I posted this on Twitter

@reynolds - and what, pray tell, does a trebuchet have to do with your day job or this another cost cutting exercise by the management?

and then I thought I'd potter over here and see what was what. Not far off though. Keep a lid on it - all will be not quite as bad as you thunk it is. Or not.

@parkylondon

Clearly, the trebuchet will be attached to the rear of the FRU car, allowing a solo responder to rapidly move a patient to the nearest hospital.

If not, perhaps, accurately or safely.

The molotov cocktails are for warming the patients up a bit.

Tom,

I hope when you've calmed down you're going to let us now what was up - you've piqued my interest now!

I have two weeks off work to properly polish posts - there will be some... stuff posted her about things in due course.

Do we get nekid pictures?

Hope you feel calmer and better soon. I look forward to Monday.

I am not that cruel.

Actually... yes I am - but I'd have to charge you for them.

Im curiouse now! How much will you be charging.....! Heh only joking. Hope things improve for you, I know how friggin infuriating medical work can be. Enjoy ya time off :)

Come on, Tom. Take a couple of deep breaths before your fingertips go all tingly. (And if it doesn´t work, tell me who they were and I´ll go and punch them for you. Believe me, it helps)
But please, don´t shave your head . Remember your mother doesn´t like it.
Enjoy the break

Someone's nicked your car again?

Eyes closed, deep breaths, thinking of a special safe place - everyone's different but mine is a tropical beach and right now have buried whoever's got you so cross up to their neck and am kicking sand in their eyes

My special place is a bricked-lined cellar, lovely dark, damp and deep. The smell of water and moss in the air.

Before me is a plain wooden chair. Tied to the chair, the object of my ire.

Above me to the right is a fixed light, like the type seen in the old submarine movies. The dim glow coming from it is the only source of illumination.

Behind me is an old boiler. Laid out in front of it are my tools being kept warm by the flickering flame within. Mostly carpentry and medical tools, there are a few 'interesting' additions.

To my left a trickle of water runs down the wall, feeding the moss that grows there. To touch this wall invites the chill from it to numb the hand.

My happy place.

You realise when you get a load of people turning up at this comment because they've been googling for worryingly dodgy porn, you will have no one but yourself to blame.

Oh you do know how to cheer me up Batsgirl!

Hmmm..... Molotov Cocktails, Trebuchets? I sense some anger-management issues...

If the cocktails get boring, go for the shots :D

Tia Maria in 3/4 of the shot glass, pour Baileys in over the back of a spoon to top it off... Baby Guinness ;) And it tastes like chocolate too :D

Hope everything's ok pet :)

you know how to pace a story, how can we wait for the next episode, such suspense .

I can think of better ways to spend a weekend...

Chin up mate, see you on the other side.

Hee hee Batsgirl, you beat me to it! I was about to say 'isn't this normal behaviour for most healthcare professionals at the weekend, after a hard week?' I find the bite guard that my dentist made for me very helpful too...saves my teeth from cracking.

Funny, my week has been like that, too.

Apply chocolate, alcohol, or high explosives, this solves, or at least eliminates all problems.

Breath deep and stare at clouds Tom...this too shall pass.

Oh, and remember plan B isn't automatically twice as much gunpowder as plan A!

Listening to the play now, hope you are too, & it salves all sorts in your soul!

BBC Radio 4. Just finished. Excellent. Not as good as here, or the book, but very good. Well done.

Very good play , really evocative managed to get your tone/manner really well, crap ending and a bit over dramatistised though

I'm saving the play for later this afternoon. I'm going to listen to it with a nice cup of tea and a Twix. Oh yes, I know how to live.

Which bastard has upset you?

Get out. Take a walk. Talk to a friend and take a break till Monday. A play on Radio 4 is pretty cool. Why not write some short stories, not blogs, and get them published. I'd order them for my Mobile Library. Kick that 'black dog' and take it easy.

Ah yes. The magnificent trebuchet. My mediaeval weapon of choice.
Your 'special place' reminds me of watching DEXTER. Perhaps you could gain some tips from this most excellent series ;0)

They have a massive trebuchet at Warwick Castle, and they do demonstrations with it. *grins*

Molitov Cocktail.... something with Vodka and those tiny onions I suppose.
Are Trebuchets those crackers in the over priced gormet food aisle at the supermarket?

BTW, also enjoying the radio play.
Didn't know they still did that.

Umm Tom... does this have anything to do with NeeNaw (Mike) also having work issues? His comments are closed, so I couldn't ask there. But it looks like the London NHS is NOT treating its ambulance call takers and responders very well at the moment! Good luck to both of you, hope the situation improves, or London will loose some good people on its streets (and blogs)!

All the best!
Eug

Sickness policies like that can backfire. When employees figure out that it's better to stay off sick for 3 weeks with the sniffles, to make sure you are 'fully recovered' (my GP was quite happy to do this as the policy was stupid), as that is 1 period of absence, than to try and go back as soon as possible and have to be off again (which is 2 periods of absence). Strangely, the bosses figured if you were off for 3 weeks, you must be ill, but 2 cases of 1 day within a week means you're pulling the wool. Good luck to you!