An Inspector Calls
So there I on my tractor this morning when I noticed a car coming up the drive, wasn't expecting anyone, didn't recognise the car, wait a minute it has blue lights on top, it's the old bill.
I walked over to meet a uniformed officer wearing a bullet proof vest.
"Hello, how can I help you?", said I. I've behaved well now for so long that I felt no nervousness.
"I'm looking for Mr Stiknruda"
"I am he, am I in trouble?"
"Not at all Sir! Understand that there is an airstrip on the farm and because of September 11th, each region now has an Airfield Liaison Officer and that's me. We are interested in any illegal flight training and the other normal things that Special Branch deal with, smuggling, illegal border crossings, etc."
Anyway, Alisdair (for by now we are on first name terms) and I had a chat over a cup of tea and I don't think we'll be bothering each other too much. I explained that a narrow, short farm strip with difficult approaches and undercart collapsing ditches at either end wouldn't be the best place to start flying training. Aah but the terrorists don't need to know how to land or take off, was the cunning answer! I then showed Plod-u-like my single seat aeroplane and suggested that flying training might be a tad difficult!
It is almost 11 months since 9/11 and he's been doing this job for 2 weeks! Poor chap, I really did feel for him.
Good to know that my tax is being wasted on something so ill-thought through! Crime in Norfolk is up 20% over last year.
Stik - bemused by the whole episode