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!

Had my last lecture today! Thats it, all done. Nothing left now but exams. I’m going to have one last read through my dissertation tonight, and hand it in at some point tomorrow. We have to submit it online, so I don’t even have to bother going  in. Its quite scary really that the end is now so close. This last semester has gone so fast and now theres only six weeks left till exams. I might even have to start looking to get a job!

Just got my exam timetable. First one is in six weeks! Oh no! Most of them are spread between 14th May and 21st May, with only the Friday off, then there is a week gap with Corporate Finance on 31st. So overall, they have managed to spread themselves over three weeks, with the majority concentrated within the first week. Officially I have 9 exams, but 6 of them are really the same module but spread across two semesters, but they give us two separate exams for them.

Got my graduation ceremony day yesterday as well – Tuesday 17th July. Exactly one week before I go on the Jamboree!!

Haven’t posted anything for a while, so thought I’d let you all know what I’ve been up to. I’ve been rather busy the last few weeks with general stuff. A lot of it uni work, with my dissertation being due in by the end of term in two weeks time and various assessed worksheets to keep up with. I’ve mostly finished it now, just need to tidy bits up and see what my supervisor thinks of it when I finally get to see him. I’ve also been working hard getting the Wombourne Youth Action Team set up. We had the first proper meeting on Thursday just gone which went well, so everything should progress a bit easier from now on.

Looking forward to going skiing in two weeks time. I’ve got all my bits and pieces I need for that had some last minute practice at the snow dome a couple of weeks back. We’re going to a (hopefully) nice resort in Austria called Wildshonau, a collection of villages in the Austrian Alps. Hopefully there will still be snow there when we arrive. Reports currently range from no snow in the village we are, to 50 cm in the surrounding villages. Fingers crossed it snows in the next two weeks!

Went on a trip to London yesterday with KOSSMIC for a tour round the Houses of Parliament. We left at 8.30 and got there by about 11.30. We went on a tour round the Cabinet War Rooms first of all as our visit wasn’t scheduled until 3.30. This is the secret bunker where the Cabinet spent a lot of time during World War II under Whitehall. They had all sorts of offices and rooms for the Prime Minister and his staff to work during air raids. It is also the home of the Churchill Museum which was opened in 2005. Both a very interesting visit if you are ever in that part of London.

At 3.30 we went over to the Sovereign’s Entrance to the Houses of Parliament and had our bags checked and started the tour. After walking through the door, there is a huge hall on the left which is the oldest remaining part of the Palace of Westminster. Don’t think its used much any more. Then we went down a corridor to the Main Lobby, which is the part you see on TV when they do interviews etc. From there there are two corridors leading off; one left to the House of Commons, and right to the House of Lords. Turning down the left hand corridor, there is another lobby area which has pigeon holes and other information for the MPs and statues of some Prime Ministers of the 20th Century, the most recent of which is the statue of Margaret Thatcher which was unveiled earlier in the week. Around the outside of the actual chamber is another corridor which is the Voting Lobby where votes are taken. We then went into the chamber itself. On first impression, it is much smaller than I expected it to be based on what I have seen on TV. Apparently there are more MPs than seats, so if every one of them turns up some will have to stand.

We then went out across the main lobby to the House of Lords. It is obvious the difference in the status of the two houses – this side was much more elegantly decorated with carved wood, and a huge gold wall at the one end with the thrown where the Queen sits on the opening of Parliament day. The seats here are red as opposed to the green seats in the Commons. Again, the chamber itself is very small and there isn’t enough space for all of the Lords to sit if they were to all turn up, which rarely happens.

A very interesting day out. If you ever get the chance to visit the Houses of Parliament, it is an absolute must see – the home of all democracy and law making in the country.