Old school

Some currencies depreciate very slowly…

A few weeks back I was, for the first time, fined for going through a red light on my bicycle.

Due to the increase in cyclists and an increase in shock jocks talking about cyclists, our state government is starting to enforce laws that it never has before.

Ever since that first fine I have been thoroughly furtive about riding through red lights.

So you can imagine my surprise this morning when, on the corner of Union and Edward streets, Pyrmont, I was woop-wooped by a parked and unmarked police car

WTF?

It was a young constable and an old crown sergeant. What he, the old bloke, was doing out on the beat is a mystery.

Maybe he was getting a morning’s worth of “real life experience” on the cycling blitz for his weekly meeting with the commissioner.

Anyway the old bloke opened with this pearler “do you think you own the place?”

For the non-Australians this means “do you think you can just do what you like?”

I replied; “sort of, I grew up there”, pointing to the former wharfies’ pub on the corner which is now a medical centre.

The old bloke paused and looked at me; “are you Noel’s son? “, referring to my dad who had been a crown sergeant himself before quitting the force to become a publican.

Nod affirmative.

” Well how is Noel? He was a great boss and a top bloke. [More details added for the young constable’s sake] ”

My reply followed with a short post-police force biopic.

“Give him my regard from [name withheld to protect the generous].”

Needless to say I got off without even a warning.

It’s good to see some things haven’t changed too much.