I’m currently doing a young firefighter course with WYAT at Wombourne Fire Station. We’re just over half way through the course, and have done things such as hose running, spraying large amounts of water under high pressures, hydrants and learnt some things about how fire spreads. Last week we used the hydraulic cutting equipment to cut up a car, which was loads of fun.

Here is a video of a chip pan demonstration we did last night.

Today I played my bagpipes at the final funeral for the Warwickshire Firefighters who were tragically killed a few weeks ago. The whole thing was very moving. It started off marching the family from their house the short distance to the fire station, where the hydraulic platform was waiting with the coffin, flanked by Firefighters in ceremonial dress. We let the procession down the road to the church where the service was to be held. After the service, we played the coffin out to Flowers of the Forest, a very nice slow air. We then had a police escort to the crematorium (that was fun and scary having Police bikes whizzing past) where we played outside as people entered and again as they left.

Last week I also played at the first of the four funerals, doing a similar thing. Both funerals were very individual, and a very fitting tribute to those brave young men.

Video of me on the BBC news. If you can’t recognise me, I’m the piper on the left of the screen (on the right of the procession). This was broadcast on the BBC evening news last Friday. I was also on BBC Radio 1 news playing the bagpipes. That’s my moment of fame for this year!

Last weekends I played at the Remembrance parade in Birmingham with my pipe band. Here is a video of me playing the Lord Mayor of Birmingham onto the parade ground..

Today I finally got my hands on my 21st Birthday present - an hour in a full-motion 737 simulator in Yorkshire.

I arrived at the flight centre at about 2.15, my flight starting at 2.30. I filled in a form with my details and was taken into the simulator. On first impressions, it seemed very small and cramped as I expected it to. I took my place in the left hand seat, and my instructor sat on the right. I was given a quick briefing of all the controls and gauge, then the instructor placed the 737-200 aircraft on runway 16 at Aberdeen. I pushed the throttles all the way forward and started accelerating down the runway, feeling every bump of the rough surface before finally getting airborne. The instructor called “positive rate” and raised the landing gear which locked in place with a clunk. After my initial comments about being able to feel all the bumps from the turbulence, the instructor took great delight in making the rest of the flight pretty bumpy which was a nice touch, but made it difficult to hold a steady rate of climb or descent.

I flew round in a circuit given headings by the instructor to establish on the ILS for runway 16 to make my first landing of the day. I kept on the power till over the numbers, then quickly retarded the throttles to idle to make a nice firm landing. I then taxied round back to the runway to make another takeoff. This time shortly after takeoff the instructor cut the number 1 engine, which caused me to apply a boot full of right rudder and went round to land on the single engine. I think I made a pretty good job of this one considering the situation; at least I made it onto the runway! Next up was a landing in low visibility. I managed to get established onto the ILS just inside 4 miles after a few problems relating to my inexperience and after a bit of wavering around managed to put it down just before the runway started - doh! Considering it was probably about 200 m visibility, I don’t think it was that bad for my third landing! Next up I did another few landings, including one in about a 15 knot crosswind which I managed to get down just right of the centreline.

All in all, a truly fantastic experience. To anyone who thinks they can fly an aircraft because they can use flight simulator - I say rubbish! It is so different being able to feel the aircraft moving in response to control inputs you make.

Just noticed I haven’t posted an awful lot over the last month of so. Probably due to the fact that I haven’t done an awful lot either. When I got back from the Jamboree I helped out with KOSSMIC for the last two weeks of the summer holiday which was good. Since then I have just been chilling and relaxing and looking for a job. I’ve applied for a number of jobs in numerous different positions, none of which have been successful yet. Guess I’ll just have to keep looking, I’ll find something interesting soon.

So, if anyone would like to employ me (I’m really good, honest!) don’t hesitate to contact me!

Just visited the website of the UK contingent for the Jamboree, and seen the job allocations have been posted. In about February this year I filled in a form with my preferences for Service Team jobs whilst at the Jamboree, ranging from catering to HR to health and security. Today I got my job allocation; if I remember correctly it was my first choice - Health and Welfare, which includes stewarding and security and emergency control. Should be a good excuse to wander round the site making sure everything is in order. I was actually dreading having a job such as catering or HR that meant I spent long periods of the Jamboree indoors away from all the action.

I depart for the Jamboree a week on Tuesday, 24th July (two days before the participants arrive on site). There will be a range of training sessions specific to roles and helping with any last minute set up before people start to arrive on the Thursday. I also got word last week that the only bar on site will be in the Adult Hub, right where I will be staying. Great!

I finally got my results from my degree. Had to go in to uni on Wednesday to collect them which was weird not having been there for a few weeks.

Well, I got a 2:2 classification which I am very proud of. This is about what I have been expecting for a while, so no surprises really. I need to send a SAE to get the actual breakdown of results which will be interesting.

So from now until I graduate on 17th July, I’m not really sure what I’ll be doing. I’ll probably spend a lot of time searching for a good job, but I won’t be able to start anything until I get back from the Jamboree mid August. I think I’ll just make the most of the time off and enjoy the summer.

Today I went to the first stage selection tests for National Air Traffic Services, to become an Air Traffic Controller. I had to go to a really nice hotel in Manchester, so got the train from Wolverhampton this morning.

The day consisted of a number of aptitude tests, such as personality questionnaires and spacial awareness tests, as well as a motivation test which asked questions based on a document sent out earlier. There was also a talk by a current ATCO about what the training involves and some details of the job. It all sounds really interesting and something that I could see myself doing.

I find out in about three weeks whether I have passed stage 1, when I will be invited to stage 2 and stage 3 if I pass that. After stage 3 I will go to their college in Bournemouth for between six and nine months for my training.

I’ve now officially finished everything at uni. All done! My last exam, Corporate Finance was last Thursday, and I had a poster presentation for my dissertation yesterday morning. Overall I think they all went ok, despite having nine exams in the first week. It was a hard week, but I came out the other side.

Results should be out sometime during the week beginning 18th June, so not long now. They will be made available on WebCT I believe so I won’t have to go in to collect them.

So… where to from here? I’ve got a few weeks now with nothing to do, until around the middle of July when I graduate and go to the Jamboree the week after. I’ll spend some time looking for a job and have some other stuff that needs sorting out, so it’s not like I’ve got nothing to keep me occupied.

Had my first exam today - Inorganic Chemistry Paper 2 (mostly solid state stuff: lattice defects, superconductors, magnetic materials, fuel cells, etc.). It was a good start, the questions were fairly predictable based on patterns from past exam papers so it was a nice first exam really. So thats one down, only eight to go - five of those this week! Best get back to revision.