Important prison lesson: How to write cheques

Thursday 4th Decemeber:
After the scare about diabetes, I was glad to get the news from the diabetes nurse yesterday that I have to attend Healthcare this morning. The moment circumstances allowed me to go, off I rushed.

I should have known better. I could have taken my time.

The nurse was 'not available', and as it turned out, nor was the medication. 'What a surprise,' I said, keeping a straight face.

'It happens,' said the orderly very seriously. I think he must be a bit short on memory. When doesn't it happen. 'Come back tomorrow,' he said.

'Just for you,' said I, 'I'll try to stay alive till tomorrow.'

'I don't think diabetes is all that fatal,' he said encouragingly, and seemed to mean it.


December 1 2008:
I hurried over to the library today for a recommended course called CALM - learning to control anger and managing it. I'd been looking forward to studying for it for lots of reasons. I think it will help to keep me calm when I eventually get to the Appeal Court. Establishment hates the mistake they have made with me - but more than anything else, they hate to admit a mistake.

They'll have their sharpshooters out to make nonsense of my evidence. I intend to give them a tough time. CALM would help. I intent to be calm.

The interview to test my suitablity for the course lasted just ten minutes. The fellow in charge shook his head. 'Unsuitable,' he said.

Somehow, I had the feeling that he had been practising that response. I said, 'Because, I suppose, I insist on my innocence?'

'I don't know, Gordon.'

'It could be because I am rated low risk. I'd be grateful if you'd find out if it's because I'm not seen as a risk or because I maintain my innocence.'

He looked at me for a moment, could see that I was serious, and promised he'd look into it.

I'm going to explain soon about how the Legal Aid solicitor comes to be paying me some compensation. As unlikely as it seems, the cheque arrived. I expected it to go into my prisoners' finance account, but Officer C shook his head when I said I was surprised the sum wasn't there.

'Well, Gordon, the story is this: Your solicitor who knows so much about our system has written the cheque out to you.'

'So? The sum is compensation for me.'

'Prisoner Gordon, you don't get it, do you? And you've been in long enough to know the routine. Let me explain the process to you. The cheque, Gordon, has to be made out to the Governor, does it not, the Governor of this Establishment. If the cheque is not written out to the Governor of this Establishment, then it is not possible for the prisoner to have the funds. Got it now, Gordon?'

Of course, I was grateful for the lesson. But I managed to get hold of the cheque and sent it off to my brother Alec to sort out. I hope it gets through the mail censors.

Ages ago, a lifetime it feels, I was made Category C and that means I should be in a gentler place than crazy Swaleside. I applied to go to a place where I can be positive and advance my learning. I waited weeks, months, and then I was told that my choice doesn't take lifers.

'Ah,' I said, trying to hide my disappointment, 'but what about wrongly convicted lifers?'

I applied to other establishments where people are C Category. The lifer clerk reported today that Earlsdown has no space for me. So I sent out the next three choices and arranged for them to go off by recorded delivery - to Blunderstone, Stockham, and Earlstoke.

I had a letter today from my sister, Helen. That made my day. And then I had a visit! Chris Reeves dropped in. He is much better, and looks much better. But can't drive still. We had a good chat.

The letter and the visit made all the difference to the day. Then I was called to Healthcare. The nurse said, 'The diagnosis is back. You're a stage 2 diabetic. That should have been picked that up in 2005. I'm a bit worried about possible kidney damage.'

What a day, I thought, as I staggered back to the cell. Christmas cards waited on my bed from D Smith and Chris Reeves. Christmas! It'll be my sixth inside.

- Roger Gordon

Links:
CALM
LegalAid
Swaleside
Blunderston
Stocken
Erlestoke
Diabetes