
SAMANTHA: we're in North Devon, we're in a rural area
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: so we're plodding along with the taxi firm
falkor: oh right
SAMANTHA: you're plodding along - you're not going to make your money at the end of the day
falkor: I see
SAMANTHA: so it won't be too much of a great loss
falkor: I understand what you're saying now
falkor: you've got a lot of courage there - I've got to say
falkor: and I've got to say your hubby is brilliant
falkor: he really is
SAMANTHA: he is isn't he!!
SAMANTHA: he's really supportive
SAMANTHA: but he also fancies doing something else around our children as well - so ....
falkor: but you're going to miss Devon though aren't you Sam?
SAMANTHA: I don't know, well it's pretty here
falkor: people GO ON HOLIDAY to Devon!
SAMANTHA: yeah but that's it you see, it's nice for a couple of week's holiday
SAMANTHA: but I'm bored
falkor: oh right, fair enough, fair enough, that's no good
SAMANTHA: we are completely at the back of beyond here
SAMANTHA: we are North Devon and it's far down - you've got one road going out
SAMANTHA: and if that's blocked, it's blocked, we are quite secluded
SAMANTHA: lovely beaches and that but you forget they're there
SAMANTHA: if you live there you forget what's around you
falkor: you do actually, I know
SAMANTHA: so what sort of area do you live in?
falkor: I live in Surrey myself
falkor: so when you come over we can get together with your hubby and my missus
SAMANTHA: ooooooo yay we'll go crazy <laughing>
falkor: yeah the four of us <laughing>
SAMANTHA: / falkor: <frivolity>
SAMANTHA: brilliant Malcolm I'll hold you to that
falkor: okay
SAMANTHA: I don't know anyone as well
falkor: I just know you're gonna get it Sam
falkor: before you know it ....
SAMANTHA: do you reckon?
falkor: well how far have you got with it?
SAMANTHA: hm?
falkor: you've got your fitness coming up in 2 weeks
SAMANTHA: yes
falkor: so what's behind you then?
SAMANTHA: I've done my RAD
falkor: what else?
SAMANTHA: I need them to get on with my vetting because I had a letter saying about my self employment, asking have I got debts etc blah blah - apparently you're quite far down the line when you get that, sent that one back filled in
SAMANTHA: so I've got my fitness test next and I think that's it..the long wait
falkor: here I've got to ask you does your husband like fosters?
SAMANTHA: ooo yes! <laughing>
falkor: he does??!!
SAMANTHA: he's a bit partial to the vodka though too
SAMANTHA: the smirnoff
falkor: oh I've had that before, I know yeah
SAMANTHA: really? <laughing>
SAMANTHA: are you likely to go out and get a voddie rather than <laughing> a can of fosters?
SAMANTHA: but I do like my fosters and I like ice cold cans from the fridge
falkor: well you uploaded that photograph of the fosters can didn't you?
SAMANTHA: yeah I know I had a fosters can on my laptop next to me <laughing>
falkor: that came out really well didn't it?
SAMANTHA: I thought that was the best one ....
falkor: your husband took that on his mobile phone?
SAMANTHA: yeah yeah he did yeah
falkor: so how easy is that to upload to the site then?
SAMANTHA:
falkor: is that easy?
SAMANTHA: you download it onto your PC in the normal way
falkor: right
SAMANTHA: how you download pictures
falkor: right
SAMANTHA: I'm trying to think how I did it now <laughing>
SAMANTHA: you can do it through using photobucket, that's probably your best bet
falkor: okay, right
SAMANTHA: I didn't go that way I went the long way round
falkor: did you?
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: let me think how I actually managed to paste it ..... you paste it into the attachment
falkor: YEAH!
SAMANTHA: yeah
falkor: from your desktop
SAMANTHA: yeah from your desktop
SAMANTHA: that's the way I went round
falkor: so you've only done it once then
falkor: you've only put one attachment
SAMANTHA: yeah <laughing>
falkor: is that right?
SAMANTHA: yeah <laughing>
falkor: if you've done it once you can do it twice can't you
SAMANTHA: yeah I'll give it a go again a bit later shall I?
falkor: YEAH!!!
SAMANTHA: I'll put another on <laughing>
falkor: blimey you can do as many as you like - you're a full blown member
SAMANTHA: cheers I'll put another one of me shall I?
falkor: DEFINITELY!!
SAMANTHA: some cheesy ones, yeah
falkor: of course, here how's your 3 year old getting on ??
SAMANTHA: brilliant!!
falkor: is he saying much?
SAMANTHA: a happy happy soul
falkor: is he saying much?
SAMANTHA: he's saying a lot <laughing> all the time!
falkor: what did he say today?
SAMANTHA: "I want"
falkor: really? is that what he said?
SAMANTHA: "I want this"
falkor: oh excellent!
SAMANTHA: "Give me my breakfast mum" <laughing>
falkor: oh he's only 3 years old and he says that!!??
SAMANTHA: oh yes
falkor: COR!!
SAMANTHA: have you got kids?
falkor: yeah I'm really sad that my .... my kids are 25 and 23 and I'm really ....
SAMANTHA: I'm sure they say "I want" still don't they?
falkor: they do but I look back on .... you got your kids at ages 3 and 8 and that to me now is like heaven
SAMANTHA: oh bless
SAMANTHA: I know
falkor: I really miss that
SAMANTHA: they are lovely and I know that you've got to cherish these years and it's going to break my heart to do the training I know but I'm looking at it that it's for them
falkor: it is
SAMANTHA: it's for the family, I'm doing this for the family
falkor: it's a huge move
falkor: you're doing the right thing though
SAMANTHA: I think so, oh yeah
SAMANTHA: I wouldn't do this without being so sure, because of my children
SAMANTHA: y'know I used to before the children
SAMANTHA: move on a whim, I moved up to Manchester about 10 years ago just on a whim
SAMANTHA: and then out to Tenerife - you do these things don't you?
falkor: you do
SAMANTHA: yeah
SAMANTHA: but I've done all that before the kids
SAMANTHA: and now I want to settle down and have a career, make sure it's solid
SAMANTHA: upbringing for the kids
SAMANTHA: and have fun at the same time!!
falkor: yeah yikes you sound like a right live wire you do
SAMANTHA: <laughing>
falkor: <laughing>
SAMANTHA: I have my moments
SAMANTHA: thank you Malcolm you sound very bubbly yourself
falkor: well you've gotta try and be it's a sunshiney day
falkor: it's going to be awful tomorrow
SAMANTHA: oh no
SAMANTHA: it's going to be like that later today for us and my hubby's out on his motorbike
SAMANTHA: he's a ROSPA instructor/ observer
falkor: is he?
SAMANTHA: yeah
falkor: gould blimey
SAMANTHA: I know ... and Tuesday nights he goes off observing all these newbies and it's going to rain!
falkor: he's "observing" ?
SAMANTHA: yes he observing motorcycle advanced tests, y'know ROSPA. It's about safety and basically he's teaching them about a safer way of riding
falkor: well tell him I used to be a STAR RIDER instructor in the days of the old BRONZE and SILVER and GOLD - back in the 1980s I was doing that
SAMANTHA: really? you should get on so well you
falkor: yeah, I was actually doing the motorcycle training before the CBT came in
falkor: the CBT came in and I was there doing BRONZE training - it was basically the same to be quite honest
SAMANTHA: I've done my CBT
falkor: oh yeah?
SAMANTHA: good fun, had to sell my bike though, not enough time
falkor: you can't do everything Sam
SAMANTHA: oh well I thought I'll do that later in life not a problem
falkor: anyway you were saying that you were reading the Prison Officer diaries and how you were enjoying DUCKBILL's diary
SAMANTHA: yes he's great
falkor: well the thing is I'm glad you're doing those replies because if you're doing one of those diaries and no one replies it's almost like saying no one's reading it - which isn't true
SAMANTHA: it's just like talking to a brickwall then isn't it? you need your feedback
falkor: well this is true and this is the good thing about people like you giving a little bit of feedback it really spurs the diary writers to do more y'know
SAMANTHA: sure, it's so important
falkor: it is so you're doing a grand job
SAMANTHA: I'd like to do my own diary when I start training because I will be starting training and I will pass the fitness test
falkor: you will definitely
falkor: after all that running?! you can't go wrong now!
SAMANTHA: I know, <laughing> well exactly
SAMANTHA: it would be such a shame wouldn't it
falkor: <laughing> are you doing anything else apart from running?
SAMANTHA: I've got a rowing machine which should help with push and pull tests and the grip/ upper body strength
SAMANTHA: squeezing tennis balls <laughing>
falkor: cor, you've gotta go through all this
falkor: it's terrible isn't it?
SAMANTHA: I know, it is sad, I sit in front of the TV squeezing tennis balls, how strange
falkor: but your father was a Prison Officer
SAMANTHA: he was yes
falkor: have you seen him lately?
SAMANTHA: I have but he doesn't really have much advice for me as such because it was way back when he was a Prison Officer and he thinks things have changed
falkor: but was he amazed to hear that you were going to go that way?
SAMANTHA: well I'm very much like him as a person so he wasn't surprised
falkor: well I think you've got to have a certain amount of courage to go for Prison Officer
SAMANTHA: he was a Royal Marine Colour Sergeant as well
SAMANTHA: I'm very proud of my Dad so to follow in his footsteps in any sort of way would be fantastic
falkor: so how many years did he do then Sam?
SAMANTHA: 22 years in the Marines
falkor: no as a Prison Officer
SAMANTHA: only 2
SAMANTHA: he didn't get stationed where he wanted
falkor: oh
SAMANTHA: he was working In Brixton
falkor: I know it well I've been there
SAMANTHA: he wanted to be down south west he wanted to come down here
falkor: right
SAMANTHA: because they weren't letting him, basically he said, "oh stuff it"
falkor: my god they wouldn't let him?
SAMANTHA: I know! he was trying to get transferred, but they wouldn't have it and they tried to transfer him to York and he didn't want that, so he said oh I'm going to go to Devon and start up my own business, which he did and then he took over a newsagents!
falkor: he took over a newsagents?
falkor: now THAT is hard graft
falkor: now that's what I call hard work
SAMANTHA: I know, up at the crack of dawn every day
falkor: dear oh dear I really wouldn't fancy doing that in a million years
SAMANTHA: not me either, I saw all that
SAMANTHA: that's the one thing I won't follow in his footsteps in
falkor: oh crikey, so how long did he carry on doing that for?
SAMANTHA: eleven years he owned that newsagents for before he retired
falkor: that's a long time
SAMANTHA: I know
falkor: crikey he's worked for a living he has
SAMANTHA: hasn't he just
falkor: anyway what's your favourite CD?
SAMANTHA: my favourite CD?
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: oh I don't know now, I love so many
falkor: it's a tough question
SAMANTHA: it's a really tough question, I'm very much into my dance music now because of my daughter mainly because she's a majorette and they do a lot of dance stuff and she's got me into it all
falkor: she's a majorette? what kind of music?
SAMANTHA: it really is dance, it really is fast dancing
falkor: it's not a brass band
SAMANTHA: no it's not that sort of majorette!
SAMANTHA: they do do military as well, but she does all the pom poms and twirling
falkor: that is fantastic
falkor: does she have to go every Wednesday or something like that?
SAMANTHA: yes to majorette training twice a week, she's very sporty, goes to gymnastics and it keeps us on our toes really
falkor: so do you like Robbie Williams?
SAMANTHA: oh no I don't
falkor: who do you like then?
SAMANTHA: I still like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi - what you call your soft rock, love all that stuff
SAMANTHA: but because of my daughter I got more into the dance scene with her
falkor: I tell you what, that keeps you fit Sam
SAMANTHA: it does
falkor: you can't just ....
SAMANTHA: you don't do that do you Malcolm?
falkor: I've tried but I'm absolutely left footed, club footed and everything footed
SAMANTHA: are you?
falkor: oh too right my missus has got sick of me, she actually likes to go dancing my missus and I've really tried to do it
falkor: it's like anything else .....
SAMANTHA: you're like my husband then it all goes by the by
falkor: well you actually need to learn that, it's something that you've got to go to classes for
SAMANTHA: <laughing> no
falkor: no?
SAMANTHA: no
falkor: you don't think so?
SAMANTHA: no as long as you've got a little bit of rhythm, jump about, whatever
falkor: well that's what I told my missus I do but she says I don't, you're useless she says <laughing>
SAMANTHA:
falkor: so have you got a fave movie at the moment?
SAMANTHA: oh I love Pulp Fiction I think that's always been my favourite
falkor: but that's a long time back Sam
SAMANTHA: I know but I love Pulp Fiction
falkor: what have you seen since then?
SAMANTHA: up to date?
SAMANTHA: King Kong
falkor: oh right
SAMANTHA: that was a goodie
falkor: that was that was fantastic - that was almost a new version of King Kong altogether
SAMANTHA: it was, it was very well done
falkor: when they arrived on that island in that boat
SAMANTHA: that's right
falkor: I thought it was fabulous how they got off that boat went onto the island and saw those gates
SAMANTHA: yeah I know
falkor: fantastic
SAMANTHA: and the people on the island, scary, brilliant film, absolutely brilliant
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: I just can't watch the ending though..too sad
falkor: well they brought out a computer game to go with it
SAMANTHA: that's right
falkor: did you see it? it's quite a similar sort of set up - the game
SAMANTHA: yeah scary
falkor: what's the next movie?
SAMANTHA: I like things with Nicholas Cage in
falkor: oh I do
SAMANTHA: he's good isn't he?
falkor: oh god yeah
SAMANTHA: Anthony Hopkins
SAMANTHA: and "the Silence of the Lambs" and all those
falkor: and "THE EDGE"
falkor: don't forget "THE EDGE"
SAMANTHA: oh yeah
falkor: do you remember that?
SAMANTHA: yeah I do
falkor: aaaaagggghhhhh I've seen that a few times
SAMANTHA: I know
SAMANTHA: I think Anthony Hopkins is a star he really is
falkor: I totally agree with you - the only film from him that I haven't seen is that Hannibal Lectur one I just couldn't bear it
SAMANTHA: you mean Hannibal itself?
falkor: the one where he ate people I couldn't watch that
SAMANTHA: <laughing>
falkor: <laughing>
SAMANTHA: it's very well done
falkor: he's done lots more though
SAMANTHA: he has
falkor: he's done so many other ones, you don't realise - I'm quite amazed at how many he's done - they're all star films
SAMANTHA: I know, I mean he really is a big name now isn't he? he can pick'em can't he? I'm sure he gets every script going
falkor: but I just love it when they arrive on that little plane at that LODGE and you've got that "scout bloke" talking to him with the rest of the party and the atmosphere is so electric
SAMANTHA: it is isn't it, it's just brilliant oh I love that film
falkor: well I was going to talk to you about the website chat room you know - have you been in the chat room?
SAMANTHA: I have and like a lot of other people have said you just get a blank screen because there's no one in it so we're all going to have to get together
falkor: did you go on the chat room for the old forum?
SAMANTHA: I didn't no
falkor: because in March the site went over to the new version
falkor: were you around before March?
SAMANTHA: just
falkor: so you must have been a member of the old forums
SAMANTHA: I hovered literally only for a matter of weeks at the most
SAMANTHA: I think I joined in April
falkor: oh well it all went over in March so maybe you just know the new ones then
SAMANTHA: yes
SAMANTHA: I see where you've posted about the chat room, it's a good idea for us all to post on there when we want to go in
SAMANTHA: hopefully after a while people will start going in there
falkor: yeah it's an enormous amount of fun if you get 3 or 4 people going in
falkor: you only need 3 or 4 people
SAMANTHA: I know
falkor: if you get more than 3 or 4 people it gets absolutely manic
SAMANTHA: apparently they had a good night on it the other night
falkor: oh good I'm glad to hear that
SAMANTHA: I heard people had a great time and people who meant just to chat for 10 minutes ended up there talking for hours
falkor: and you can actually copy the entire chat session if you're sneaky - if you know copy and paste
SAMANTHA: yeah
falkor: you can just copy and paste the whole lot into a thread if you want to!
SAMANTHA: fantastic that would be great wouldn't it
falkor: well I think so but you've got to be a bit careful because some people might object to that and say wait a minute, that was private but it's not really private to be quite honest
SAMANTHA: not really because it's right there on the internet for everyone to see
falkor: have to post it into "The Landings" or something like that so that it's members only
falkor: time goes by so quickly when you're in that chat room
SAMANTHA: I know
falkor: it's just absolutely incredible
falkor: before you know it half an hour's gone by and you're thinking "My Sunday Roast's burning!!"
SAMANTHA: yeah <laughing>
falkor: <laughing>
SAMANTHA: oh yeah well we'll have to do it
falkor: we will but let's go back to your taxi firm for a minute
falkor: you're not driving the taxis are you?
SAMANTHA: I'm not now, I used to
falkor: you USED TO! wow did you have any difficult customers?
SAMANTHA: some but they were quite funny actually
falkor: what was the worst one?
SAMANTHA: I think the worst ones are when they're just about to sick all over the place <laughing> and I think to be honest when they're that drunk, it's just impossible to get anything out of them, where they want to go - money
falkor: oh no
SAMANTHA: you know what I mean
falkor: you don't want to take 'em at all do you really?
SAMANTHA: no you don't
falkor: you'd like to say just forget it
SAMANTHA: the ones who are argumentative I can deal with - it's just verbal isn't it, you don't worry
SAMANTHA: being a woman, funnily enough they're quite unlikely to attack
SAMANTHA: they do have more respect for a woman than they do for a man as a taxi driver
falkor: maybe that will work the same in the prison situation
SAMANTHA: maybe
falkor: because I was quite interested to read a certain member put down his 3 or 4 local prisons and I don't think he realised it, but one of the ones he put down, he ended up going there and it is a women's prison and he's a male and I think this happened completely at random, he didn't know
falkor: I bet you he didn't even think a male prison officer could work in a females' prison - can that happen the other way around? if you're a female can you end up working in a males' prison?
SAMANTHA: my first choice is one
falkor: you can do that?
SAMANTHA: yeah!
falkor: oh right, okay!
SAMANTHA: I'd much prefer a female one, but my first is actually a male one
falkor: oh well I tell what Sam if you do it that way I guess you are probably facing the hardest challenge
SAMANTHA: I don't know - I find women harder to deal with
falkor: oh right, okay then
SAMANTHA: it's just that they're more complex, they have more mood swings - you think about what they squabble over - all that bitching
falkor: yeah right, you convinced me
SAMANTHA: whereas a man is a bit more straightforward, either they're angry or they're not
falkor: yeah ok <laughing>
SAMANTHA: <laughing> simple really
SAMANTHA: at the end of the day you don't have to stay in the same establishment, do you? you can actually move around
falkor: I think you've got to be lucky though, remember what happened to your Dad!
SAMANTHA: I know
falkor: I think if he'd have waited it out he would have got what he wanted
SAMANTHA: yeah but it was then though as well and I don't think they transferred so much back then
SAMANTHA: it was a different situation back then
falkor: yeah I guess so
falkor: well anyway best of luck on your fitness later on
SAMANTHA: thank you! I am determined
falkor: this time next year you'll be on your job
SAMANTHA: oh I hope so
falkor: yeah definitely
SAMANTHA: you're watching everyone aren't you on the forums saying "oh yeah I'm still waiting, still waiting" I feel so sorry for them
falkor: well that's the good thing about it, you can kind of commiserate with others
SAMANTHA: that's right yeah, at the end of the day you're still there though and at the end of it you want it even more don't you?
falkor: you do
SAMANTHA: <laughing> makes you want it more and more the longer you wait I guess
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: so it's a good thing
falkor: right well! in that case I'm going to go and have my breakfast now
SAMANTHA: are you?
falkor: yeah
SAMANTHA: what are you having?
falkor: just flippin marmite on toast
SAMANTHA: oh BORING
falkor: Chan76 .....
SAMANTHA: <comments> <laughing>
falkor: <laughing> so what did you have?
SAMANTHA: bacon and eggs actually
falkor: lovely
falkor: too right
SAMANTHA: there's me trying to get fit <laughing>
falkor: yeah you've got to live life though haven't you?
SAMANTHA: oh I know, I'm not big or anything anyway
falkor: well I can see that from the photograph !
SAMANTHA: I'm 5'8"
falkor: same height as me then
SAMANTHA: wow
falkor: I just wish I was your age <laughing>
SAMANTHA: are you younger then?
falkor: older! I'm 50
SAMANTHA: are you?
falkor: yeah I've done 30 years in the MET POLICE
SAMANTHA: oh did you?
falkor: yeah I came out when I was 49
SAMANTHA: how did you find it? it must have been a great career
falkor: in the days when I joined, all the cops were sent to the middle of London like Bow St, West End, Brixton, Streatham because they decided that if you were going to join the Police you could jump in the deep end first
SAMANTHA: oh right?
falkor: but they don't do that now
SAMANTHA: that's a shame
falkor: well they can't do it now because the way it worked in those days was they had "section houses" / accommodation so that if you turned around and said "wait a minute, Brixton - I don't live near there" they would say well actually we've got accommodation for you!
falkor: but because they've now sold it all off - they can't follow the same .....
SAMANTHA: they're doing that with the Prison Service as well aren't they?
falkor: I know I read about that too
SAMANTHA: I'm going to need something somehow where I'm going
falkor: well I started off that accommodation thread but I quickly found that there was a flaw in it
falkor: one of the members raised a security problem with it and I do understand what they're saying - how can they be expected to reveal where they live to another member? they don't know who the other member is!
SAMANTHA: I didn't think about that
falkor: well I didn't think about it either, but I guess it's a thing you've just got to weigh it up yourself really and have a look at how long that member's been joined to the site I think
SAMANTHA: yes
falkor: I mean if they've been a member for a good long time, they've written mounds and mounds of stuff on there. . .
SAMANTHA: well you can just PM them can't you
falkor: exactly and I think it's going to have to be on a basis of making an individual decision, we're intelligent people - there's risks in everything
SAMANTHA: oh of course
falkor: we've got to make a choice ....
SAMANTHA: calculated risk
falkor: that's it!
SAMANTHA: that's the one
falkor: so I would hate to dismiss it out of hand
SAMANTHA: yes
falkor: and I don't think it is a case of dismissing it out of hand
SAMANTHA: oh no
falkor: I think it's a case of thinking about it
SAMANTHA: I think so definitely I'm with you there
falkor: anyway can you give my best wishes to Ellie?
SAMANTHA: I will do
SAMANTHA: he's eating us out of house and home that one
falkor: is he going to go to Surrey?
SAMANTHA: yeah oh yeah he'll come with us
falkor: because you'll have to put butter on his paws
SAMANTHA: I know <laughing>
falkor: <laughing>
SAMANTHA: I've always had cats, mostly mental cats honestly but brilliant ones
falkor: my brother had SEVEN!
SAMANTHA: really?
falkor: it's his BIRTHDAY today!
falkor: I've got to take him a new cat over
falkor: every birthday he has to get another cat
SAMANTHA: oh god how scary is that
falkor: yeah! it's true though
SAMANTHA: we couldn't introduce a new cat with Ellie because he's so insecure really, he wants all your attention - he's going to ward it off he's going to be a bit nasty if we get another one
falkor: oh I see, oh right
SAMANTHA: he wants to be the only one
falkor: he never fell in the bath did he?
SAMANTHA: no he's never done that yet
falkor: <laughing> because I was watching those MEERKATS on the telly and they went to have a drink at the communal watering trough in the middle of the flippin desert where they live and one of the little ones that wasn't used to it fell in, did you see that bit?
SAMANTHA: noooooo
falkor: oh I love those Meerkats - he looked so sorry for himself, he got straight out ....
SAMANTHA: they're really strange looking aren't they?
falkor: yeah but they're so social
SAMANTHA: they are aren't they
falkor: they are so social
falkor: I had to buy the boxed set in the end
SAMANTHA: <laughing>
falkor: in actual fact I bought it twice <laughing>
SAMANTHA: <laughing> oh brilliant
falkor: I know, anyway it's been lovely chatting to you Sam but we're running out of tape
SAMANTHA: oh right <laughing>
falkor: <laughing>
SAMANTHA: I could chat to you all day I could
falkor: me too
falkor: but it's been a pleasure thanks so much for phoning
SAMANTHA: I'll talk to you on the forums then
falkor: yeah see you back on the site, bye
SAMANTHA: yeah bye!!
heehee! cheers very much. x Sam
YIKES that was a month ago
to now this: 
lol
