Christmas bah humbug.When i wer walking the streets 1972-1983,Christmas was hard work.two full weeks 05-00 till 17-00.Excessive sorting longer prep time more houses getting mail and two deliveries.You were not allowed time off either,nor could you refuse to do xmas pressure as it was called.So like me dinner a pint or two maybe a whisky then zoned out and no bloody fun for the family.Indoors was as bad,finished 18-00 xmas eve back in boxing day night 22-00.But i do love xmas and make as much fun as i can.Sadly my first family don't have good memories of me.Much to my shame and it still hurts all these years later.Sorry to spoil the thread.
I feel your pain, Postie. For me it was Policing the streets over the festive period. An utterly miserable experience. Worst was attending house break-ins in the days before Xmas where the thieves had helped themselves to the nicely wrapped presents under the tree. From houses where the money had been hard earned and spent on their young family. Heartbreaking.
Then there was the bleating of the abusive, aggressive drunks during November/December, out "enjoying themselves" and having a well earned rest from the usual routine of unemployment and shafting the system. As they were being put in handcuffs, we were miserable Scrooges for arresting people at Christmas (which of course started in early November).
I well remember about 2am, nightshift on Christmas night into boxing day, attending an alarm activation at Comet (the old electrical retailer). As I drove round the corner there were 2 guys coming out of the window display (plate glass window smashed) carrying a video recorder (a favourite for the thieves of the 80's). A lengthy foot chase later and with assistance of colleagues, 2 arrests... Who does this on Xmas night?
Then there was Hogmanay into New Years day. Probably the busiest night of the year for Police across Scotland. And I was nightshift for about 12 of my 20 years, including each of my first 6 years. It was just complete and utter pandemonium. Domestics, assaults, stabbings, slashings, fights everywhere. All of them drink related.
Ho! Ho! Ho!!!!
