I was speaking to an ex-fireman last night about the horror of attending road traffic accidents and the psychological impact of regularly dealing with the bodies of people who had, until recently, been quite alive.
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He said one way his colleagues coped was to make jokes of everything. But he also remembered a call-out where they never joked.
That was a collision between a car and a large tree, on a country road in The Borders. There was one adult male fatality who was a horrible mess but that was standard.
The thing that really got to the first-responders was the empty baby seat. Where was the kid? Most of the crew were dads themselves. They were freaked out. They searched the field, desperate to find what had become of the baby.
It turned out, later, that the baby was in another car, with the mum. They were OK.
But while they were unsure, they were shook. I can imagine it.
Stories like this make me glad I’m a quizmaster. 99 per cent of people are nice. The worst I get is the occasional drunk or fool. That I can handle.
Full line up tonight:
6 pm – The Joker & The Thief (with me)
Jackpot – £60
Free answer – PICTURE round: “LUXEMBOURG“
Book: 0131 556 3274 or Facebook
6 pm – Oz Bar (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – PICTURE round: “ROLO“
Book: 0131 259 6295 or Facebook
7 pm – Ship Inn, Musselburgh (with Stewart D)
Jackpot – £180
Free answer – PICTURE round: “BOYZONE“
Book: 0131 665 2642 or Facebook
8 pm – West Port Oracle (with Stuart F)
Jackpot – £30
Free answer – MUSIC round: “GARETH GATES“
Book: 0131 283 1960 or Facebook
8.30 pm – Brass Monkey Shore (with me)
Jackpot – £100
Free answer – PICTURE round: “J.D. SALINGER“
Book: 0131 555 7306 or Facebook
With quiz and love,
Dr Paul
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