Tom got your book for Xmas and finished it already - I couldn't put it down. I was looking forward to more so sad to hear you may not continue but understand why you need some time to "consider your future". I am not in the profesional ambulance service but am a Community First Responder and an ETA with St John. I would love to train as a paramedic but several things stop me; I am in my fifties so probably too old to change career this late in life/pension (lame excuse?); I would love the role but know very well that the day to day reality of it (shifts, government targets, petty politics) would **** me off; I get paid a lot of money to do my current job and as the chief earner in the house I don't have the financial freedom to take the pay cut! So in the meantime I do it for love not money - and what keeps me doing it are the people/patients I meet (and hopefully make a difference to in some way) and the wake up call it gives me on a regular basis. There's nothing like doing CPR for real or going into other people's houses/lives in a crisis to reset your perspective on life. So I wish you all the best for 2009 - whatever your decision is. And if you decide to do something else you could always join St John and do it for love rather than money! You'll escape the shifts but I can't make any promises about the politics.