The Bra-Inn that is!

Phew, here we are, nine weeks in and my brain is full to the brim with information, processes and acronyms, but the main thing is I am still loving it. 

I only realised today that it has been forever since I last wrote anything here, which is a bit disappointing as I was so sure I would do regular updates. I guess I lost a little bit of passion with not being able to share too much information here, but in reality I am just a bit mentally tired. 

My routine for the past seven weeks or so has been quite relentless, especially given the sort of routine I was coming from. Gone are the five hour days starting at midday. Instead I am up at about 5.30am each day, and at work by 6.30. Training begins at 8.30 but a few reasons get me to the office much earlier than needed. 

Firstly mine and Anns morning routines. If I left it any later we would be tripping over each other. 
Secondly the traffic, if I leave much later than 6am, a 30 min journey becomes an hour at least. And the last thing I want to do is arrive at work stressed, I would rather get there way too early and be relaxed.
Third and finally, exercise. Mon to Fri I either go for a run in the morning once at work, or use the gym for an hour. Then have a nice relaxing shower, go to the mess for my breakfast, and start my day with a smile. Well worth getting up early for. 

Once I start proper shifts the routine will change quite a lot, as my start time will vary across the tour, and it is only 3 days. But I am ready for the change in routine for sure (I think lol)
I don’t think it is the physical toll that is getting to me now, but more the mental one. Not in a bad way though. I haven’t been this challenged, and this interested in something in decades, and am still really enjoying the whole journey. The hard part is absorbing any more knowledge.

Thankfully the flow of information has slowed somewhat, and what is still coming fits nicely into the gaps in other things we have done, so if anything it is the cement that will fix that knowledge in place. 

Both myself and my bestie are at the same stage of chomping at the bit to be let loose and get going with the real deal. While we are quietly confident about our abilities, I think we are both a little unsettled and curious to know if we really have all the knowledge we need. 

Truth be told, when the chips are down, I really think we do, all of us in fact. The processes are making sense, the support is plentiful, and the desire to get it right is strong. What more could you need?

At the end of the month we take our final assessments, and from there we are let loose, under the watchful eye of the rest of our teams. Having worked with mine for a few shifts previously, I am super confident that I will get all the support and encouragement I need, and will be flying solo in no time. Hopefully the rest of the group feel the same way, and we will all soon be doing a super important role, and helping keep people safe.

I really needed to write this quickly just to get some things out of my head. Apologies if it doesn’t make a good read, or even make much sense, but rest assured me writing this has achieved what I wanted it to, so all is well. I will do a better entry with some more logical and relatable thoughts soon. 

But for now, thanks to my bestie for keeping me sane, and thanks to my wife Ann, as well as a few dear friends for being by my side all along. It is the true test of a friend to be there in the moments where you don’t even realise you need support. These moments will be remembered for a long time, as will the people who were there for me over the past 8-9 weeks. 

Right, I am gonna go to bed, I have an early start, and a gym session in the morning, I can’t wait…. *lies!