I live with my wife and daughter in Rothbury. We live here because its quiet and beautiful, yet has good facilities and schools.
Did I say quiet?!
You may have noticed that we have been in the news a bit. It is really a very strange feeling to have a killer in your midst.
I was seeing new clients near Oxford when the news broke. When my wife called me she was panicking a bit, as the gunman was loose near where our daughter Charlotte’s school is situated.
I immediately thought about driving back straight away, but it is a 5 hour drive and apparently police roadblocks meant even residents could not get into the village. So taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my wife whilst worrying about Charlotte.
I finished my review of the file, and went to see the new client, a Max Fax Surgeon and his Physio wife. I introduced myself, and after being offered a cup of tea, admitted that my mind may wander as my village was on the news. They were very understanding and even put Sky News on for me. I can honestly say it was one of the strangest meetings I’ve been part of!
However, I got through it, apparently even making sense as we agreed to work together. Thanks for your understanding N & K.
Then it was into the car and off, grabbing a sandwich on the M1. As I covered the miles, I rang the police to see if I could get into Rothbury. It turned out that I could now get in as a resident, but they wanted everyone to stay indoors.
Then my wife called to say that the police had been around the streets to say that children who actually lived in Rothbury could now be picked up from school, although those from outside the village had to stay put. Poor things.
So I now knew Charlotte was home, but the girls were very nervous. I approached Rothbury at 8.50 pm, and I hit the first road block. They waved me through when I said I lived in the village, but 2 miles on, another roadblock had me stop and explain myself.
Another mile and the final roadblock had me stop and re-explain, as well as check the boot. I have to commend the police on the way they handled matters, as they were very polite whilst under considerable pressure.
Finally, I drove through what seemed to be a ghost town. No one was about, although I noticed the pubs were open! Two minutes (not hours!) later I drove onto our drive, and parked up. Stretching the old legs, I was welcomed by the managements, with Charlotte quite proud of herself for being brave.
The gunman was still loose then, and as I write still is. The amount of police around is incredible, with 10% of the armed police in the whole of the UK now in Rothbury! On Thursday helicopters were whirring around all night over our house, and although I slept like a log (alarm on & axe handy) the girls didn’t!
Let’s hope it’s over soon.
On a lighter note, I was invited to a friend’s 60th birthday party recently. John now lives in Gourock near Glasgow, having been a neighbour of mine some years ago. It only seems 5 minutes since his 50th!
It was great to see him again looking fit and well, and the venue he had chosen near his home was an amateur sailing club on the Clyde. I arrived in good time, and booked into my hotel, with the sun shining down on the very wide twinkling river. It really was very picturesque, and knowing we would be imbibing a few shandies, I made the effort to go for a little run.
The old docks, like Newcastle and many other cities, were gradually giving way to new developments. I hugged the river as best I could, but had to keep coming inland when the path ran out. This made it a bit like an obstacle course, and 20 minutes into the run I really started to feel the heat from the blazing sun.
Weaving my way along I managed to rejoin the Clyde. It is a very impressive river, with a mixture of large ships and smaller pleasure craft busily making their way up and down.
It was a bit spooky that they were talking about Victorian Glasgow on the radio as I reached my hotel. One of the amazing facts was that in 1800 there were some 18,000 inhabitants, but by 1900 there were over 800,000!
After about 45 minutes I made it back, hopped into the shower (cool water very welcome) and got a taxi to the sailing club. What a cute place. It was perched on the end of the Esplanade, where the ‘posh’ people lived years ago, and maybe still do. Lovely houses fronting onto the Clyde with excellent views.
I pushed open the old door, and after signing in found John with several members of his family and friends. It was clear that I was some way behind on the pints front, as the bar was busy to say the least.
Being into history as I am, I looked around the walls at all the memorabilia. It turns out that the club was dated from the 1860s, and several walls were covered in old pictures and oars etc.
They had laid on a buffet, and music was playing in the background as I nosily pottered around munching a sandwich. The best bit was the balcony. This was one of those large classic Victorian balconies that reminded me of an old cricket pavilion. It looked out over the Clyde, and even though it was now past 9 o’clock, the mild evening made it a perfect spot.
The night went well, and we got our act together and have arranged a walk along Hadrian’s Wall soon combined with a beer festival.
Predictable? Me? Never!
Finally, and on a serious note again, something happened the other day which reminded me that it is so important we get the planning right for clients. I was on a guided archeological walk near where I live at eight in the evening, looking at an Iron Age fort (I do these things!) when my mobile phone rang, and excusing myself I walked a few yards away to take the call.
It was a client, who sounded very down. He told me that tests have shown he needed heart surgery, and they had kept him in to get this done sooner rather than later. He is 49 with three young children, in fact his wife had given birth just before he had chest pains!
To say the least he is worried, and wanted to check out his protection policies. I was able to reassure him that the cover he had, reassessed just months ago, was sufficient for their needs.
This gave him the peace of mind he needed, and we now await the results of the now delayed (no beds) surgery.
I wish you the best J – get better soon.
