MPN11.......that's the kind of thing I used to do. Aside from the obvious, at my station, most of us were water rescue technicians. I was well trained and well equipped......and I loved the variety.....even on a freezing cold winter night searching for someone who'd fallen into a river or canal......and we did have them. I remember being deployed to a Yorkshire mill town some years ago........prior to our specialist training......searching, sometimes chest deep in cold contaminated water, wearing fire kit......some of the lads went home and brought their own waders in.....a health and safety minefield. Anyway, we cracked on and got the job done......it was surreal.....some hours into the incident, I turned around, chest deep in all the filth, to see an ornate rowing boat, complete with a carved swan on the bow......provided by the parks and leisure division of the local council.....crewed by some rather self conscious firefighters.......like I said, surreal. I learned a lot about hazards under the surface that day!!!
My daughter is a junior doctor up there Nutloose......I think it's a nice town and my heart went out to all those who've had Christmas ruined. I hope your family were ok? A massive thumbs up to everyone from me.......but the government, nah sorry, they don't understand the concept of loyalty!
MD