Rosie Stancer is the embodiment of the idea that with self-belief, motivation and application, anyone can push themselves beyond their perceived limitations and achieve the extraordinary.
Hands Off
June 16th, 2012Recently I went back to school myself or rather I was sent back following an untimely interruption by a Woman Police Officer.
Concerned that the call coming in on my mobile phone might be an important business call, I answered it, in my car, on my son’s school driveway. At the time there was no point in either explaining myself or fluttering my eyelashes to the WPO but I’ll take the opportunity now to offer an explanation…..
Despite ‘gagging’ the phone by putting it on vibrate, for a long journey with my son, driving him back to boarding school in Berkshire from Essex, the confounded thing had been humming at me all the way down the A12, round the M25, and up the M4. By the time we reached the top of his school drive the combined forces of curiosity and patience had got the better of me and I answered it. It was Mummy and something about bread and eggs. But my attention was diverted by a blue flashing light.
Standard procedure followed with getting out of the car and receiving a well-deserved dressing down for being on my mobile and with a child in the car (said child hiding in back under his school blazer). It did seem to go on, and on, during which time all the other parents started arriving to drop off their charges (and hastily tuck mobiles in glove compartments – I think not). Unable to pass on the narrow drive, a long queue of cars formed. Those who had dropped off earlier queued from the other direction but had arguably a less favourable view of proceedings. One might well argue that this was, in itself, punishment enough. Perhaps the WPO was inclined to take a bit of pity and I was offered the option of attending a ‘police safety awareness course’ and a modest fine of £80 to cover its cost. (The courses are held at the local Hilton after all). This, instead of points on my license, was most welcome and I readily accepted. “It’s quite interesting actually” she added kindly. Not that I was a frazzled mother about to burst into tears or any rubbish like that.
And very interesting it was. Along with a room full of builders and 2 other women, both mothers, we all assembled in a Hilton conference room on the hottest day of the year yet, for the same offence. One man was there having been ‘caught’ sitting in his stationary car, parked in a car park, engine off but keys in ignition! He must have been smarting but like everyone there, was taking his medicine with good grace. We were taken through a variety of horrifying stats, and startling facts and observations on concentration, vision and reactions. It was all quite an eye-opener although I wish mine had been allowed to be firmly shut and ear flaps down for some of the more upsetting examples of some unhappy outcomes to driving with a mobile in hand. Some of the images presented will stay with me for a long time – unlike a mobile in one hand and steering wheel in the other. Never again.
So if anyone out there is maddened at not being able to hear me on my cheap little sat nav/hands free, then that call can wait til I get home can’t it? And to that WPO if she is reading this – thank you. Do do you think the Hampshire/Berkshire district might be interesting in helping sponsor a mile or 100 or an arctic expedition if it’s hand free off the Satellite phone?