April 25. Back from the slammer

Priceless moment: telling your boss that you are going to be a few minutes late to a meeting because you are just getting out of prison. Dan and I visited the Clink prison @ HMP High Down, a few miles away from our home. They are running a charity program where inmates are taught cooking and service skills that they get to apply at a restaurant run inside the prison. Once they get out, they would have attained some useful skills and certifications and many are able to secure the jobs upon release. I've been trying to make a reservation since reading about this on the news. Several months ago was fortunate to have nailed it.

It was an interesting experience. We arrived and parked on visitor's parking. We had to leave cell phones and cash (and sharp objects :)) in the car. Then we spent some time looking for the visitor registration center.  Once we found it, we exchanged our passports for visitor passes and in a group of other patrons walked inside the prison. The place seems pretty hard to escape from - high fences, barbed wire, cameras, locked in compartments between the areas. Dan looked concerned.

The restaurant itself looks like any other nice restaurant except they only have plastic cutlery and no alcohol. Inmates are dressed like waiters. The one who was serving us was very nervous. We were nervous too. How do you keep a conversation: "What are you in for?" "How soon are you going to be out?" "Are you good at remembering people's faces for the future reference?" He had a long scar on his face and tattoos on his arms and did not look like a hard core criminal. The food was very nice. Desert, waaay better than nice. As far as eating out as concerned we highly recommend Clink prison. Keep in mind that only the inmates who work at the restaurant eat food there. Everyone else get's their food from the regular cafeteria.

Speaking of the slammer, I have 3 last weeks to catch up with. We are guest free (so boring and empty already!!) for the next few weeks and so I will fill in the gaps as we go. 2 months and 3 days until we return.