T'was the night before Christmas

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE,

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE
NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE
NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT
SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE
'SANTA, DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY MY CORPS'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE
WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE'
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT'

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A BRITISH PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER SERVING OVERSEAS

CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND MUCH CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, BOTH PRESENT AND PAST, WHO ENABLE US TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES IN FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.

POLICE DOG LEARNS NEW TACTIC!

We know police dogs can be trained to sniff out drugs, explosives and even dead bodies but I bet you didn't know they could be trained to use their own 'poop- scoop'!

My thanks to my friend Dean Eddy for this amusing picture.

CHAIN OF COMMAND

Am I alone in feeling sorely disappointed at the clamour for the resignation of Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, over the Stockwell Tube Station fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes following the terrorist attacks upon our capital city on that dreadful 7/7 day? There was utter chaos and confusion around the whole of Central London in the immediate aftermath of those vicious attacks. Within minutes the emergency services were dealing with, not one, but several catastrophic major incidents. I am not at all surprised there was confusion and errors of judgement in that kind of mayhem. Everyone involved did their level best to prevent further explosions and shepherd the general public to places of safety. Remember the utter confusion in New York and Washington following the events of 9/11?

Naturally, I was as shocked as everyone else when it subsequently transpired that an innocent man had been shot dead by the anti-terrorist police. That is to be deeply regretted and the Commissioner promptly apologised for that dreadful mistake once the true facts became clear. Of course, it is right and proper that an in-depth examination should be pursued to learn from the catalogue of faults identified by the recent trial of the Met on Public Health & Safety issues, particularly in relation to the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels in the chain of command practices and procedures. I am reminded of that old saying that "experience is the finest schoolmaster but his fees are high". London had not experienced a disaster on this scale in decades. Hindsight is a wonderful gift! As an operational officer I was often called upon to make instantaneous decisions, frequently in the dead of night, when the hindsight brigade were safely tucked up in their warm beds. It frustrated me beyond belief when the 9am command wonders appeared and questioned my judgement on this or that decision!

As a lifelong and staunch Conservative I never thought I would have cause to criticise a member of the Shadow Cabinet but I have been dismayed by the comments of David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, in respect of his stance that Sir Ian Blair's position is no longer tenable. Could he himself have done any better? I very much doubt it. This was an act of war declared on our country and in such times we must all stand shoulder to shoulder with the security services in defence of our nation. This policy has stood us well in times past and is equally true in these so called enlightened days. As a Conservative I take no comfort in criticising my party but I take great pleasure in expressing my deep gratitude to "Red Ken" Livingstone, the Mayor of London, and to Ms Jacqui Smith, the Labour Government's Home Secretary, both of whom have steadfastly and publicly supported Sir Ian Blair and refused to join the clamour for his resignation. Yes, we all agree that lessons must be learned and who better to identify and implement them than the man at the helm at the actual time of crisis, Sir Ian himself. If I was serving in the Met right now I would be giving him my full support in the sure knowledge that he is a man of high integrity and great honour who will give 100% backing to his officers if he is satisfied they acted in good faith with total honesty and genuine professionalism. He must stay in command and I am certain the lessons of 7/7 have already been inwardly digested and methodology to deal with them adjusted accordingly.

SCRIPTURAL FORTIFIERS

'HE IS ABLE TO HELP US WHEN WE ARE BEING TEMPTED.' HEBREWS 2:18

If you're facing temptation today, here are 7 Scriptural fortifiers - use them! a) 'The temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure' (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT) b) 'I give unto you power...over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you' (Luke 10:19) c) 'The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet...the grace [strength and enablement] of our Lord Jesus be with you' (Romans 16:20 NLT) d) 'Use every piece of God's armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil; so that after the battle you will still be standing firm' (Ephesians 6:13 NLT) e) 'Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand' (Isaiah 41:10 NLT) f) 'This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it' (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT) g) 'The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials' (2 Peter 2:9 NLT).

Sheep are wise; when the wolf comes they just move closer to the shepherd. The same goes for you!

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