Young Robbo.

Got an email from Big Bill while on holiday.
Got home and found letter on mat...
"ALL Penrith Firefighters. (Current, Ex, Retired.)
Invited to a gathering at the new Penrith Community Fire Station..............Finish at Cross Keys for further (stronger if necessary) refreshment.

Thinked a thunk.
I worked with this lad's Dad. This lad has on his chest the medal ribbon for 20yr service.
Aaaaaargh! I've been retired from the F.S. for 16yrs.
We didn't have helmets like Darth Vader's lads, our battle-bowlers were black and had a cork "comb", later yellow, but never with flip-down goggles and additional face protection like this.

The "up" side was ... We could go onto a roof without tying up 2 men on 2 lines: one at front; one at back of building holding lines attached to a belt round your waist and I don't recall anybody falling off in 23 yrs. I was told that they once were forced to "roll a machine" purely to supply that service to a retained lad on a roof.
DUH!?!?
As we all say "It's not the job I joined."

By a weird coincidence, the "old lad" in the reflection looks exceeding like Robbo's Dad.
;¬))