He’s cool, calm and collected. When disaster strikes, Placid Paramedic Partner takes that proverbial step back, then steps in to action. There could be a nuclear meltdown next door and you’d think he’s responding to a routine “nana down” call.

He’s also very polite.

Unless its half an hour before knock off time and he is looking forward to a hot date.

Then he becomes not-so-Placid Paramedic Partner…walking in circles at the depot, marching out to the garage, nervously fidgeting with small bits of string, half-heartedly grabbing a broom to try and take his mind of the possibility of getting that late job. Which would ruin the evening, ruin the date. He jumps in joy and sings silly songs of enthusiasm when one part of the crew turns up early…but an ambulance is staffed with two people, not one.

The circle-walking and string-fidgeting continues.

I probably didn’t help the cause when, twenty minutes to knock off, I secretly and slyly called HQ and asked if they could “send us a test alarm”, as the beeping box in the depot that notifies us of jobs “has a funny flashing light on it”. You gotta get these things checked after all…

Before you could say “home time!” he had already run towards the big beeping box to acknowledge the job, only to find yours truly unable to breathe due to naughty laughter.

Facial expressions ranged from confusion to anger, with a couple of colourful expletives thrown my way, and some giggling from the back room courtesy of another colleague.

Luckily the second paramedic arrived then and there, and Partner was able to run off towards his highly anticipated date…to which I wish him well.

And I better be on guard next shift – revenge, as they say, is sweet.