What exactly is it you do?

It is wild and woolly outside - again. Average night's sleep over the last 10 days is less than 6 so I'm probably not at my best today! This is not a complaint as it has been a very 'busy in a good way' week and a good one to illustrate what I do and why I still think I've got the best job in Devon!



A small team from DAAT and I started last week with a great 2 day conference with our national association (http://www.airambulanceassociation.co.uk/) topped by a cuddle from the wonderful David Jason, who is patron of the AAA. This time next year, Rodders!

It is very useful to meet with colleagues from around the country, all of us doing things slightly differently but hopefully all responding as is most appropriate for the particular needs of our local areas. Plenty of banter, challenge and mutual support.


Last Thursday we had a fabulous day at beautiful Gidleigh Park with Ann Widdecombe joining us as guest speaker for lunch and Juliet Mills as our speaker for dinner (yes - THE Juliet Mills, film star and daughter of Sir John Mills!).

The whole day was made possible by two fabulous lead sponsors: Rebecca Pope at St. James's Place Wealth Management and Cathedral Financial Management. In addition, Gidleigh Park, Coutts & Co, Langage Icecream, Paxton & Whitfield, Private Cellar, David Clarke all donated fabulous 'money can't buy' auction prizes. The icing on the cake though was Executive Chef Michael Caines introducing and explaining each exquisite course as it arrived. (As I said - the best job in Devon!)


Friday saw me scooting up to Barnstaple to pick up a cheque from Devon based international pharmaceuticals firm Actavis who raised more than £17,500 doing the 3 peaks challenge in 24 wet and windy hours in September. I was really impressed, even the MD took part. Everyone involved had been training for 6 months and it was a great achievement.


On Saturday I braved the elements to travel down to Start Point to meet a potential new volunteer. I don't normally get to do these initial interviews. Probably a good job too as we must have talked for a good 2 hours - she is going to be so helpful to us in a very remote area where we simply can't meet demand for attending events and presentations without our volunteers. Most impressive, this woman had singlehandedly made over 300 scones for a fundraising cream tea on behalf of DAAT, all before breakfast, the day after her daughter's wedding. Boy is she organised!

So far this week has been a mix of management team debate, governance training and catching up with the to do list. The highlight of the week I suspect will be the day I spend job shadowing in one of our charity shops - I am going to be the steam queen.