Its a difficult time as a controller. You take over a sector that you can see is about to blow, you want to call for help but know that none is available and its down to you. You take a few deep breaths and wait for the onslaught to arrive. An automatic mode takes over, a result of good training and experience. You know you are on the limit of your abilities, but take pride in the fact that you are coping and helping. You unplug ,the adrenalin still pumping hard through your veins. Then just right at the point where you are at your proudest ,a little voice at the back of your head says "What if there was a Mayday in amongst that lot?". We are fortunate that very few of us get to answer that nagging voice. For the rest of us that thought is a real deflation, because the truth is we are just not sure.