Fire doors open
(From layman to fireman in four steps: Glasgow, Scotland)
Last weekend was ‘Doors Open Day’ here in Glasgow, and having never managed to attend any events on any other year, I made up for it this time. This events weekend occurs every September around this time and offers me, ‘the public’ the chance to see behind the scenes of many organisations, attractions and companies across the city. I ended up seeing a total of six; three on each day which left little time for meals and work. I have found that since embarking on what can now be termed the ‘Bathroom fiasco’, I have kept my weekends as free of work as possible to make up for the increased stress and workload from Monday to Friday.
With the accompaniment of various friends, I visited the Theatre Royal, Fairfield Shipyard offices and Tennents Brewery on the Saturday and then the Glasgow Film Theatre, Garnethill Synagogue and Cowcaddens Fire Station on Sunday. No prizes for guessing which venue I was at for these photographs. I was amazed at how heavy all this gear is – obviously this suit was rather large on my little frame, but had it fitted well, it would still have been amazingly heavy. In the rain or with water from the fire hoses, I imagine it is very difficult to maneuvre at all. We had the time to have a sit in the fire engine (like excited children on a school trip) and tried on their breathing apparatus. We had a lot of fun there, but I was mindful that although it was diverting to chat to the firemen, watch their daily routine and spray the fire hose over each other, that I also hope I will never be handed a breathing mask for real – it must be one of the most frightening experiences to be involved in a fire and have to be evacuated.
We missed out on sliding down the poles since we were too slow to take the initiative to run up the stairs without being noticed. One minute quicker and we could have managed. Apparently it is one of the last few stations with fireman’s poles that are still used. That’s my favourite fact – along with ‘this station is one of the busiest in the country’. Although this fact takes second place since I forgot to ask whether he meant Scotland or the UK in general. Pointless fact.
In other news, my new lawn has finally been sown and is being watered copiously by the current autumnal weather. Right now it is blowing a damp gale outside and I feel very much like retiring to my bed again. Oh, wait, now there is blue sky and sunshine. I imagine in about three and a half minutes we will be back to blowy tempest mode again.
– Today Rosie is going to an exhibition with her friend Maz, hosting a comic making workshop and trying to hold back the onset of a sore throat and cold with various potions and tablets in Glasgow, Scotland –
Lawn…as in not covered in boards? No way! Did you have to muder the old fella first?