The spaces between the spaces.

The spaces between the spaces is a paraphrase from a line in Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull and to be honest it’s a pretty corny line, but, it got me thinking. As we enter into 2022 I have had some time over the Christmas break and New Year to reflect and

Hollywood Wives (husbands,partners)

This blog post is a follow on from “The one you don’t forget” so you may wish to read that one first but it’s not necessary. Following that blog my wife and I were discussing the incidents I have attended over the years and how I sometimes come home and talk about them. As the

Chink

“There has to be a chink in all of us because that’s how the light can get in.” I am paraphrasing this from a character in “Unforgotten” the TV detective drama as it struck me when he said it. The detective was under some scrutiny, was a nasty piece of work but clearly had some

How does it feel?

Anxiety, depression , stress Three words I never really focussed on until they happened to me back in 2018. I’ve spoken a number of times on this blog about my own mental health and my own coping mechanisms and how we can all help each other but I have been thinking lately on how these

Do me a favour? Ask a man how he is?

It’s Movember the time of year where men nationwide grow facial hair in support of men’s mental health and to raise some money and awareness of men’s mental health, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s health in general. Why do they do this? Well the statistics are troublesome and these are only a few: In

Blue lights responders: are we like Pavlov’s dogs?

I write this blog after a Weekend on duty where it was a busy one for phone calls and a few incidents to attend. On Friday I received a new work phone and set it up so that it rang and text in the same way. On reflection I did this because after nearly 10

Time and Motion

02/09/1992, that was the day 28 years ago when I walked into Coventry fire station at the start of training school on day one of my fire service life. With a fair wind, some good fortune and staying healthy I will retire on 09/09/2022. That means on the day I release this blog post I

Strength and Trials

Strength is just the ability to care more deeply than anyone else around Tara Coleman “Treadstone” The above is a quote from “Treadstone” a tv programme based on the Jason Bourne movies. I have repeated it here because in June it struck a chord with me when I was watching the programme but the draft

Walking the line.

There’s a thin line between love and hate. The Persuaders There’s a fine line between genius and insanity. Oscar Levant Sometimes you’re the windshield, Sometimes you’re the bug. Mary Chapin Carpenter Why the words above? I’ve been reflecting lately on where I am with my own mental health at present. It’s been a hectic few

Broken hearts and broken minds

Broken Hearts and Broken Minds Broken Hearts and Broken Minds This is a difficult one to write this week. Once again I’m sitting here writing about mental health and the multitude of things that affect a persons mental health. Nationally this week suicide has become big in the news again and locally in my working