The emergency services tend to get “funny” on Christmas Day, writes our News Blogger Dave Burrows.
I always feel that its bad enough for us at the Star to have to work December 25 but for the operators at the calls centres for the fire and ambulances services and the police it must be so much worse.
At least we don’t have to go into the office and stay there.
But from my experience these people don’t let the fact they are at work dampen their Christmas spirit. And to keep themselves jovial they seem to enjoy mocking us poor journalists.
When I worked as a reporter on Christmas Day a couple of years back one police force got me hook line and sinker.
“Anything going on?” I asked for the 7,365th time that day.
“Ah. Umm…” came the reply. Uh oh.
“I shouldn’t say anything until there’s an inspector around, but we’ve found some remains. We’ve just found the bones. They were in a wheely bin.”
There was me, trying to get down every cough and spit, questions running through my mind - the first one being . . . why has this happened when I’m working?
“Any idea who it might be?”
“Well the body is one foot tall, weighed 10lbs and is believed to be that of Tommy the Turkey.”
I won’t repeat my response.
And one of my colleagues was informed of a series of unlikely events that had, apparently, all happened on the same road. When she asked where, she was told: “Coronation Street, Wetherfield.”
This year it seems those gagmeisters were not at work and my colleague Andy Rogers was spared. It was also nice and quiet so he was able to enjoy his two Christmas dinners in peace, if a little more soberly than usual. However his good lady Jayne seemed pleased to have someone to chauffer her around all day.
She may make a case for him working every year.
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