The end of an era - Maybe?

Next Saturday sees the final home match of the football season at the Ricoh arena. If some of the whispers are to be believed, then it could be the final game ever for SJA. I really hope this doesn't happen as the football has been a massive part of my SJA career since the age of 14. I hadn't actually realized it was that long, that's half my life!

It's all a huge difference from the high hopes we all had when the Ricoh opened nearly two years ago. Then we all dreamed of duties at concerts with international bands. Of international sporting fixtures and high profile events.

It was a disappointment when it was announced that we weren't going to be part of the concerts, as a private medical company had been awarded the contract. Not a problem, we've still got the the sporting fixtures. Well it's true we covered one of the England games, but no more. The rugby has gone too. This leaves us with only the Sky Blues games. I wonder if it's anything I've done, or could of done better.

If Saturday is to be our final game, then I'll take away many many memories of triumph and tradegy, and safe in the knowledge that it's stood me in good stead for the future.

Crowd safety course at the EPC

Last week I had the honor of attending a course at the Emergency Planning College in Yorkshire. I have to say that it was an absolutely fantastic week. The course just seemed so relevant to what we do day in day out in SJA and gave me a greater insight in to the factors that affect crowd safety. It was also a really good opportunity to talk to others involved in the crowd field. Thankfully the college had a well stocked bar that we took full advantage of. At the end of the evening, there was a core of hardened drinkers left in the bar, and after the dust had settled the eight of us had managed to consume 19 bottles of wine! It was commented on by some of the folks from London that they were paying the same for a bottle as they would for a glass at home.

I left the college with a sense of enthusiasm about SJA, and what I can do to improve it. That and a stinking hangover! I hope that there will be opportunities to do more courses at the EPC, and maybe, just maybe I might make a difference.

[Nearly]Over and [Not] Out

It's been a good weekend, and Friday evening was alright too. It was the divisional social night and we thought we'd do something different so a take away and movie evening was arranged. Unfortunately it wasn't particularly well supported, but everyone who was there enjoyed in and the gaffer approved as to our choice in films (The History Boys). I think that it'll probably be the last Friday night social that we do as there's scope for get togethers outside of St. John that there weren't before. It's probably best that we keep up the momentum rather than stop for a week.

Saturday was a good day. I attended a radio trainers course in West Bromwich which I have to say was brilliant. It was well organised and pitched at a good level. It got me really inspired and I'm really looking forwards to teaching the course. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to fairly soon.

And finally at the risk of repeating myself, tonight was another amazing night at the ice hockey, with the blaze going 4-0 on aggregate at one point and coming back to win 5-4. Truly amazing.

Anyway I'm off on a course this week, not the usual run of the mill stuff though, so more when I get back.