Her Ladyship and I enjoyed a little light entertainment last week. For longer than I can remember, I’d been meaning to get one of these fire safety checks done that you see advertised on the television. I think I tend to lean towards the obsessive compulsive when it comes to making sure everything is switched off before I go out or before bedtime. I have become particularly prone to this behaviour since Holly has graced the house with her presence. Ten years working in animal welfare, unfortunately often means my mind dwells on awful things that could happen to her and the worry of fire when I’m out is most definitely one of them.

I was chatting about how to go about organising a safety check with one of my pupils, whose father happens to be a local fireman, ‘ Oh don’t worry’, she exclaimed, ‘my dad will do that for you.’ Wonderful, I thought, that’s that sorted. Having always had a penchant for men in uniform and in particular, knights in shining armour who wouldn’t think twice about rescuing you from a burning house, I jokingly said ‘ Do you think he’ll bring the fire engine?’ followed by ‘Do you think he could bring the whole crew?’ before I pulled myself together and gave myself a gentle reminder that this was a serious matter! The arrangements were made and a date was set for 7pm to following Wednesday.

After a week of furious housework, Wednesday 7pm came and went and no ring of the doorbell. As I sat mildly disappointed, it dawned on me that they must have had a call out, after all, they do have a few things more important to do that check my windows and doors. Not to worry, I could always rearrange.

Imagine my delight, when a couple of minutes later, a big, shiny red fire engine drew up outside my door and as if that wasn’t excitement enough, three strapping firemen, all kitted up, piled out of the magnificent machine. ‘Nothing like a fire engine and a few firemen to brighten up a lady’s evening’ I said to Holly as if she understood the significance of the moment! Goodness knows what the neighbours were thinking.

All joking aside, they did a tremendous job. Gave me lots of valuable advice and fitted two new smoke detectors with ten year batteries, free of charge. An extremely worthwhile exercise.

As I was chatting to the fireman who was the father of my pupil, and trying very hard to maintain an air of professionalism whilst surrounded by firemen and as I thought I was going to faint, we discussed escape routes should the worst happen.

I expressed my concerns to him about what would happen if there was a fire when I was out and Holly was trapped in the house. I said ‘I know I don’t have any right to asked you to risk your life to save my dog, but would you?!’ ‘Oh don’t worry’ he replied ‘We rescue dogs all the time’ heart pounding, and verging on a swooning state, the words ‘my hero’ floated around in my head, ‘Mind you’ he continued ‘I might need to get one of the lads to give her a firemans lift, she’s a big girl!’

That’s it. I’m now officially jealous of my dog.

As these knights in shining armour, left my living room, I followed them out with Holly to go for our evening walk. I had to give myself a swift kick, to stop myself from asking if I could have a shot in the fire engine. It’s funny how you never really grow up when it comes to these things.

So, as we nonchalantly waived them off, thinking, this’ll get the neighbours talking, Holly and I enjoyed our evening stroll, knowing we would sleep a bit more soundly that night, safe in the knowledge that we have a wonderful local fire department.