Firstly I became a Grandfather, on December 9th 2006. My daughter Caroline and son-in-law Steve presented us with James Robin Putman (great choice of middle name). He was a few days late but we’ll forgive him. He is a super little chap although I might be a little biased.
Treacle their Chocolate Labrador is very good with James and has become very maternal. Once James becomes mobile you can already see that the two of them will be great friends. I can’t 
begin to imagine what adventures they’ll have together. It is so important for children to be involved with animals, it helps build character as well as care and concern for others.
Throughout the later stages of the pregnancy and the days just after the birth, which are almost as hard on the Grandparents as on the actual parents, (apart from the pain, sleepless nights and dirty nappies), I have still had my dog jobs to do.
The run-up to Christmas is a busy time, because as well as the normal turn over of clients, there also the ones who realise that they are going to have a house filled to bursting with guests and a dog whose behaviour is not all it could be. If Great Aunt Elsie is the type to constantly re-write her will it’s probably best if your dog doesn’t use her slippers as a convenient indoor toilet.
Christmas then arrives and after thirtyfive years as a Copper I still can’t get used to not working at least half of the holiday period. Of course I worked Every New Years Eve without fail. It was alright for me because I was working, and although it was very busy and sometimes quite violent it was still good fun working alongside other emergency services not only Police but also Paramedics (why don’t they get paid a lot more?) and Fire & Rescue Service. I really don’t think that the general public have any idea of the service they receive from and the level of dedication shown by these services. I do know that anyone working in the emergency services needs a good wife/husband/partner to come home to and probably a dog handler needs one even more. Not only do they work long hours in stressful situations but when they do get home they are subject to call-outs at all times. When they manage to stay at home they also have to exercise the dog(s) and see to their other needs. The wife has to put up with all this as well as running a house, looking after the children, maybe hold down a job and, of course, if the handler has ‘man flu’ there are the dogs to be looked after as well. Apart from that her time’s her own but if she could find time to make me a coffee I’d be grateful!
Christmas itself was great we had all the family around, loads of food was eaten, some drink was taken (but not a lot) and most important I got loads of really good presents.
Once Christmas is over of course the calls start coming in about those dogs who made the holiday period memorable in some unwanted way for their owners and guests so, a busy period ahead.
Saturday 13th January 2007, another busy day. Brian, my eldest son married Nikki. They got married at the same venue as Caroline and Steve did in 2005. It was a good fun day but very tiring. I am prepared to admit that although I didn’t drink very much, I may have over-indulged at the buffet in the evening. It’s off to the gym for me and then more regular blogs.