This is great. I too am weirdly impressed that your guy managed to steal a bus while on heroine, alcohol AND crack. I don’t think I could contemplate driving a bus even while sober.
Ha - it's quite a feat, isn't it?! I'm with you - I am just about capable of driving a car but anything bigger, no chance. I went on a French road trip with some mates a few years ago and wasn't trusted to drive the minibus for a single mile.
I found being a probation officer was good training for being a parent: positive reinforcement, warnings about consequences of behaviour, the need to follow through on said warnings and not over promising..
Very good points, I like this idea - there's definitely a lot of crossover! Good to hear from a fellow probation officer, too. Thanks for reading, Fran.
Your posts always make me chuckle. Partly because I can remember my days doing youth work, not sure things are that different but also because you are so honest
Probation is such an underrated service and one of the toughest jobs you can imagine. I have worked on research with probation officers and seen first hand the work you all do. Thank you
Ha, thanks, Wendy. We're out of the woods with the baby/toddler phase now and I haven't had anything chucked at me in a long time, so things are looking up!
I hear you on those early days of fatherhood. I too felt that sense of relief when I went back to work after those 2 weeks, as guilty as I felt, and then the coming home and all. Luckily, I only had to go through it once (sorry 😂)
Thanks for the mention, glad you've enjoyed my little series. This first instalment went down very well with me, I've been curious for a while now about your work (also been wondering how you got into it and the transition from EFL to whatever came next - was it this?). The nice thing about Substack is all the flexibility, and a series or serialising something can be fun. Some writers put out 2 posts a week, one a serial, one whatever, but that can be a lot of extra work (not to mention more in people's inboxes!).
Thanks, man. Appreciate the support as ever. Early fatherhood is a real rollercoaster, isn't it? Joy, guilt, excitement, boredom etc.. often within the space a few minutes!
One post a week is definitely my limit, I think. Still thoroughly enjoying it and just about managing to stick to it!
Aha... you will have to wait and see re. my odd career backstory. I will get around to it!
Oh I loved this Andy… could relate on so many levels! I’m sure my husband used to take the slow train home to avoid coming back to our colicky new born and, as a midwife myself, I too,had to power through a tumultuous day on nothing more than a couple of hours sleep and a berroca.
Loved it, loved it… keep writing more (and contact Channel 4 to commission your first series! 😉)
Oh Andy! What a clusterfuck 😣😩 I can so relate to that feeling of closing your eyes and thinking you may never open them again. In most cases, I’d say being with kids all day is harder than being at work - but in your case I’m not so sure! Hope things are a bit less stressful now. Thank you so much for shout out! ♥️
Hats off to you, Andy - I don't think my husband or I could remember our own names for the first six months of parenting, let alone start a new job. Let alone start a new job as a probation officer! Great piece, thanks for sharing.
I love your writing, but can I also say thank you for doing such an incredibly important job. I'm sure the pressures are never-ending
Thank you, Sarah - very kind (x2). It can be really tough at times but it's certainly never dull and we do get some wins every once in a while!
This is great. I too am weirdly impressed that your guy managed to steal a bus while on heroine, alcohol AND crack. I don’t think I could contemplate driving a bus even while sober.
Haha I was impressed by this detail too.
Ha - it's quite a feat, isn't it?! I'm with you - I am just about capable of driving a car but anything bigger, no chance. I went on a French road trip with some mates a few years ago and wasn't trusted to drive the minibus for a single mile.
Thanks for reading and sharing, Ren!
You are welcome! Really cracked me up.
Opposite side of the road plus mini bus does sound like a recipe for disaster to be fair.
I found being a probation officer was good training for being a parent: positive reinforcement, warnings about consequences of behaviour, the need to follow through on said warnings and not over promising..
Very good points, I like this idea - there's definitely a lot of crossover! Good to hear from a fellow probation officer, too. Thanks for reading, Fran.
Your posts always make me chuckle. Partly because I can remember my days doing youth work, not sure things are that different but also because you are so honest
Probation is such an underrated service and one of the toughest jobs you can imagine. I have worked on research with probation officers and seen first hand the work you all do. Thank you
Ah, thanks Jo. Very kind. I nearly did a youth work masters in my 20s actually - definitely would be a lot of similarities, I think! Did you enjoy it?
Cheers for reading!
Having a baby is tough under any circumstances. But when people at work start throwing tables at you, it's a whole other level of difficulty.
Ha. It sure is. It was a particularly rough day. Haven't had a table thrown at me since, though which has to be a positive.
Thanks for reading, Lee!
As always, I'm in awe of parents. I honestly think I'd rather take on Anton than a newborn.
And yes please to a multi-parter!
Ha - you're experienced in pub work, so I'm sure you'll have come across all sorts over the years.
Cheers - I think I'll go for it. There's certainly a lot of material to mine!
Phew. Enjoyed this, Andy, with a growing sense of Rather you than me re your day job. But baby-wrangling? Been there, and that is of course hard, too!
Ha, thanks, Wendy. We're out of the woods with the baby/toddler phase now and I haven't had anything chucked at me in a long time, so things are looking up!
A mighty relief, I imagine!
I hear you on those early days of fatherhood. I too felt that sense of relief when I went back to work after those 2 weeks, as guilty as I felt, and then the coming home and all. Luckily, I only had to go through it once (sorry 😂)
Thanks for the mention, glad you've enjoyed my little series. This first instalment went down very well with me, I've been curious for a while now about your work (also been wondering how you got into it and the transition from EFL to whatever came next - was it this?). The nice thing about Substack is all the flexibility, and a series or serialising something can be fun. Some writers put out 2 posts a week, one a serial, one whatever, but that can be a lot of extra work (not to mention more in people's inboxes!).
Thanks, man. Appreciate the support as ever. Early fatherhood is a real rollercoaster, isn't it? Joy, guilt, excitement, boredom etc.. often within the space a few minutes!
One post a week is definitely my limit, I think. Still thoroughly enjoying it and just about managing to stick to it!
Aha... you will have to wait and see re. my odd career backstory. I will get around to it!
Have you watched Shrinking with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford on Apple TV? I see a mini series in your future....this is great!
Ah, cheers, Josephine - that's really kind. Glad you enjoyed it.
Not heard of Shrinking, actually - will check it out (if we have Apple TV? Never know what channels we do/don't have?!) Thanks.
Oh I loved this Andy… could relate on so many levels! I’m sure my husband used to take the slow train home to avoid coming back to our colicky new born and, as a midwife myself, I too,had to power through a tumultuous day on nothing more than a couple of hours sleep and a berroca.
Loved it, loved it… keep writing more (and contact Channel 4 to commission your first series! 😉)
Berocca is good stuff tbf. Thanks so much, Rebecca - very kind! (and thanks again for the suggestion.)
Haha. I can't possibly speak for your husband but I've known other dads to take longer commutes than necessary in those mad early days!
Loved this. The probation stories are so interesting, especially in early baby days!
Ah, thanks, Morgan - very kind. More to come hopefully...
Oh Andy! What a clusterfuck 😣😩 I can so relate to that feeling of closing your eyes and thinking you may never open them again. In most cases, I’d say being with kids all day is harder than being at work - but in your case I’m not so sure! Hope things are a bit less stressful now. Thank you so much for shout out! ♥️
Yep, depends on the day as to whether work/home is the more stressful, I think.
No worries - your 3-parter was fantastic. Thanks for reading!
Hats off to you, Andy - I don't think my husband or I could remember our own names for the first six months of parenting, let alone start a new job. Let alone start a new job as a probation officer! Great piece, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading, Sarah. I think those first 6 (36?) months are just absolute madness whatever your circumstances tbh!
True enough 😁 I'd like to say it gets easier, but we're on month 252 and I'm not sleeping any better… 🤣
Top guy! More of these whenever you feel the desire. Such a great insight into a little known but valuable public service - and funny as usual.
Thanks, man! Appreciate that. Need to get cracking on part 2 now...
I would read the fuck out of any further probation officer stories. Huge respect, don’t think I could do either that or the parenting
Haha - thanks, Ruby. There have been days where dealing with High Risk criminals has been easier than the parenting.
Enjoyed this Andy - definitely make into a series - there must be so much more to come!
Thanks, Faith! Appreciate that (and thanks again for the inspiration to try a multi-parter!)
Yes, now I've started, I've got a whole bunch of ideas! Need to get writing...
Oh no problem - thanks so much for the shoutout! Look forward to the next one. Perhaps there’s a book in this?!