First off...

...Bah Humbug.

(It's not just for Christmas).

I've just finished with a job that makes me question this whole 'love' idea.

I'm sent to an alcoholic who has just had an epileptic fit and I arrive to find his fiancè looking very worried.

She tells me, "I've known him for ten months and I've only seen him fit once, so I'm afraid I got scared and called for an ambulance".

I reassure her that this isn't a problem, and that she has done the right thing.

I look after the patient, it's an easy job and I spend some time waiting for the ambulance to arrive (I was 'single', so I was asked to work on the RRU, the alternative was to work out of Waterloo station).

I look around the room they are staying in. It's not what you would call 'homely', it's the typical house of a young alcoholic (he's the same age as me). Cans of cheap cider are laying around the place, there is no furniture apart for a settee and a T.V, empty cigarette packets litter the floor and the pictures haven't been mounted on the walls.

There is an axe leaning against the fireplace.

His fiancè is young and not obviously unattractive, she doesn't seem particularly stupid and she doesn't look like a fellow alcoholic. So I'm confused as to why she would want to marry an alcoholic? I'm afraid it just befuddles me as to how you can 'love' someone who loves their next drink more than you.

In any partnership you will come second to an open bottle of cider.

I just don't understand.



Maybe I'm just emotionally stunted?