Blue lights & dust carts

I have some friends who work in the medical profession, they're quite a raucous bunch who even with all their idiosyncrasies and particularly those with a strange habit of falling asleep on nights out; are right up there at the top of my list of truly outstanding human beings. Their sheer dedication, focus and ability to face whatever is put before them is truly awe inspiring.

And to think should my life have taken a slightly differing path - I could've been one of them.

However, it was my Dad who helped me out on that one. I was showing an interest in becoming a nurse, I even had a uniform complete with flat shoes and opaque tights which I seldom took off...pity I don't still have it really. One weekend Dad took me to Frenchay hospital as they had an exhibition of 'real-life' staged displays of hospital life which would help me grasp what I could face should I take this career path. I was brimming with excitement at the prospect of absorbing the atmosphere, seeing dramas unfold before me and mingling with like minded souls in sensible shoes. But it was not to be. One look at the mock up of an operation and I turned on my heel and high-tailed it out of the place with a distinct feeling of nausea, tears pricking at my eyes. But then I was only 7 years old.

Twenty years on, I can appreciate that I was able to have the experience and take solace in the fact I discovered early that I would make a truly rubbish nurse. However, just recently my thoughts have been turned in that direction once again.

My friend Brian is a paramedic and has been for a good many years. He's a highly trained professional and is sometimes first to attend emergency calls in his rapid response car. And he gets to drive an ambulance, with lights... and a siren and everything...um did I mention the lights?

I want to drive an ambulance.

It actually doesn't stop there, the ambulance was just the beginning, I've seemingly opened a Pandora's box of vehicles which up until now a desire for which has been hidden away in the back of my mind. Fire engines are high on the list, but not police cars, this confused the issue as I wasn't entirely sure if it was a speed-related longing or if I had a deep seated desire for a blue flashing light and wailing siren. So I delved deeper and pondered on it some more.

It got much, much worse. I have since come up with a definitive list of vehicles that make me react like a 6 year old boy:

Fire engine - lights & siren obligatory;
Ambulance - see above;
Tower crane transporter down the M6 - in rush hour;
One of those lorries which appear to have an entire house as their payload;
A lorry towing a train/part of a plane;
Dumper truck - complete with debris to dump over the side of a preferably huge cavernous ravine;
A tank - with a gun turret that I can turn and I wouldn't say no to some practice shots;
Dust cart - with rubbish to chuck in the back so I could press the button to send it through to the holding area like spoon feeding a mechanical giant.

I know that this longing is for the sheer unadulterated, juvenile, 'look at me I'm a complete girl driving this!' kick of it. Imagine the thrill of driving at 25mph up the M6 with a train in your rearview mirror! The satisfaction of moving huge masses of earth or rubble and disposing of it into a huge pit! Absolutely fantastic.

And I think I know where this seed was first planted, a couple of months ago my local village had a fete at which the local fire station brought along one of their engines; they let me sit in it with all the other kids but it was me who turned on the siren, oddly they weren't as willing when I asked to see their hose, mustn't have had enough water. Around the same time I was looking for a sensible car, mostly on eBay and as usual I turned to one of my favourite hobbies and looked at some entirely innappropriate cars too. It was whilst looking at Land Rovers I came across an old converted Defender which was a mobile field hospital. It was fantastic had stretchers too - the full military spec and if the money was right, I actually think I might have bought it.

So now, I'm ignoring the advice of others about 'never meeting your heroes' and 'keep your dreams just that' and am actively seeking to live out these fantasies - well to be honest I'd be happy with just one!

Amanda aged 27 1/2