1. I have never been in an ambulance :)
2. I can speak fluent German
3. I am so square I have never taken illegal drugs
4. The worst job I had as a student was working in a bubble factory
5. I was Head Girl at school
6. I have worked as a nude model for art classes
7. I have a Masters Degree which is worth very little to me....I wouldn't do it again if I had my time over

Working as a nude model definitely makes up for not having taken illegal drugs :D

Just being nosey again!, if you're a mumof4, how come you're up at 5:40 am? Sorry! I am soooooooo nosey!!

1. I once met a prince in an Airport. To say it was a waste of his time is an understatement. I have nothing to show for this, not even a picture (the camera batteries were dead).

2. I have always been of the opinion that, whatever your political inclinations, you have to agree; Michael Howard really resembles a serial killer.

3. Since starting university, I have partaken in 3 different types of martial arts and had a gym membership twice. And I'm still a fat bastard.

4. I'm constantly unable to sleep consistantly over the course of a week. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome/Disorder is quite annoying.

5. I do nothing with the extra time that I get from this except write comments on blogs and listen to XM Radio. I really need a hobby.

6. It is my ambition to one day have something interesting enough to write about that I can start my own blog that won't crash, burn, get assessed by an insurance worker and then, finally, be buried in a silent service, with three loners in attendance and a priest who mispronounces the name.

7. Comedy is one of my favourite things in the world, and yet I continue to be an unfunny douche.

LOL I share 2, and more interestingly, 4 & 5, with you!

Maybe they're not so random after all.... :o)

I would post my own but it's 7am, time I went to sleep.

That's a disorder? Yeep.

1 the older i get, the more i like my 'down' time.
2 i love my wife passionately, little does she know...
3 i'm in madison, wisconsin usa, and my fave blog is some uk emt who, for some reason, has had me addicted to his stories for a few years now.
4 i am very pro marijuana/anti drug war.
5 music is a passion of mine, unfortunately i can't play and i'm tone deaf.
6 i believe that children are the future... unless we stop them now!!!!
7
haikus are easy
but some times they don't make sense
refrigerator

lol your turn, tom

1. I only have nine finger nails
2. I once, by accident, shut a door in the face of Ted Rogers, host of the popular British 1970s game show '3-2-1'
3. I've flown 14 times
4. My favourite film is 'Walk The Line'
5. The last song I listened to on iTunes was 'The Story of My Life' by Michael Holliday
6. The last time I saw the sea was on New Year's Day, in Morecambe
7. Today I plan on buying some new glasses, new underwear, two bus tickets, a cinema ticket and some milk.

7 things about me.

I am “over the hill” and heading towards my three score years and ten.

I am usually to be found with my head buried in a book, and read a great variety, although mostly detective novels

I bought and read Blood Sweat and Tea (does this gain me brownie points)

I discovered the blogosphere via Tom Reynolds, and now nothing can keep me back

I am a mother to 2 sons and a beautiful daughter

I am a grandmother to 3 grandsons and a granddaughter.

I have big feet!

Seven random facts about me.

1. As a baby I was left in my pram outside the greengrocer's shop because my sister, who had pushed me there, was so eager to get home with the first bananas on sale since the 1939 war broke out. As she sat with our parents engorging the fruit, mum asked "Where's the baby?"

2. As a four year old I nearly killed my grandmother. She was warming her knees at the open fire when I threw a firework into the grate. It exploded. Grandma's death months later was not, I am assured, connected in any way to this incident.

3. As a favour to my first wife, after we split up I took our dead budgerigar to a taxidermist. I collected the stuffed article two weeks later. I was accompanied on both occasions by the person who was later to become my second wife.

4. In the course of a single week, I found my mother dead from a drug overdose at home, attended her burial, and got married.

5. My father worked as the caretaker of a further education college whilst in denial about his near blindness. He managed to perform all the tasks assigned to him, and more, but caused some consternation when he mistook Margaret Thatcher, on an official visit, for one of his cleaning ladies.

6. One of the things I learned from psychotherapy is the importance for me of doing less than my best and being happy with it.

7. I have shared a urinal with a former British Prime Minister - not Margaret Thatcher.

By the time I was 2 months old, my mum had left me outside Woolworths in Keswick. She didn't even have the excuse of being excited at bananas. The end of war had been nearly 30 years earlier. She also says she didn't realise until she had unpacked her shopping & thought there was something missing. Needless to say I bring this up at every oppurtunity & use it as an explanation for any mental scars I may have.

When I was a new mum 37 years ago, I left my daughter in her pram outside the supermarket, as you could in those days, but I forgot I had a baby and was halfway home before I remembered and had to do back for her! I have never told anyone that before. Before I was married I worked in a Holiday Camp in Paignton, Devon, and danced with Kenny Ball's brother. The whole Ball family (including Kenny) spent 3 weeks there, and on the last night he played his trumpet.

Goodfornowt - that is totally random! I say the prize goes to you (unless I read something better further down in the thread)

7 random things about me:
1. I've never, ever smoked a cigarette. (My parents gave up smoking when I was about 7 and I vividly remember how hard they found it).
2. I type faster than I write - but with poor accuracy.
3. In our house we have over 3000 books at last count.
4. Sometimes I hurt myself to make myself feel better.
5. The most important people in my life are my two daughters.
6. I read Tess of the d'Urbevilles in 3 1/2 hours (it's a big book!)
7. Riding camels makes me feel sick.

1. I haven't been able to fart since the 19th August 2005.
2. I have been in an ambulance once.
3. I spent 22 hours on a train in India in September.
4. I worked at an A&E reception for two and a half years. Trying to eat a chicken ball special while some drunken ejit waggles his laccerated eyebrow at you, dripping blood all over the place saying "Is me eye hanging" is fun!!
5. I once had the private phone number for the Blairs, but I lost it!
6. Some people collect stamps... I collect Consultants! I am under active review by 4 different specialities at the hospital, having been discharged by another 2. I am hoping for a prize when I complete the set!!.
7. I'm off out now to buy a present as my friend had a wee baby last night.

1) I became veggie because eating animals was wrong (hey, I was 9) I'm still veggie but it's just habit, now the thought of eating flesh makes me feel sick.

2) In the course of my life I have learnt to play, to some extent, the bass guitar, the oboe, the piano, the tenor recorder, various percussion instruments and the guitar, I have stuck with none of these and rely on my naturally good singing voice to get me through.

3) I haven't seen my natural hair colour in 14 years, in those 14 years it has been every colour under the sun including, but not exclusive to, bright pink, green, black purple, blue, blond and ginger.

4) My first job was at 16 as a waitress, I lasted less than a month, it then took me 6 years to get another job.

5) I have one webbed toe, well two technically? It's actually a scar, for some some reason I have a hell of a lot more scars than other women my age, I must have been an extra clumsy teenager.

6) I am dysgraphic and shifted sinistral, this means writing is super fun for me.

7) I have no feeling in the base of my right little finger and little feeling down the outside of my right hand, due to an accident with the washing up in first year.

1. I have diabetes (Type 1 ish)
2. It is over 20 years since my first gig (www.marillion.com - a better way of life)
3. I have two piercings
4. I am a geek and proud of it
5. My HbA1c is obscenely good (5.2)
6. I don't eat meat
7. I would go and live in Paris if you paid me a decent wage

1. My dad was engaged to Sue Lawley when they were at University together. For years my grandma used to keep a Sue Lawley scrapbook and brought it out whenever my mum annoyed her.
2. I got interested in blogs and blogging in May 2007 and now I rarely visit anything else on the internet. Random Acts of Reality was one of the first I found and is still one of my favourites.
3. My auntie is married to an ex-catholic priest. He loved her more than that church, but not God - he's now a Church of England archdeacon and they have an extremely happy marriage - you can never have too much love, you should never have to chose.
4. Both my parents were alcoholics. I'm terrified that one day I will be too.
5. Local government and politics runs strong through my father's side of the family. My grandfather was a Labour MP and went on the Jarrow march, my grandmother was a Mayor as was her father, my great grandfather.
6. Over 5 years ago I was treated very badly by an employer who I had worked hard for. I have never got over it and it has had a terrible effect on my confidence and self esteem. I still dream of retribution. I really need to get over it, or write a list book of revenge!
7. I love to eat toast with Marmite and marmalade spread on top. Try it, it sounds dreadful, but it's a winning combination - it'll change your life!

marmiteandmarmalade, mmmmmm! I have such trouble convincing people to try this awsome combo !!!

My 7 Randomish Things:
1. I am a paramedic, yet I have only ever been a patient in an ambulance once (well twice if you count an air ambulance :D )
2. I found this blog through 'womble porn'! Don't ask why lol!!
3. When I was younger that famous magician bloke asked my sister to get in a box at homebase and he would make her dissappear, so we ran to my mum and shouted about how we were being kidnapped lol!
4. My 'claim to fame' is my great great great great great great great etc granddad founded Warings Bakery (and I wished our family still owned it :( )
5. I am ambidextrous! teehee, bet no-one else is here!!
6. I have been to 23 states in America (well technically I havn't been, but I have driven through some of them, does that count?) and plan to visit them all, but most probably won't because my parents won't may for my holidays any more :(
7. My favourite food in the world is marmite and I hate; cheese, garlic and onions XP

Your turn!!

1. When I peg out the washing, each item must have pegs that are matching colours and designs.
2. I love cars, and the longest I have ever kept a car is 18 months, the shortest period 3 months.
3. My dad is a county councillor, and whilst I am proud of him, I disagree with his politics.
4. My fave sandwich filling is cheddar cheese and strawberry jam.
5. I love being in my 30's because I finally have the confidence to be me.
6. Less than a year into my second marriage I O/D'd twice and had a complete breakdown. We will celebrate 14 years of marriage this year.
7. I still occasionally dream about my first husband, despite having not seen him for 17 years.

I do the peg thing too, my flatmate thinks I'm mad.

And me. My Dad too, though I can just about cope if the pegs match but clash with the item, he can't. Plus he counts everything. (I only count stairs).

And another one, although I'm happier about hanging stuff up indoors where it doesn't need pegs at all.

1. I'm a platelet donor.

2. I nannied for film director Ken Russell's kids on the set of Lady Chatterly.

3. I can easily write in mirror writing. And I hold a level 1 certificate in British Sign Langauge.

4. I have sponsored a boy in Tanzania for almost ten years.

5. I was allergic to cats but ended up with five anyway. The allergy finally wore itself out.

6. I grew up in a town with the unfortunate name of 'Cockermouth' (in Cumbria).

7. I held a Virginia, USA, driving license for a while as I worked there for a year.

I lived in Penrith for years and it wasn't until I left Cumbria and was telling people about it I realized Cockermouth was as unfortunate a name as it it.

OK, 7 things about me... here goes:
1) The most exciting thing I have ever done is to go wing-walking (have promised myself I will go again on my 80th b'day - I am 35 now)
2) I just love marzipan! the taste, the smell...mmmm!
3) I like housework
4) I have my dream job - working as a specialist brain injury Physiotherapsit
5) I I love time flopping on my sofa with a glass of wine and some trashy TV
6) I find ambulance men very sexy!!
7) My dream holiday would be to go white water rafting down the grand canyon

Well Tom....lets hear yours....

3) I like housework
6) I find ambulance men very sexy!!

Please tell me you are
a) Female
b) Single
c) also adore cooking and cleaning for sexy ambulancemen.

*Grin*

thanks for the grin...made me smile :-)

In response:
a) female
b) not single
c) love cooking for my male friends...though none of them are paramedics... there is definately a vacancy...

So, are you sexy then?

1. My career path began with a journalism scholarship, changing to sociology/criminal justice, emergency medicine, auditor and now a senior administrator in a large health system.
2. I look rather schizo from an iPod perspective where you'll find everything from Alice in Chains, Metallica, Elton John, Pavarotti, Santana, BB King, Mozart, The Gossip, Broadway show tunes, Cajun Zydeco and everything inbetween.
3. When visiting family in Louisiana, Hurricane Katrina hit. Despite living through many very bad hurricanes in my life, this one terrified me.
4. London is my favorite city.
5. While on vacation at a 5 star resort in St. Martin this past June, I managed to gracefully stumble up the stairs and sustain a spiral, displaced fracture of my middle metacarpal requiring surgery. (My first bone break ever - and hopefully the last)
6. My first limousine ride ever was after the above mentioned graceful fall when the resort insisted I take it to the hospital.
7. Photography is my passion. I'm not sure I'm very good but I love it.
8. I've bought a new digital camera every year for the past 5 years. "Is 12 megapixels overkill?" (See above)
9. I have had two full-time jobs for the past 11 years; one at the health system and one on the internet managing online communities from home.
10. I have approximately 250 cookbooks from around the world yet I have very little time to cook. I'm beginning to give them away.

1. I'm training to be a adult nurse
2. Theres a girl I really have the hots for and still haven't got round to telling her
3. I've never been a patient in an ambulance
4. I enjoy volunteering
5. One of my hobbies are filmaking and photography
6. I found this blog from reading the excellent book blood, sweat and tea
7. Never smoked
8. I was always either a prefect or head boy whilst at 6th form!

1. Single, never been married, never likely to get married. just not my thing I guess
2. Fell down a tree onto a barbed wire fence, age 6 have the scars to prove it.
3. Lived in Malaya from age 7 to 11 and can remember the start of their then national anthem.
4. Lived in Germany from 11-15 years where i broke my wrist trying to jump an iron bar, on wet grass with plimsolls on... not a good idea.
5. At age 22 I wanted to have a litter of puppies rather than a baby (haven't changed my mind)
6. Despite having left formal education at 16, I enjoy learning new skills and got my degree at age 42 with the ou. So perhaps the meaning of life isn't too far wrong :-)
7. Learnt to ride a motorbike and pass advanced test in 3 months... still my proudest moment.

Sage

1. I have never been in an ambulance:)
2. My dream career is to be a Paramedic. means more to me than anything!!!!!
3. I have had a crush on someone at least 12 years older than me.
4.My dad is in the army.
5.I have moved house 12 times.
6. I was born in Germany but i am Scottish.
7.I have ginger hair but i am considering dying it. I con't take anymore insults at high school.(Really doesn't help towards the situation number 5 provides)

I'm a redhead too. Please don't dye your hair: ginger roots are not a good look.

Next time some tiresome feckwad says something about your hair that you've heard a million times before, take a look at theirs. Most white people's hair is the colour of either baby-crap or dog-crap. They will likely be literally, as well as figuratively, a shit-head.

Right, now to think of seven random things........eeerrrrrrr......

1. Having a mathematics qualification, I know that none of the things we're writing about ourselves here are truly random.
2. I'm currently listening to Stereolab.
2a. I have a copy of Stereolab's first single. See?
3. I'm over six feet tall.
4. I volunteer in a charity shop.
5. I would like to catch red-handed one of our many shoplifters. The punishment will be to check the gussets of a mountain of donated underwear. Or a good shoeing. Haven't decided.
6. I do not buy underwear from charity shops.
7. A relative of mine can remember what he had for dinner on any given date.

A red headed celt - this is cause for teasing? It can't be that uncommon in Scotland!?

I'm envious I'd love to be a natural redhead, although my hair been every colour under the sun, red is my favorite, and I believe it's most common colour of hair dye sold, see so everyone wants red hair ;)

Red headed Celts are VERY sexy...........I am married to one ! :-)

I agree with Random Pinkness. My sister is a redhead and we teased her really badly when we were kids. I regret that now because she always dyes her hair and in reality I love her hair colour and wish I was a redhead too.

Kids are stupid. They're probably all jealous.

A friend of mine's son had very red hair. People used to comment on it when she pushed him in his pram, saying how lovely it was, She always replied that she didn't like it.
One day ,when her son was 2, he said "Mummy, why don't you like my hair?"

My eighteen year old daughter was recently photographed with Rupert Grint - their hair colour is identical...apparently he thought she was stunning!

DO NOT DYE YOUR HAIR! :D

My sister did it, tried to dye it brown... but it turned out to be jet black, my mother didn't recognise her, we still slag her about it!

Hon, your hair is gorgeous. I'm Irish and have red hair, and I love it. Everyone wants red hair. If they don't, they lie ;) We're thought of as fiery, therefore, you get away with murder (and sometimes, you'd be really tempted to test it out... Sorry Judge, but the bastard just unleashed the temper, and what can I say?! Except for the fact that I did it in a way that meant the poor overworked ambulance workers didn't have to come out? :D ), fantastic in bed (according to friends, red heads are exceedingly passionate...), and there are countries where redheads are the most sought after!
I'll put it this way, would you rather be boring like everyone else? I don't think so :D Red hair is fantastic :D

Oh, the other thing is, High School will end, you'll have your hair forever, and one of the other things is... redheads don't go grey, they go a different colour that I can't remember, but it's fantastic apparently :D So when all those people slagging you have gone grey, and/or bald, you'll still feel fantastic :D

Embrace the redheadedness!!
(Plus, it's a excuse for those times you have a huge bout of temper... cos God knows I do from time to time! :D )

hmmmm... seven things are down at the bottom of the page ;) Wanted to keep them seperate, cos I figured I'd already had a load of space! :D

1. I just finished reading Blood Sweat and Tea and it was fab, I have always fancied being a paramedic but as I have never even had one driving lesson yet and therefore can't drive I may need to wait a while.
2. I divide my time between my family's homes in Scotland and Los Angeles but spend the majority of my time in Scotland tolerating the crap weather as I have never gotten over my fear of flying.
3. I have three cats called Cake, Mittens and Doodle, I quite fancy having a parrot (so I could teach it lots of naughty words) but I don't know if my cats would be very happy with this idea.
4. When I was 14 I was on Live & Kicking on the TV, I only ever watched myself on it once as I thought I looked crap and my accent sounded stupid.
5. I like all food apart from prawns, I've never actually tasted one but they look scary.
6. I get bored easily and even though I'm only 20 have had about 10 or more jobs since I was 16.
7. This is my first ever comment.

1. I don't drink, smoke or take drugs - I never have and never will.
2. I had 2 and a half years after my A levels where I had a job and saw the world before I finally decided I could cope with university.
3. I can't drive, though I have been meaning to learn for a while now.
4. I'm engaged to a man I never thought possible I would meet - sounds sickening but I thought I would never meet the 'prince' I envisaged when I was about 8....turns out he exists!
5. I'm a childrens nurse, about to start a new job on the 7th, working with adults as well as children...even though my adult experience consists of 4 weeks on a private adult oncology ward in my first year of training.
6. I have size 11 feet and am 6ft tall.....so tall for a girl!
7. I have famouse parents.

Who are your parents? Sorry, but I am incredibly nosey!!

1. I have been in an ambulance once, but not as a patient. The paramedics were lovely!
2. I have recently moved to London from the countryside but am struggling to meet new people.
3. I always fall for highly inappropriate men and then get annoyed when they don’t call.
4. This is the first blog I ever read – it was introduced to me by a colleague around last Christmas I think.
5. I have an unhealthy addiction to shoes and can’t resist buying pairs that I really don’t need.
6. I love cheese.
7. This is the first time I have ever commented on a blog.

Re 2, I hope it's okay to post this: meetup.com or citysocialising.com are really good for meeting new people in London, I've used both on occasion (I've got no connection to either, so hope this doesn't set off any spam alarms!) so thought you might like them, as your presence here shows you have good taste!

1. By my first birthday, I had lived in Germany, England and Northern Ireland.
2. I get jealous of Police Officers, because I've always wanted to be one and I can't wait until I am.
3. I used to be an overachiever but then I discovered 'Blood, Sweat and Tea'.
4. I wish I had something interesting to blog about. I'll get a hobby and come back and tell you all about it!
5. I can't sleep unless the sheets on my bed are totally flat and tucked in tightly.
6. I have never been in an amulance (well, it seems trendy around here!)
7. I just can't enough of Wiiing!!

1) I was born in Sweden, moved to New York when I was 10 and when I turned 15 I decided to go to school in Austria for a year. I have lived in London (SE1) for 60 months.

2) I speak 5 languages, 3 of which fluently and sometimes I cant remember what I said in which language and to whom (scary that is)

3) I work in the highest office building in London

4) I find London coppers uniforms absolutely attractive

5) I'm 27 and I've been married twice (one child 2 years old)

6) I love London theatres more than anything else in this city

7) I read this blog every single day

Not spectacular but thats just me ... :-)

Lynn x

Heeeeeeeeeyyyyy, aren't you the troll, who was moaning about Tom being racist the other day?? :s I have a sneaking suspision you are, unless there is more than one 'guest blogger'!! LOL

'Guest blogger' is the name you get if you log in with Username:guest Password:guest

It's a kind of anonymous login thing.

Oh! See I'm crap with computers, so I didn't know that! Sorry!!

My 7 things:

1. I spent 4 months off-the-beaten-track in Asia and never once used a squat toilet
2. I have flown a plane....
3. ....and jumped out of one
4. I am really scared of the sea, but have managed to surf, snorkel, sail and scuba - and cried each time.
5. My favourite celebrity is Brian May
6. I accidentally swam in the sea at 3am fully clothed.
7. I was desperate for a 20p coin to make a phone call and asked George Best if he could help me out - completely oblivious to his identity.

That was fun!

1. I was born at at 27 weeks
2. I never read instruction manuals
3. I am writing a book which is basically a tweak of the last 20 years of a friend's life. He doesn't know this
4. I am lousy at keeping in touch with people
5. I dabble in hobbies but seldom get into anything seriously for any length of time
6. I'm hopeless with money
7. I hope to emigrate to France in the next few years

1. I was born at 24 weeks, now I am average height and probably a little too heavy for my age.
2. Have been in an ambulance once - when i was 2 months old
3. I am now terrified of ambulances , probably not linked, it's just me being stupid - there is no real reason for it and it is now affecting me going out though I am trying to overcome it and it seems to be better. I also don't like being around heavily pregnant women, (a result of me watching too many births on Coronation Street at a young age- they are always OTT) and living in fear of them having baby right there and then all screaming and shouting - that hasn't got better...
4. I am the youngest female here i think. There is a lad who is twelve.
5. I spend more time than I should on the internet mainly reading this and writing my own blog.
6. I want to be an Emergency Medical Dispatcher while most people I know want to be famous :)
7. I have no social life. My NYs Resolution is to get one :)

maybe this does the trick with the italic?

1)I spent 27.3%of last year in hospital
2)Im scared of rollercoasters
3)My middle name is matilda
4) i sleep with a blue rabbit called mister
5) My chinese order: egg fried rice and king prawn/chicken chow mein
6)I went in 17 ambulances last year and i was not drunk on one single occasion
7) Im listening to Nickleback-Rockstar

whats a neurophys....thingy? it sounds important

The italic writing is hurting my eyes!

Ok, here we go...

1) I am Ambidextrous
2) "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)" by The Eurythmics got to number 1 here in the UK on the day I was born
3) I've had nosebleeds since 1995 and although they have become less frequent over time, I've made it my new year resolution to have my nose cauterized!
4) I'm still troubled by a dream a friend had a few years back in which, I walked into a restaurant and shot everyone!
5) I want to be an actor, but if I didn't, I'd either be a Police Officer (being a fan of The Bill is the reason) or a medic of some kind (Casualty and "Tom" are to blame for that, plus the fact point number 3 means I don't fear blood)
6) Since the 23rd September 2006, I have been a voluntary Broadcast Assistant at a local radio station and I love it, yet I'm having trouble finding a payed job to do in the week!
7) Myself and my 2 brothers where all born on the same day, but in different years. Before anyone asks, no, my parents didn't have some kind of wall-planner thing going on or anything!

Was actually quite hard to whittle my random things down, as I've filled out so many of these things through emails and MySpace!

Anyway, hope you're keeping track of all these, Tom!

I used to have loads of nosebleeds and had my nose cauterised - it really works! Haven't had a major one in 10 years - and it's not as scary as I thought it would be, just like having a long cotton wool bud up your nose.

That's so unfair! I thought I was the only ambidextrous person on here :(
Yay!

1. Long ago, I walked into the Queen Mother. Literally.
2. I am terrified, to the point of frozen immobility, of wasps.
3. Coriander was put on this earth just for me. Thank you God, even if you don't exist.
4. I really, really hate most modern architecture, and I am an architect. What went wrong?
5. I love the film 'Performance' but can only watch it on my own, when everyone else is out or asleep, with the same guilty feelings I get when eating chocolate.
6. Although I'm a laydee, I don't like shoes.
7. When it snows, I have a strange compulsion to make a snow penis.

I have the same problem - #2 - of being terrified of wasps. Don't know why. Always have been. Once jumped out of a moving vehicle cuz one flew in. I was driving.

1. I have a job nobody knows about, and when I tell them about it I get blank faces looking back at me.
2. I race radio control cars - badly!
3. I've been 130 MPH in a car, sideways, with Tiff Needell driving.
4. I've been in an ambulance once, when an idiot without his car lights on at night ran me over as a kid.
5. I am useless with money, as my 3 maxed out credit cards will testify.
6. I'm secretly in love with a friends daughter (it's OK, she's 31 and I'm 30!).
7. I watch Neighbours...............

1. I lived in the same house for 24 years, then have moved 24 times since then.
2. I've been an office 'temp' on and off for 44 years, and likely to for a few more years.
3. I never flew until I was 52 and since then have flown 18 times in 10 years.
4. I once danced with Kenny Ball's brother.
5. I assisted at 2 of my grand-children's births. (Brilliant)
6. I've had more boyfriends than hot dinners but am happily married for the 2nd time.
7. I have a famous son who went round the London Underground in record time, and got in the Guiness book of records, and has been on T.V.

Are you Geoff's mum then?

Yes Sir, Got it in one! After the London bombings a crowd of us went and did the Underground thing for charity, to show we were not afraid. I did a day's work and then went and did 63 stations myself. Good fun but a bit tiring! Got home at 3 in the morning.

Just in case you're wondering, I don't know Geoff, just of him. Heard about him on Steve Wright radio show when he got his iPod by people donating 50p and that led me to his web site and he various adventures!

Having read ALL the entries (most fascinating!), it's my go ...

1 - I live in France and have a good life ... but apparently the desire to apply for the 3rd attempt to be a UK EMT is stronger ! (Every time I read Tom's blog I ask myself why AND get the answer in the same breath !!!)
2 - I love my dog unconditionally, as she does me (I think!). My 3yr old goddaughter however has the worst (unjustified, no dog attacks or bad experience) dog phobia I have EVER witnessed and I wish I could replace it for her with a cautious respect of man's best friend.
3 - I used to remain immobile with legs firmly crossed up the thick climbing rope at school longer than I now think was necessary for the PE exercise ... ;o))
4 - My favourite fish to watch when snorkelling is a 'Picasso'.
5 - I've just been to Megeve for NY and saw a small bronze statue that I thought about buying. I then found out it cost 15,000 stg.... (I came home empty handed!)
6 - 2008 is going to be a "YES" year where every invitation and every possibility to do something new is answered with a YES (even if you're really not that keen to do it, because you NEVER know what it could lead to!), which also includes informing unsuspecting remaining family and friends that their little 35yr old girl is never going to find 'the man of her dreams' (as they keep asking) 'cos she's just beginning to make the HUMUNGATIOUS step of admitting to herself that she's batting for the 'other side'.... !! :o) (I'm so lucky to be living in the 21st century but why is this subject still so difficult ?)
7 - My best mate is a same-peg-colour-freak (and irons her knickers too !!) I couldn't give a toss what colour peg I hang my clothes up with! And as for my knickers, well they auto-iron with my body heat ;o) (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Thanks Tom, this has probably been a good exercise for all concerned and not easy for some.
But, I reckon you owe us YOUR 7 now .....!!!
(And 7 that regular blog-readers don't already know about!!) XXX

I've modelled nude for a drawing, and it wasn't for someone I was going out with.

When I was a kid, I found a dead bird, so I took it apart to find out what it had eaten before it died. Then I couldn't work out what all the blobby stuff in its stomach was. It was my first major disappointment in science.

I have a cat called Moth. She's fourteen years old and I got her to be an antidepressant. So far, so good.

I really, really like the film The Lost Boys, but War Games was good too. So was Sixth Sense.

I once went and hit a man who was attempting to stab my then boyfriend with a carving knife. I got a cut finger and I'd do the same again today. I did not call an ambulance for my cut finger.

I have M.E., but it seems to go into remission if I take beta blockers. I have beta blockers for the chronic daily migraine (actually several migraines a day). Because having both of these is clearly not enough, I also have IBS. I ignore the IBS.

I watched the entire five series of The Professionals back to back over several weeks this winter.

1 - I read this entire blog between Christmas and New Year when I was stuck in the office 'manning the phones' that didn't ring once
2 - I think I'm now addicted!
3 - I went to school with Colin Firth's younger brother, who is also an actor but only ever seems to appear in costume dramas
4 - I hate costume dramas so I've only ever watched about 10 minutes of anything he's been in
5 - I smoked a joint once, I was so ill I've never taken 'recreational' drugs since
6 - I have a cat called Bacchus, because I think if you're going to be pretentious enough to name your pet after a god the least you can do is pick a decent one
7 - I was 40 last year, but I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up

1. I'm going to be 39 next week and I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
2. My mum left me in the back garden in my pram OVERNIGHT when I was six months old. Luckily this was the 60s and prams those days were the size of bijou garden flats.
3. Status Quo's tour manager once asked me to dress up as a schoolgirl for him - I was about 35 at the time. I declined.
4. I'm nearly 40, two stone overweight, smoke 20 cigs a day and drink way too much. And I run half-marathons.
5. I know for a fact that, bereavement apart, unrequited love is the most horrible feeling in the world.
6. I can't bear anyone touching my feet.
7. Reynolds what have you started?

(What's an "adult" nurse...the opposite of a child nurse??)

1. I'm a freelance translator / interpreter (www.translationsbykaren.com)
2. I'm going to shave my head bald for charity the first week of April (TESSA in Colorado Springs - center for Prevention of Domestic Violence)
3. I'm a survivor of domestic violence and abuse and happily remarried to a Yank from MN!
4. I spent 17 years in Burundi and witnessed a lot of horrid things (genocide from 1993 ...)
5. I can write back-to-front (mirror writing) very fast and used to write my diary like that as a teenager so my step-dad couldn't read it! (or so I thought lol!)
6. I used to work for the US Emb in Africa before I left my ex for good, fleeing to the UK.
7. I have straight pubes and hate them!! WTF is WRONG with me?

Ok here goes!!!

1. I really love the smell of new catalogues and shiny leaflets. (go on smell them they're great)
2. I'm a 34year old woman and can't walk in high heels. I prefer comfort.
3. I loooooove hairy men. (backs too)
4. I have been married longer than my mum ever has. (she is on hubby no.3)
5. I don't own a pair of scales, therefore I don't ever weigh myself. I know I'm slightly overweight and curvy. I do have trouble with a couple of skinny friends who always go on about their weight!! Soooo annoying.
6. I really hate the thought of dying
7. I have really bad dreams that my teeth fall out, to the point that I wake up rolling my tounge over them to check they are there.

I could go on for ages!!! I have also enjoyed reading ALL of the others.

Love the blog xx

Happy new year all!

I APOLOGIZE IF IT IS ME WHO HAS CAUSED THE ITALICS AS I WAS THE LAST PERSON WITH NORMAL TEXT. MY COMMENT ENDS IN ITALICS THEN ITS GONE KNEES UP AFTER THAT. I WOULD FIX IT IF I KNEW HOW TO EDIT COMMENTS BUT I DON'T.

:/

1. I am petrified of needles, wasps, sewing kits or anything pointy. Although i do go into hospital every 8 weeks for infusions for my crohns disease. The staff there are fantastic and are used to me freaking out. I "break" in the new SHOs on the ward for them. Heh.
2. I have perfect pitch
3. I can read upside down nearly as quickly as I can read normal type. This has sometimes comes in very useful!
4. I'm a Lawyer but wish I could have a more worthwhile job.
5. I need to get a hobby and DO SOMETHING...
6. I always wonder "what if" Why is this? I'm happy with my life. Why aren't I happy with my lot?
7. I'm a rubbish cook. I burn water.

I always wondered, when I would leave two years of lurking. Well, seems the time has come...

1. I live in Hamburg, Germany
2. During 11th grade I spent a year as an exchange student in a small town in Texas (Not as bad as one might think). During university, I went back to live/work in Berkeley for half a year.
3. I'm very proud of my girlfriend, who is almost done with training to be a teacher. But then again, both my parents and one grandparent are/were teachers, so you might say I had it coming...
4. I have a hobby, that takes almost as much time as my regular work: I help run an non-profit student exchange organization (YFU) in Germany, preparing exchange students before they leave, and supporting/counselling the ones staying here.
5. I love cooking and eating. You can see that a bit.. :(
6. I try to do something about it: I do Judo and go to a gym. Doesn't seem to help yet..
7. I'm definitely a cat person. I like their intelligence and the ability to go to the toilet on their own. ;)

Got to disagree with you re cats being intelligent. They aren't, but they are bloody well organised. We've got five at the moment two of which have trained us to open the front door for them when they want to go out. There's a perfectly good cat flap in the back door but no, they want to go out the front. They'll use the cat flap to come in mind, especially when it's raining.

I agree with you totally on the toilet thing.

I also have five cats and three of ours still sit by the back door WITH the cat flap in wanting to be let out. The only reason the other two don't is that they are usually being chased by the others so want a quick exit.
I can only assume they prefer an open door to the flap -like I tell my Dad when he grumbles about it, the fact that he'd fit through the small window doesn't mean he wouldnt prefer the door...
(They do use the flap to come in, though, although one will still sit on the step for a while first just in case).

1. I've always been a sucker for a soft voice, good conversation and beautiful eyes - a woman can have ANY other attributes, but those are ALWAYS the ones I notice first...

2. As a child of the Biggles era, I always wanted to fly a WWl biplane - this is sadly never going to happen...

3. as a long-time busman I generally despise petrolheads but can't resist Top Gear...I suppose I forgive it because it's so often gently self-mocking.

4. I drink too much, sleep too little and have been denied sex by the missus for nearly 15 years (wonder if these are connected?).

5. I read loads, occasionally write excruciatingly bad poetry and collect stamps - Either this makes me a real geek, or it could be there's bugger all else to do in my house...

6. Despite 4 above, I have five kids aged between 18 and 37 - all of whom I love unreservedly warts and all.

7. If the missus was on fire I'd chuck the stamp collection out of the window (for the kids), leave the cats and dogs to save themselves, roll over and go back to sleep...

Now chew the bones out of that lot and decide what's real, what's not and what's of relevance!

1. I'm in the order of malta ambulance corps(same as St john's ambulance)

2. i collect dancing toy hamsters

3.I have a dog called squirell

4. pink is my favourite colour

5. i'm half way through a psychology degree

6. I'm a duty officer for my unit(how i got talked into it god knows)

7.I have blood, sweat and tea in front of me half read(great book by the way)

1. I've lived the second half of my life in Australia, the first fifth in Ireland and the middle third in England.
2. The most useful thing I learned at school was how to touch type but maths was always a weak point.
3. I've never been in an ambulance but have insurance (no free rides here) just in case. The nearest ambos are twenty four miles away so I hope I don't need them for a cardiac arrest.
4. I'm in a minority group as only 3% of the (aus) population donate blood.
5. I was born with my left little finger quarter of an inch shorter than the right (same as my father and brother).
6. I still miss my border collie dog - she died two and a half years ago.
7. My close encounter with fame happened last January when I found myself in the queue to go through security at Birmingham airport behind Jeremy Clarkson and his family. Even he had to take his shoes off.

1. This is the first blog I ever read, now I read far too many but almost never comment.
2. I'm an albino so my hair really makes me stand out. I've never been tempted to change it.
3. I'm too blind to drive but I've been behind the wheel once. I drove my brother's landrover very slowly into a tree. "What tree?"!
4. I knit to beat boredom on the bus which is a bit odd for a 20-something.
5. I love baking for other people, especially chocolate cake.
6. Eating gingerbread men makes me feel guilty. I always eat the head first to make sure they're dead.
7. I'm working on my PhD, but for the past year I've been wondering why.

Guest blogger, what about jelly babies; how do you eat them?

1, I've climbed the highest mountain in South East Asia.
2, I think bats are the most amazing mammals
3, I can dowse for water
4, I appeared in a TV commercial for the Health and Safety Executive
5 I have two hobbies/interests that I will never blog about.
6 I was born with Hazel coloured eyes.
7 I am dyslexic

Whole! It's just gingerbread men. I vaguely remember a freindly gingerbread man in a cartoon on tv when I was little and seem to have been traumatised by it. Doesn't stop me making (or eating) them though.

meg

1. I'm a third year PhD student studying a protein from the RSV virus (I'm a bit fed up with it now to be honest - I want a real job!)
2. I'm very proud of my boyfriend, who is an F1 doctor on a medical ward and is very overworked. I get very angry when people don't appreciate how hard NHS staff work to help them.
3. It took me 4 goes to pass my driving test, then my car wouldn't start when I tried to leave the test centre car park and the RAC had to tow it away
4. My dad was called to court as an expert witness the morning my mum went into labour with me, and he had to ask the judge for special permission to take the stand first so he could get to the hospital in time. He took our only car (having just passed his test, like someone above), so mum ended up having to call a maternataxi...
5. I wouldn't be here were it not for my grandpa's rugby ability - he played for his regimental team during the war and as a result was kept behind in India while the rest of his unit were sent to Burma and got nobbled by the Japanese
6. I have sung in a concert with the BBC Philharmonic that was broadcast on Radio 3
7. I had a 'thing' with a married man when I was a teenager and I still feel horribly guilty about it

Don't feel too guilty - his marriage, his responsibility. Plus, it's not an uncommon thing to happen.

I like writing capital Qs
I am utterly hopeless at maths
I love the smell of the sea and of coal fires
I like putting on make up but can't be bothered with dressing up
I hate drunkeness and the binge drinking culture
I hate targets, mission statements etc
My favourite no is 10

1. I'm a swineherd.
2. I was blown off my feet by the IRA in 1993 - 18 other people weren't so lucky.
3. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life.
4. I stood at a urinal next to Elvis Costello.
5. I had a midnight picnic in a London park with a very well-known British actress.
6. I've incised and drained my own dental abcesses, twice.
7. I had my thigh groped by Edwina Currie.

1. I have a black belt in Taekwondo but haven't been for years.
2. I'm studying for a degree with the Open University (2 years down, 4 to go).
3. I do admin work for a medical school
4. I moved to Cornwall 3 years ago and love it here.
5. I've always wanted to go storm chasing in america
6. I'm addicted to salt - was once dared to dip a banana in salt and loved it!
7. I took on a beautiful rescue greyhound this year, who licks his lips whenever he sees a cat

1. I recently passed up an opportunity to meet Tom because I had to work on my dissertation. I still haven't finished my dissertation.
2. I spent my childhood travelling the world and my gap year living in England working a low-wage job. It's more fun that way round.
3. I read a lot, and have 1026 books at the last count (yeah, they're all catalogued - what about it?). One of them is, of course, Blood, Sweat and Tea
4. I found this blog when searching for St John Ambulance hate sites. I'm a member and I love it, but I was having a bad day.
5. I overcame my strong dislike of needles to give blood once, but I fainted so dramatically afterwards and was so sick when I came round that they told me never to do it again. I'm quite disappointed.
6. I'm on the organ donor register though. I can't faint once I'm dead.
7. I find it hard to sleep at night and even harder to wake up in the morning.

Tom, it's your turn!!

1. I have only called an ambulance once. The midwife told me to when my girlfriend was giving birth to our son at home and he had become distressed. They were not needed in the end so I made them a cup of tea.
2. I lived in France for 3 years and went to an American school - the best school I ever went to
3. I'd love to start blogging but quite honestly, I just can't be bothered. Who wants to read about the life of someone who sits at a desk all day and technical blogs are DULL DULL DULL
4. Where I work, everyone thinks our little team is strange as we don't turn the lights on in our office, so when it gets dark outside, we sit in the dark
5. Knowing what I know now, I'd love to be given another chance to do it all again
6. I listen to audio books in my car on the way to work and consider that "reading"
7. I've been to the flat that Lional Bart used to live in in Acton above the Threshers off license

Joeiy - I fainted when i gave blood due to not eating all day (Duh!) I waited til I was at the bus stop on the way home though - not clever! At least I didn't take the car!! I'm now trying to be brave enough to go again, as it wasn't a pleasant experience!

If you eat, don't drink before or after and don't smoke for a while after, you should be fine. Do take advantage of the free tea and bikkit if you can, since it helps and you will probably want to sit down for a while anyway.

I can't give blood any more (they won't take blood from people with M.E.) but if I could, I would like a shot, because if you're not daft about eating or smoking, it's fine.

I think a lot of people faint (though I agree that it's more sensible to do it in the tea and biscuit area than at the bus stop - I was lucky to be only a mile away from home, and also that Mum came and picked me up). Personally I think my faint was due to being a bit dehydrated (it was the middle of summer) and maybe a little underfed (I'd forgotten it was that day so I went down in a bit of a rush). I might see if they'll buy that argument in a few years. Annoyingly, I didn't speak to the medical person who phoned, she just told my Mum what kind of reaction it was (and now I can't remember) and that I shouldn't give blood again. So much for confidentiality, but there it is.

Nothing too exciting, unlike others I've just read!

1. I am a vet student in Edinburgh
2. I have a degree in biology
3. My first pet, a fish called Ant, died when I lifted it out of the water to give it a hug because it didn't look well
4. I can say thank you in 14 languages
5. My hobbies include climbing, running, target rifle shooting and self defence
6. I can't stand spiders
7. I managed to break both ankles jumping off a 3 story bunkbed in the hills and had to walk 10 miles out the next day

Wooo 1st comment nd i manage 2 mess it up!! For the 2nd time here it is...

About me:
1) I've wanted to become a paramedic for many years and have got interviews for (at least) Liverpool John Moores and Coventry for Sept 08!
2) Im a member of St John Ambulance...
3) The only time ive been in an ambulance as a paitent was a RTC training scenario where i was in a KED on a long board!... Not comfy!
4) Was born in Cornwall but moved away when i was very young
5) I enjoy playing various sports especially rugby!
6) I said "I've never broken a bone in my body" a few years ago.... next day i fractured my collar bone playing rugby
7) I've got my driving test next week :-S

There we go :-D Hopefully that one posts correctly

Here goes.

1) I am half Dutch, and speak the language fluently
2) I have ridden an elephant. Not just on the basket/saddle thing, but I have properly sat on its neck. It was very hairy.
3) I make a mean Mojito
4) When I broke my ankle as a kid, I didn't tell anyone and hobbled around in agony for 2 and a half days.
5) I have a scar which crosses my whole tongue from where I nearly bit it off by falling off a climbing frame with my tongue sticking out.
6) In a similar vein to number 2), I have been kissed by an elephant. Well, it put its trunk on my cheek and left me with an endearing suction mark and a very chuffed grin for the rest of the day.
7) I have a tongue piercing

That was fun!

I read every comment - fascinating! Here's mine:

1. I've called an ambulance twice and ridden in one once, but luckily not as a passenger.

2. My dad was a paramedic. I miss him a lot and reading this blog reminds me of him.

3. I was born in Canada but I live in Scotland now. I still sound Canadian though and keep getting mistaken for a tourist - it's fun!

4. I have an extra bone in my tailbone.

5. I love elephants

6. I've only ever broken toes, but I've broken the same one three times: once by dropping a bowling ball on it, once by slamming in a drawer, and once by tripping over a pair of shoes while running away from a bee. (I'm not exactly graceful!)

7. I've been vegan for 5 years this month :)

err... #1 should read "...luckily not as a patient" oops!

ok here are mine:

1: Next Sunday, 13th Jan, it will be my 1 year anniversary of quitting smoking!

2: I have a house rabbit called Casserole (Cassie for short), who is litter trained, comes to me when I call her and who lays across my chest and watches movies with me.

3: Every man I have been involved with has been a pig, I am contemplating becomming a nun....

4: I lost my dad in August last year, and although on the outside I am "moving on", inside I am anything but, just dont tell anyone, ok!

5: I love online poker, am pretty good at it too as it goes

6: In 2 years I have gone from being extremely active, to being partly housebound, after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, M.E and Fibromyalgia

7: I used to check my emails before anything else online, now I check to see if Tom has posted anything new, bought the book and loved it, cant wait for the new one!

1. I've been lurking on this blog for over a year, but never left a comment before.
2. I smiled at Michael Howard once in an NHS waiting room (he looked nothing like the undead tabloid stereotype) but I still feel vaguely guilty.
3. I had pink hair when I was young; I don't now, but still think the natural look is really over-rated.
4. I'm trying to finish a PhD *sigh...*
5. I loved the killer golden angels in the Christmas Doctor Who special.
6. I used to fix computers in a previous career.
7. I got woken up by a crow outside my window this morning. It's a horrible noise.

Hi I'm a paramedic degree student and, after some one lent me blood sweat and tears, have become almost as adicted to this blog as I am to face book, lol,
7 things about me.
1)I Keep Rats, 3 beautiful girls called Dora, Peaches and Treakle.
2)I've had to move back home to my parents after 2 years of living on my own for unforseable reasons and its drving me MAD
3)I Did my diploma in performing arts then decided I wanted to be a paramedic (only a slight difference)
4)I've Fractured both arms/wrists/hands at least 5 times each (am typing with a broken hand right now)
5)I'm waiting to find out if I'm dysexic or not after doing some tests, maybe the uni will give me more money?.....
6)I have the most wonderful boy friend in the world with a great love story behind us (for details please ask)
7)I try to be musical, I can play the piano an guitar to a fashon but I love to sing.

1. I was often to be found down Swildon's Hole in the Mendips, but now I can't find anyone to go caving with :-(
2 I was born in a flat above Lloyds bank, in a small Devon town
3 At my wedding, to a Northern lass who had spent all her formative years in the US, it transpired that her great uncle was also from selfsame small Devon town, and could remember seeing me being wheeled around in my pram. Further research indicates that both our families have strong roots in that area. Praying we aren't distant cousins.
4 I have a large collection of original comic art, though I don't read comics.
5 I went on a taxi run in a Lancaster bomber, and would recommend it to anyone.
6 I hired a Dinner Jacket for a pre-finals party. Six months later, hired another DJ for the graduation Ball. My long lost driver's licence was in the inside pocket.
7 I hugely regret my limited musical abilities. You'd think I could carry a tune after 20 years of regular guitar playing, but no...

I'm asking (about #6)!

I have a thing for men with Irish accents
I can't dive, I belly flop oh so elegantly
I can bite my toenails
I once met 'Zac Dingle' in Waterstones, he was lovely
I hate cola
I once fell downstairs and got wedged between the bottom step and a chest freezer, I had to freed by the ambulance crew
I want to have red hair

I am using the guest log in thing cz this is my first coment, and id make an account bt my email is playing up- terrible excuse i know, when ive got a minite (after reading this blog :P ) i shall get a new email then i'll create an acount :D

1. i got a really good book for christmas (i never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth) it was written by a certain tom reynolds...:P its really good!
2. i want to be a paramedic (which is why i was given said book!) or possibly an A&E nurse- I'd also like to know why tom (or you if its tom reading this) stopped being a nurse and became a paramedic - it may help me decide!
3. Im left handed
4. Im only 5ft 2 -all my relatives (older and younger*) are taller than me- i just never seemed to get around to growing taller- maybe it could be my new years resolution :P
5. Im thinking of volenterring (i also cannot spell) for st Johns, people seem to like it- can someone tell me what it involves exactly? it sounds fun.
6. I like to know a little bit about a lot of things, that way you have something to talk about with a lot of people- and i like to talk!. the look on peoples faces when you know about soemthing they'd never expect you to know about! -example- the other day i was able to go over and join an argument that a group of rather intellegent (possibly slightly geeky :P)group of guys were having about linux v windows- i'd love to have a picture of their faces when they realised i maybe do have an inner computer geek ! lol. its fun!
7. the last famous person i saw was the boy who plays Neville in Harry Potter!- why didnt i go over and get his autograph?! Oh yeh and i ask wayy to many questions! dont i? :P

these are so interesting- like someone said before wayy more interesting than celeb gossip- ive read them all.

Rose
x
(see i may be guest blogger- but im not annonymous!)

*well i have a step cousin whos 6- he's up to my shoulder!

If you are interested in volunteering for St John Ambulance have a look on our website http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/ This will give you most that you need to know and some contacts to find out more!! I really recommended it...its great fun and i love every minuet of it!!...deff worth while looking at joining if you are looking at going into emergency medicine /care. Hope this is helpful...just shout up if you want to know more.

You can do anything at all in SJ. I started out as a bog standard first aider four years ago, then got co-opted into helping with the Badger Sett (5-10 year olds) and now I'm a cadet leader (i.e. responsible for 10-18 year olds - gulp!)

In terms of the medical side of things, as I understand it you can be trained all the way up to ambulance tech level with St John. Don't quote me on that though - like I said, I'm a bog standard first aider, I know my place! I try to limit myself to sticking on plasters, sorting out drunk people and calling ambulances for anything scary!

In terms of the youth side of things, if you join a cadet group you'll most likely be doing the Grand Prior Award, which involves (*gets out handbook*) 24 proficiencies (8 for Bronze, 8 for Silver, 4 for Gold and 4 for Grand Prior). They come from areas as diverse as communications, service, community, lifestyle, skills, creative, our organisation, and personal development. If you're over 16 you can go straight into an adult unit. But IMHO cadet units are often better run (not biased at all, no, not me).

You'll meet some really fantastic people in St John. (You might meet one or two who are less than fantastic too; I couldn't possibly comment!)

Er, sorry Tom. I shouldn't really be evangelising SJ on your blog of all places!!

In terms of the medical side of things, as I understand it you can be trained all the way up to ambulance tech level with St John.

*cough*

[Citation needed]

Sorry, I can't find one. That's just my understanding of things - but as I've never been interested in that level (I prefer to leave that sort of thing to the professionals!) I don't really know for sure.

Plus, the courses are few and far between, at least where I live, and also quite tough to get onto.

Um, I'm still relatively new to St John so someone (Nick?) correct me if I'm wrong.

You can train up to SJA's standards - what used to be known as Ambulance Aid 1 and 2, but are now Patient Transport Attendant and Emergency Transport Attendant. ETA is I think the highest SJA offer (scuse the 3 letter acronyms!) but it's not a patch on being an EMT - and I think any self-respecting ETA would tell you the same.

Having said that our ETA crew gets asked to do 999 work and were out working for the local ambulance service over xmas and new year!

Even as a first aider in st john you can do training in using a defib and medical gases, it's well worth it if not for the stuff you learn then for the experience of working with the public. And you do meet some interesting (and odd) people.

Why I left nursing is because I needed to see the sky once in a while - all A&E departments are windowless boxes and working in one ear in, year out, probably started me off on my Seasonal Affective Disorder.

to be honest, thats (at least partially) whats putting me off nursing, i guess I've got more deciding to do! Do you prefer being in the ambulance service? anyway thanks :)

And about the St Johns, i think you've convinced me :D i was talking to a friend of mine about it, and she said she's been meaning to join for a while- since she saw them at a cheese rolling competition on tv! and that she hopes she can keep the rather snazzy yellow and green jacket!

so there'll be two new volentiers asap!

and Tom, i assume you meant year in- not ear in :P

thanks everyone :)its much apreiciated

Rose
xxx

1. I have never had a serious relationship (longer than 3 months - I have always ended it) - im 29.
2. I have Ginger hair.
3. After 13 years I finally feel that Im over the bullying I went through at school.
4. I tried to counter low self esteem and low confidence with drugs for 10 years - I know realise it was keeping me from 'finding myself'.
5. My fathers death made me realise I was wasting my life and motivated me - I am now on a Paramedic Science degree!
6. (Someone else said this earlier as well) I have never hit anyone, even while being attacked/bullied, as I didnt want to hurt them.
7. I was an atheist, then I discovered Buddhism - and it was like someone had heard all the questions I had inside my head and had written out the answers. I may not believe in reincarnation, but I have found a path that gives me peace.

Keep up the good work Tom, I find inspiration from your blog - even when faced by the realities of Government targets and dealing with the public!

1. I might have Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
2. The only blogs I read are this one and neenaw
3. This weekend boyfriend and I will be adopting 2 kittens, providing the rescue place has 2 we like (to be fair, they're kittens, what's not to like?)
4. I have given blood a few times, usually I am too anaemic, once the nurse broke one of those little little glass tubey things (technical!) off in my arm (i have a question about that - would they still have been able to use the blood? they had the first 2 test tube things but not the 3rd)
5. I have sung at the Royal Albert hall
6. I am a qualified ECP assessor. The company I trained with were so rubbish that they forgot to charge me for the course - I am not going to tell them.
7. I am having trouble thinking of a 7th thing

1. I once had a five bedroom house on the coast and three cars in the drive. Now I live in a pokey flea ridden flat with no carpet.
2. I have not owned a car for nearly 10 years.
3. I one had my own company.
4. I have multile disabilities which all came on one by one over the last four years.
5. I miss foreign travel.
6. I had heart surgery last year.
7. I have a serious heart condiion and have about 5 years left. The thought of never seeing my nieces grow up and my great nieces become teenagers is the hardest part.

1. 6 years ago I managed to complete a 10k run. Yesterday, after a prolonged abstinence from exercise, I just managed 1k.

2. I was always crap at music, but that never stopped me trying.

3. My wife is also my best friend.

4. I miss the sea, I miss the walking in the hills.

5. On holiday in Spain, I once jumped off a wall and poked myself in the eye with a cactus. Not recommended.

6. I'm currently addicted to watching House MD.

7. I am downloading "Pump It Up" by Ministry of Sound from iTunes to energize me at the gym tomorrow.

Blimey, I've come late to this party. Here goes:

1. My car's numberplate has 180-degree rotational symmetry, or as near as you can get with a combination of letters and numbers. (This wasn't planned: I got the car second hand)
2. The last thing I ate was a Belgian chocolate filled with Kirsch.
3. I have two not-quite claims to fame: my mum is friends with Orlando Bloom's dad (but hasn't managed to get me a date yet *sigh*), and my dad knew Harold Shipman, as they both worked as GPs in the same area.
4. I get vertigo when trying to walk on floors you can see through. This causes endless amusement on the stairs at the Apple Store in London. Seaside piers are also bad.
5. I like wearing corsets. My idea of heaven would be a large burlesque/goth dressing-up box.
6. Near where I live you can find parrots in the trees and dinosaurs in the park. No, I am not on drugs.
7. I need more sleep, but never seem to get it.

After a lot of thought I finally remembered my password.
My seven things:

1. I saw Monty Python live in a small church hall in the early 1970's and I got their autographs. My younger brother tore it up one day following one of our frequent arguments.
2. I have three cats and a dog who believes she is a cat. Thank the gods we don't have a cat flap.
3. I drink real ale but I also love Amaretto.
4. I love hairy women - I made the mistake of telling some work colleagues who think that is perverted.
5. For you Tom - I work as a community mental health nurse in a crisis team. :-)
6. I was born and bred in London to Irish parents but I moved north 11 years ago.
7. I got extremely drunk with John Hurt one evening in Hampstead many years ago.

1. When I was 5 I stayed in a protest camp outside Torness nuclear power station with my parents.
2. My most boring job was pollinating potatoes for a summer at a crop research institute. Potato sex isn't very exciting.
3. My great great grandfather was Page of the Back Stairs to Queen Victoria.
4. I am the only person in the world with my name (according to all the google searches etc. I've tried).
5. I haven't had a day's sick leave since 1999, despite having had 2 slipped discs since then.
6. In 12 months I went to India 4 times, once for just 2.5 days.
7. I've never broken a bone, I play the viola, I'm 6'1" and I have difficulty sticking to limits in lists.

My seven things:

1. I learned to walk at a very young age, but I broke my leg just before my first birthday and had to learn again once I left hospital.
2. During my divorce I found out what it is to be truly depressed. I never want to feel that way again.
3. As a result, I fall in love but convince myself that any relationship is doomed to fail so I never have to act upon my feelings.
4. I have a skin condition which weakens my finger and toe nails. Whenever I cut them it hurts like you wouldn't believe.
5. My niece is the most precious thing in the world to me.
6. I once played drums in front of 50,000 people.
7. I think female nurses in scrubs look absolutely gorgeous.

Seven random facts about me:
1) I have broken most of my fingers, my foot, my arm, my knee, my nose, (I had help with that one) a tooth and 2 toes. This is because I am a clumsy eejit.
2) I lost my virginity aged 14.
3) My first car was a Nissan Micra. My parents bought it for my 21st birthday and I didn't find out till later that they bought it because it was the only way they could get my grandma to sell it. By this point she was a complete menace on the roads. she'd set off somewhere, forget where she was going, how to get back and the general rules of the road then someone would have to go and rescue her.
4) I once knocked my dad's front wall into his front garden using the wing of his car. When asked about it I said that a dog had run across my path and I'd swerved to avoid it. This was a complete lie, I was showing off and took the corner far too fast.
5) I once had a three day hangover and have never drunk cider since.
6) I didn't believe in ghosts and the supernatural until I moved into a house in Carr House Lane in Lancaster. Although I have all the sensitivity of a Chieftain Tank even I knew that all was not right in that place and I once had to go to a friend's house because I was there on my own and I was too scared to stay.
7) I still think about my first love almost every day and although I don't want to still be with him I do wish that I'd done some things differently because maybe then we'd still be friends.

1. I have had malaria. It sucks.
2. I have had sex on the bonnet of a car.
3. I wish I still wanted to have sex on the bonnet of a car!
4. I was born on Tom Lehrer's birthday.
5. I have an ingrowing toenail at the moment and I haven't had it sorted properly because a. I can't afford it and b. fiddling is fun!
6. I met my husband on the internet talking about toasted sandwiches.
7. Paul Daniels once nearly ran me over.

1)I am really bad procastinator. I have a 3000 word essay due on Monday, and have only done a few hours work on it. I got the essay question in October.
2)I love pizza. My friends think this is odd because I work at pizza hut and have at least one slice of pizza every shift.
3)As a result, my waistline is expanding:(
4)My favourite meal from the su is wedges, beans and cheese.yummy!
5)My boyfriend has 26 pets.
6)I've never been in an ambulance, but I've been to hospital quite a few times. The last trip was years ago when I was about 8 and got a fish bone stuck in my throat. The taxi driver who took me home gave me 50p for being such a brave girl. :D
7)I hate the dentist. I didn't go for 6 years, then was told I needed 6 fillings and a root treatment. I had all the treatment, but now am too sacred to go back in case they want to do anything else to me!!

*in relation to no1, I wrote this on Sunday night, and I've only got round to posting it 2days laterr:P although I have written 300 words for that essay!:D

1) I love my job. I write software for fire alarms. Woe betide any of you in public buildings!
2) I love my hobby. I am a kayaking intructor. I try my best to not look at the ladies in their swimwear when I am teaching them. Honest.
3) I have ridden in an ambulance twice. The first was when I was 5 years old with meningitis. The ambulance man asked me whether I would like to hear the siren. The second was after I ran my car off the road.
4) When I was around 20 there was the most perfect girl at work. I never plucked up the courage to ask her out. If I could live my life over again then that is the only thing that I'd change. Well, other than not crashing my car in 3 above.
5) Someone earlier said "I want to have red hair". I want to have hair.
6) I have ridden in a fire engine. And squirted a fire hose.
7) The most dangerous thing that the canoe club has done was when we went paintballing. Two people tripped over and broke their ankles.

Jeff xx

ummmmmmmm
1 Rapid blue comes from the car I drive not driving with blue lights!
2 I am a first Aid trainer but nuffing to do with Ambulances or Paramedics
3 Im an IT Hardware guy doing Software....... (Dont Ask)
4 I used to be a Blacksmith, Lab technician and outdoor pursuits instructor.
5 Along with the Action Hobbies - Sailing, Powerboating, track day driving, I am also a member of a photography club and Play several musical instruments.
6 I dont look like someone who should be an archer and a Flute Player!
7 I have coached a National Champion

1) I play the banjo, tin whistle and spoons (funny that considering I'm Irish :D )

2) On a holiday in Portugal, at about 4 in the morning, I stripped off the dress I was wearing and went swimming in a white bra and white underwear (I SWEAR I hadn't been drinking... lol). The water was FREEZING, as it was Portugal, and in Cascais, and I think I more dunked myself in the water than swam... lol.

3) I'm 22 but sometimes I feel like with everything that I've experience, that I've done mostly everything I need to do in life. I can't see myself finding someone to love, as when it comes to emotions, I think I'm broken... My love life is literally hilarious. I don't think I know what it is to have the "spark", but yet, I'm still waiting for it. And now I'm afraid that I'm being stupid, and that it doesn't exist, though there was that one point when I did have a jolt in my tummy when I saw a guy... but that could have been cos I wasn't expecting to see him :(

4) I used to be a member of the Order Of Malta - til a Christmas party one year. Tried to go back, but the sight of the uniform nearly made me vomit. I nearly had a heart attack when I found out that my sister was joining St. John's Ambulance about 2 years later. She doesn't know, nor does she know the reason why I feel that way.

5) I love baking and cooking. I love it. It relaxes me, and the end result is always good.. Made 18 buns the other night, there was none left three hours later... Except one I kept for one of the lads :) Apparently, people liked them :D

6) I love the smell of clothes just out of the washing machine, and will put clothes around the radiator so that when I walk into my room, I get the gorgeous smell of the clothes..

7) I do ballroom and latin american dancing to try to learn to let a man lead - I'm hoping that eventually it will help with other stuff in life. The fact that the dancing is the most fun thing EVER, really helps :D And the people I've met, more than make up for the fact that I'm only slowly learning to let someone else be in control... Try doing the tango with your eyes closed, you can't see where you're going! :D

I found this site a couple of weeks ago and am completely addicted - Tom, you should be knighted.
This is my first time commenting on any blog (so perhaps my first point should read 'lost blog-comment virginity at 32'?).

1) When I was 8 I was whacked on the head by a golf club wielded by my best friend's little sister. I still have a MASSIVE lump but I didn't even have concussion (ergo no trip in an ambulance either), my mum slapped a cold wet flannel on my head, let me watch whatever I wanted on tv and fed me endless bags of frazzles.
2) I'm very outgoing and fun except when there's more than 4 people - even if they're my closest friends, I clam up.
3) Sometimes I feel so happy, I cry.
4) I lost my virginity when I was 23 and I'm still with the same man. I have never felt the need to play away.
5) I'd love to donate blood - but here in Spain they don't want British blood due to BSE. Flying to the UK would make an awfully large carbon footprint.
6) I'm an absolute stickler for grammar and spelling, I re-read my e-mails to check for errors so it takes me ages to write! I never text using abbreviations, either, and hate it when my friends do (but I don't tell them).
7) I love my body in all its flat-chested, slightly wobbly, ungainly glory :)

Re #6 it's taken me 40 minutes to write this!

I've read every entry and feel so lucky to have come across such interesting lives (even if some could possibly be lies - wow, what imaginations!!).

I'd like to make 2 comments.

Rykin: don't give up - you must feel 'duty and honour' towards people who love you very much. I hope I'm not wrong.

Dashclone: re: Ant the fish - that made me laugh like a drain :)

Happy New Year everyone. i'll bog off now :)

1. I got stuck in a traffic jam for 24 hours in Nepal
2. I’m scared of foam
3. I’ve done a PhD and now sad that I’m not doing ‘my’ science anymore (or maybe I just miss working at a University and hate being forced to do everything to a budget – real jobs suck!)
4. ‘Sausages’ is one of my favourite words
5. My quality of life improved immensely when I stopped eating milky things, but my god I still love cheese.
6. I worry that my biological clock is geared to kittens rather than babies.
7. Green Wing makes me laugh out loud and it feels good.

1. I've just got engaged to a man 21 years older than me and I'm so excited!
2. I once sailed past Paul Daniels, who was in The Lovely Debbie McGee at the time
3. I've only just discovered I'm ambitious (or possibly that there's any point in it?)
4. My life right now is better than I ever dreamed possible
5. I spent a year living on a yacht in the Med and never got over the seasickness
6. I don't know what I'd do without my monthly box of Chocolate Tasting Club chocolates as I feel guilty buying snacks and treats - despite being unable to finish a meal without something sweet, no matter how full I am
7. I still haven't got round to taking my Christmas decorations down.

1. I took my whole philosophy of life from a throwaway line in a (Tom Baker) Doctor Who episode
2. After 10 years renting flats the first thing I did after buying a house was get a rescue dog
3. We have a new puppy arriving in 5 weeks
4. I can't remember anything I learned for my BSc or MSc
5. I'm over 30 & still have no driving license (never needed to drive in london)
6. I've stopped buying B&J icecream as I started eating the whole pot in one go.
7. I joined a gym purely because they had pole-dancing lessons

1) I've had to give first aid to a family member
2) Tea can actually help me sleep
3) I've never broken a bone
4) I love the scottish accent
5) I've 3 brothers and 1 sisters
6) I've never been in an ambulance as a patient
7) I've not seen my natural hair colour since i was 16

Only 7 things? lol

1. I have been in the job too long as my respect for management has dipped below nil
2. I lived in west africa as a child
3. I love acting and singing on stage but have no desire to do it professionally.
4. I think that the Otter is the most beautiful animal in the world closely followed by the Snow Leopard.
5. I am an atheist with buddhist leanings and like the idea that Jesus could've been a buddhist
6. The only thing i am narrow-minded about are narrow-minded people
7. Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is the best live stage show i have ever seen

I shall now read up on your final 7, Tom
All the best

1) im scared of mugs.... and i dont really like tea spoons either
2) i have never been in an ambulance because when my dad died the paramedics said it would be better if we went in the police car :S
3) I am happiest now then i ever have been before, yet on the surface i have no lovelife... no career.... no money.... and im living in a rented student flat!
4) I used to be a semi famous glamour model
5) I cry at adverts and cant watch the news as it upsets me too much.... im soft!
6) i can touch my nose with my tongue
7) my car is called the snot rocket cos its green and i drive fast :)

1) Until recently I was an ambulance technician. Big patch, often with patients over an hour, often over 200 miles in a shift. Possibly the best job in the world, but they demanded 100% of my life and treated us like shit - an unfair social contract. I could no longer live without a life of my own. I quit. Big shame.
2) I was once bitten by a wild slow loris.
3) The first time I ever rode a bicycle in the dark I was 52 years old and carrying a backpack, a chair and a light sabre. I was a bit concerned my petticoat would catch in the back wheel but I did all right going from seven o'clock to the Temple until I hit a dune.
4)When I was 23 one of my brothers disappeared while on holiday in France. His body was found 33 days after he fell.
5) I once kept a vital piece of equipment on a North Sea oil platform running by stealing a door mat and cutting it up to make a gasket for a motor. They never did figure out what happened to the mat ... they did ask.
6) Some friends and I were once invited to afternoon tea at his place by a king. My friends went, it was amazing fun. I missed it because of work.
7) I paint my toe nails. Alternate pink and emerald usually. I think it's fun. Only in winter, ahem ... round my way guys don't do anything interesting if they want to stay out of ambulances.

Seven things, wow, it's more than you think. Here goes:



1. I have never broken a single bone in my body.



2 I have accidentally swallowed 2 ballbearings in the last 6 months



3 Laziness saved my life



4 I can't burp - I have never been able to not even as a baby



5 The most important thing I look for in a partner is that they enjoy me as much as I enjoy being me.



6 I aspire to 'settling down' and when I do I would like a big family



7 I believe in ghosts and spirits - there most definitely is more to this world than what we can see with the naked eye - but I don't believe there is a God as such

1) I have worked for the NHS for 7 years
2) I have lost count of the number of times I have been sworn at in that time (by Doctors as well as patients)
3) I have been physically attacked 4 times during those seven years
4) I currently work a 40 hour week for £6.22 an hour
5) I have witnessed 2 patients die
6) I feel very undervalued in my job, but love helping people
7) I work as a Receptionist in a GP surgery

Hi all,

Will give this a go but i'm struggling to think of seven...

1. My left thumb is double jointed...but not my right one
2. Would like kids at some point but for now i'd be happy enough convincing my fiance that we should get a black labrador (who I would call Dougal)
3. I have been a member of Weight Watchers for 4 years - in which time I have lost 3 stone and gained about 2.5 stone! Oh for enough money for a tummy tuck!!
4. I can play the violin, piano, recorder and guitar....but have always wanted to learn how to play a saxaphone
5. The first single I bought (vinyl) was "The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz and the Plastic Population (my sisters was Kylie Minogue's "The Locomotion"!)
6. I have a degree in Psychology and always aspired to be a clinical psychologist....but unfortunately I didn't study as hard as I could've done at Uni so that fell by the wayside. I do still act as an agony aunt to most of my friends though.
7. I am addicted to the Australian soap Neighbours

Had a complete brain freeze doing that....

Kyyria :0)