h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

oh and every time I see the thread title I get all wobbly thinking about Sunday.

But it was a straight thinking Englishman who developed Brunel. I can't imagine he did that with the very few German researchers in mind.

Don't worry about Sunday, if it doesn't work out, you'll at least have tried.

I used to go donating blood every now and then, I liked the funny feeling Although sometimes they would stop before the end because I was getting all pale. And you got croissant and coffee afterwards, too.

I tried to here in Bielefeld, but for some reason related to the shortness of my stay (and which I didn't understand) they didn't want to.

Bet they thought you were a biological weapon, sent to us by MOSSAD.

Other good deed done, just filled in my organ donor card - for some reason, there was a leaflet sent with my new work contract

the first time I donated blood here (Krefeld, the red cross used to come into our camp and suck the good stuff out of all of us, except the rare types who were regularly rounded up and taken to the military hospital) they were horrified.

I had come off night shift, then after donating (which took yonks) and my tee and Brötchen, I cycled the 10km home...

at least you didn't home

they wanted to get me an ambulance... can you imagine??
rufty-tufty-girly-soldier going home in an ambulance after giving blood?

An ambulance? A taxi, ok, maybe, or a bus ticket. But an ambulance?

we had the Feuerwehr stationed in our camp (their firestation - I kid you not - burned down. Their ready room was next to the womens' accommodation. ohhhhh firemen.....)

They were already taking some people around places, part of some kind of awareness thing they were doing that day.

We need a firemen smiley. We really do.

But it'd be so frustratingly small, can't really get a good look

Maybe a few will attract them?

ooooooooooooooooooo it's tomorrow....

getting worried in case my blood isn't up to scratch.

Don't worry, you'll be fine.

Sho!

I'm back

Just back from the where they were lovely

but oh my was I amazed:

I told them I didn't have the Ausweis (um... the card you have for your donor sessions) since I've lost mine and it was quite a long time ago that I last gave blood. They entered my name on their computer and... lo and behold, my last donation was 25th March.... 1987!! *hangs head in shame*

but oh my - how efficient is that? It was when I was in Bielefeld (does that count as proof that Bielefeld really exists?) and the DRK used to swerve by the camp once a quarter and as many soldiers as they could (all the unfit guys lost it - they were signed off PT for 48 hours as a special incentive...)

I sent the gruesomes to sit at a table and read their books while I filled in forms etc, but a nice bloke swooped down and took them off to the room where all the other kids were playing, drawing etc. They also had sandwiches and drinks for them. (and when they left they all got a Red Cross certificate, a BlutSpende sticker and a bar of chocolate)

So after having my temperature taken, what felt like another ear piercing (i'm such a baby about pain) and a chat with the doc (and found out that my blood pressure is getting higher... 110 over 70 which isn't normal for me) then off to the to have the nasty stuff done. They were laughing at me because I really hate the feel of that warm tube on my arm, so they put two latex gloves between that and my arm because I was making such a funny face.

Then off for breakfast (really great coffee, kudos for that to the Hückelhoven branch of the Heinsberg DRK ) and cake for the gruesomes and then back home.

They took your temperature?
Or did you mean blood pressure?

temperature, haemoglobin and blood pressure
(apparently you can't donate if your temperature is over 37.4°C - I was a bit worried yesterday because I seemed to have the onset of a cold. Turned out to be a hangover )

Ok, maybe I never got there because they checked my blood pressure first then. Never had my Hb checked, either.

I bled like a stuck pig for the Hb... they prick your ear (which flippin' hurts - glad the gruesomes weren't there then, I nearly ran away!!)

if low blood pressure is a reason to turn people away, you'd think they would go up and down the queue to get in with a cuf and stopwatch, wouldn't you?