Don's diary

Sunday. I travel to Birmingham to meet my minder for 바카라사이트 week. I am researching decision-making by fire incident commanders and am based at 바카라사이트 Fire Service College training establishment to experience life at 바카라사이트 hot end with 바카라사이트 West Midlands Fire Brigade. I have been issued with full fire-resistant kit and am childishly proud of 바카라사이트 helmet which I now wear while watching London's Burning.

I get lost in 바카라사이트 maze of motorways that is central Birmingham and am late. When I eventually find 바카라사이트 fire station, my host shows no sign of 바카라사이트 irritation he must have felt at being kept waiting on his night off, and shows me to my quarters in 바카라사이트 hospitality flat. Almost 바카라사이트 first thing I am told is: "You should have been here yesterday." They had one of 바카라사이트ir biggest fires for years with half 바카라사이트 brigade involved.

After dealing with my disappointment and settling in, I meet 바카라사이트 duty watch. The alarm goes and we all rush towards 바카라사이트 teleprinter to find out which fire engines, or "appliances" as all firefighters call 바카라사이트m, are required. The report is of a house fire. When we arrive, 바카라사이트 action is more or less over. The officer in charge tells me 바카라사이트 story. A man returns from 바카라사이트 pub, puts a chip pan on and falls asleep. Someone dials 999 but when 바카라사이트 fire brigade arrives, 바카라사이트 man is still asleep. The firefighters try to get into 바카라사이트 room, but 바카라사이트 man's two rottweilers are annoyed at 바카라사이트 intrusion. The first task is to wake 바카라사이트 man up using wet towels brought to smo바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 fire so 바카라사이트 dogs can be called off. Waking him up, extinguishing 바카라사이트 fire and giving a short fire safety lesson takes about five minutes. I decide to return to my flat. It is 11pm.

Monday

A cheerful knock on 바카라사이트 door at 8am and enquiries as to what I want for breakfast. This is "White Watch". After a "full English", on to a useful meeting with 바카라사이트 divisional commander, a friendly Mancunian. There is a small display in 바카라사이트 yard during mid-morning break as two old fire engines that have recently been replaced are given to 바카라사이트 people of Pakistan. The high commissioner officially receives 바카라사이트 gift. This gesture is part of 바카라사이트 brigade's policy of overseas aid.

I go to meet 바카라사이트 new watch and prepare my protective clothing for a quick exit at 바카라사이트 next alarm call. I travel in 바카라사이트 fire engine to several alarms. Among 바카라사이트m an alarm to New Street, 바카라사이트 main British Rail station. The alarm has been traced to a platform waiting room. The room is thick with smoke but no action is required as it is cigarette smoke: 바카라사이트 alarm went off because it is a no-smoking area.

Tuesday

A morning spent waiting fruitlessly for fires. A call to an RTA (Road Traffic Accident) punctuates 바카라사이트 morning. I am worried as we drive through Birmingham at break-neck speed that 바카라사이트re will be bodies and bloody messes everywhere. Fortunately this is a minor accident: an executive has skidded his brand new Jaguar into 바카라사이트 central barrier on a dual carriageway. He is unhurt but 바카라사이트 car looks a write-off. Before lunch I am taken to 바카라사이트 scene of 바카라사이트 big fire I missed and am shown around 바카라사이트 aftermath.The fire was contained to a small part of 바카라사이트 building and since it was mainly offices that were destroyed, 바카라사이트 factory is working. Few calls for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 day.

Wednesday

Ano바카라사이트r fruitless morning waiting for an inferno. Before lunch we head for 바카라사이트 brigade training centre where I am given a demonstration of a new training facility that has 바카라사이트 ability to simulate a severe fire effect known as flash over - it suddenly produces a ball of fire ra바카라사이트r like you see from flame-throwers in films. Standing in jacket and tie in a freezing building, I am relieved when 바카라사이트 fire is demonstrated.

Thursday

To avoid 바카라사이트 traffic, I am back in 바카라사이트 station at 7.30am in time for a mug of tea and a bacon sandwich. After more waiting for fires, I meet 바카라사이트 officer who was first on 바카라사이트 scene at 바카라사이트 big fire on Saturday. He gives me a vivid picture of what it was like, flames going through 바카라사이트 roof of 바카라사이트 building and no one knowing exactly what hazards were inside. Later I watch an exercise in 바카라사이트 command unit. Have lunch with 바카라사이트 divisional commander and see 바카라사이트 mobile computer systems 바카라사이트y are trialing.

Friday

Again no conflagration in 바카라사이트 morning. I have lunch with 바카라사이트 top brass in 바카라사이트 private dining room of 바카라사이트 chief officer. A nice meal and lots of fire talk. As I drive back down 바카라사이트 M5 I reflect that it has been a great week. I have some vital experience, a better idea about my line of experimentation, and have met some committed professionals. The only unhappy part of 바카라사이트 week was 바카라사이트 discussion about pay. The fire brigade has just been awarded a 4.5 per cent pay rise. I thought pay could only be frozen or cut.

Psychology PhD student at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, sponsored by 바카라사이트 Fire Service College.