So the last blog post with a short Q&A went down really well with readers so here is another one to keep you going. Whilst in lockdown this is the best way for you to get to know the Antarctic Fire Angels a little better; enjoy!
Q1. What is your biggest fear?
George – Not achieving, including the smaller things, not just the Expedition itself.
Nakita – To not achieve the goals I set. It just feels like unfinished business and that I’ve let myself down.
Alison – Getting older and having to rely on other people. Being a burden to others.
Bex – It was actually heights before I got into the Firebrigade, I had to really conquer this to do this awesome job. The training and skills I have learnt alleviated my fears and allowed me to deal with it throughout training and now at work. I have over come this now!
Nikki – I fear by body becoming incapable of doing what my mind wants it to do – like through significant injury or old age and losing my independence. I also have a fear of regret.
Beci – Loosing someone close to me and/or having an unhappy family.
Q2. What are you most proud of?
Beci – My family, I’m so proud of the people my children are growing up to be (so far so good…) and my job. I absolutely love my job.
Nikki – My independence I think – I’ve worked very hard to prove that I am capable of doing anything I want to do. Lots of things I do in my life are to challenge and push my capabilities and it’s where I thrive.
Bex – I am lucky to have a number of proud moments to date such as passing out to become a firefighter in my old age of 37 and competing for my country in 4 different sports. However the one that will always stay with me was becoming world champion and world record holder in the sport of ‘surf lifesaving’ back in 2000 when I was 18. I went to the world champs in Sydney for experience and a goal of making one final so it was a surreal experience that I’ll never forget!
Alison – This is a tough one. I am not a particularly proud person and don’t like putting myself out there. But I think it’s getting to where I am in the fire service and achieving it through hard work not because I am a woman. I would like to think I haven’t changed much through the process and I remember where I have come from.
Nakita – Difficult one to answer! I’m proud of a lot of things, I want to keep pushing my limits. At the moment I’m extremely proud of the Team and all we have achieved, even through these difficult times.
George – Oooo, tricky because I tend to be proud of things as and when they happen but if I had to nail something, it would be getting this amazing team together.
Q3. Who would you most like to go for a drink with?
Alison – Oh dear. I want to say someone really intelligent and highbrow like Stephen Fry but he’s just too clever. But I would rather have a good laugh so Noel Fielding or Freddie Flintoff.
Bex – Holly Willoughby.
Nikki – Chris Hemsworth – no explanation necessary!
Nakita – Oooo! For laughs Russell Howard! What a funny night that would be.
Beci – Ohhh loads. Can I have a party? David Attenborough, Tim Minchin, Dave Grohl, Hollie McNish, Caitlin Moran, Billy Connolly Michael Sheen, Ewan McGregor, Jodie Whittaker, Daisy Ridley, Brian Cox, Eric Idle, Mark Hamill, John Cusack, Ryan Reynolds, Max Boyce, Matt Haig…I mean, can we pick dead people too?!
George – Now that falls into categories for me;
Stalker fan – Emily Blunt.
Brain fuel – Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig.
Just to breath the same air as them – Dame Maggie Smith.
Q4. Who are your heroes?
Bex – Sharon Davies – swimmer/presenter.
George – Fictional – Wonder Woman. Real life- Lowri Morgan
Nakita – I’ve been inspired by parents, their careers and the struggles they went through. Possibly basing my life on wanting to become a real life Lara Croft!
Beci – My grandparents. They are/were all such strong people.
Alison – Easy, Haile Gerbresalassie is my running hero. Usain Bolt would be up there too. What they have both achieved in the world of athletics is unbelievable, they’ve really made it a global sport and have inspired lots of people from very poor backgrounds.
Nikki – Um tough one – my parents have always been incredible role models to me, showing how love and kindness will always prevail. Fictional hero someone like Katniss Everdeen – proper badass gal. Sporting heroes include Jenson Button & Rebecca Addlington.
Q5. What job would you be terrible at?
George – Any ball sport coaching.
Nakita – I think anything to do with sitting at a computer and selling something over the phone…I would probably convince them not to buy it!
Alison – A librarian as I can be very loud. I would be the one who would be told off all the time!
Bex – Surgeon – too heavy handed!
Beci – A Teacher.
Nikki – Something really analytical and clever like an air-traffic controller – my brain would be fried!
Q6. What job did you want to do when you were younger?
Nakita – I wanted to join the Army and my parents had lined up Sandhurst for me. Stupidly I didn’t do it. It is one of my “what if” moments!
George – Royal Navy or Army, BUT doing all the things the men did. Back then we weren’t allowed as women to do all the exciting things.
Bex – An Olympian and a marine biologist.
Nikki – I wanted to be a vet until I learnt that I’d have to stick my hand up cows bums!
Alison – Police Officer and I also wanted to join the RAF to be a PTI. I also thought about physiotherapy.
Beci – Firefighter and be a Blue Peter presenter. I still *really* want a badge…
Hope you’ve enjoyed this instalment of Q & A with the Fire Angels, there is plenty more to come whilst we remain in lockdown.
For those of you who haven’t already seen it there is a lovely video from Bex on her daily exercise talking about lockdown, how she is coping, what changes it has made to her routines and why we should all stay at home. (Click on picture for video).
Remember, Stay Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives.