Being a policeman's 'wife'

The Policeman and I have been together for just over 7 years now, since we were 17. I know. 'Tis long time. (To clarify he wasn't a policeman at 17, that would be crazy. He was just a regular boy.)

Once he was done being mischievious and getting scalded by the policemen of Brixworth (nothing terrible you understand, just young scallywag stuff.) he decided that actually fighting crime actually looked pretty fun. He joined the force just over a year ago. *Proud face*

To me, this is him:

Image from watchingamerica.com

So, obviously I am very proud of him, but being a policeman's 'wife' is a puzzler (Note to the Policeman if you are reading this: Please don't freak out at this reference to lifelong commitment. I know we are not married, nor engaged. It is simply a word I am using to emphasise the fact that we do in fact live together. No pressure... although it is sinful and all that.). The pressure they come under in is the kind that most of us mere mortals really can't really relate to, yet I rarely see the Policeman stressed. They seem to have this camaraderie between them where they pick each other up and carry on, even if they have just had to inform a family that one of their loved ones has died, or deal with a schizophrenic heroin addict all day.

The hours they work are all kinds of crazy. Yeah, they have set shifts but unlike the rest of us who can drop what we are doing at 5:30pm and make the mad dash home, if a murder or missing person (Misper as they are called in the force. That's right. I'm down with the lingo) is reported 15 minutes before they are meant to finish they could be working long after their set finish time. It means, as a policeman's other half, you can't plan anything. You might book to see friends or to go out for dinner but you never know whether you are actually going to make it. It's kind of a state of limbo.

At the moment he is working night shifts - they're a puzzler. What? You mean I'm going to bed... and your going to work? And then, I'll be getting up and you'll be coming in...? *Confused face.*

The main thing for me is, the chuffing criminals never take a freakin' day off! That means that this year the Policeman will be working Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Bad times. Crims, if you're reading this why not get in on the 'peace and goodwill to all men' thing and make a pact to be reeeeeaaally good over the festive period this year? Y'know that Santa doesn't come if you've been naughty, right? Yeah, that's right. Get on it.

In other news ...This morning saw me rolling out of bed in the dark and the cold (although it still appears to be both these things) for an early morning workout because tonight's activities mainly revolve around eating. Y'see the big sis is home from the US of A for Christmas today and due to the lack of good Indian food in America she is demanding a curry tonight. Hard life. 'Tis also the day before my last day at work ...feeling very strange.