I'm going to be bundled in a sack and shot at
Tuesday 3 March 2009
9:24 am
I shan’t be around for the next couple of days. I’m going off to be kidnapped, bundled up in a sack, immersed in thick mud, and shot at. I’ll also be updating my first aid skills.
Once every three years in this business you have to go off and be “refreshed” on the hostile environment course. The insurance companies won’t insure you in Iraq and places if you haven’t been on it.
Methinks it’s a pleasurable break from the newsroom. But then the newsroom itself could be seen by some as a hostile environment – as we arm ourselves to go after the guys that wrecked the world’s banking system etc.
I’ll try to blog about it. But you wont’ be getting Snowmail from me until Thursday.
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I wonder what these MPs spend their salaries on, getting all these allowances for second homes etc. Most people have to find the money out of their salary or wages. These MPs of course simply say we are allowed, it’s there. They should just admit they are bloody greedy – and that includes that greedy hypocrite Tony Blair.
We had civil defence courses at university in East Germany to be trained as group leaders (in charge of 10 people) for rescue and recovery of victims from “heights and depths”. I find it makes sense and gives confidence to know what to do in an emergency situation. Hopefully you’ll never need it.
Hopefully you will never have to blog from a real kidnap situation. Do you think they’d allow that anyway…?
Access a mobile phone and you could Tweet instead…
I did that course; watched grown men cry and had my earrings sucked out of my ears by some ex-fireman. Good luck Jon!
“…kidnapped, bundled up in a sack, immersed in thick mud, and shot at” – that would be much too gentle for the likes of Goodwin – CIA style water torture sounded nearer the mark.
Good luck. I hope you hone your survival skills in hostile environments and return to the news desk unscathed.
Re: Gaza. I think that it is a shameful that it has taken Tony Blair two years to visit Gaza.
For some perverse reason they have got it wrong!! It is the bankers who should be bundled in a sack, and not the venerable journalists such as yourself. They should be given an assault course to try out, preferably at Her Majesty’s pleasure. Now isn’t that a good idea??
Good luck with the course Jon – it sounds quite an ordeal – so much so that I can’t help but wonder how many people would be wanting you to take some bank CEOs with you!
Good luck Jon, we will miss you. Just in case you don’t get back or get the insurance, you could come and work for me anytime, but I could only offer third party, fire or theft… Would that be OK?
Seriously, though, you are the VERY VERY best newsman on British TV and we try not to miss Channel 4 News and your other excellent colleagues. Thank you, good luck… and goodnight.
Good lord, is that requirement something that cannot be done without? Hopefully your ties are inclusive with the insurance companies. Must be a tie-ing experience!
I’ve been told that in order to keep up motor insurance, drivers of the future will have to attend a crash course to ensure they are able to keep their insurance bonus at 60% .
Seeing you soon, Jon!
“Drivers of the future will have to attend a crash course”? Most of us manage to crash without any special training!
Good luck Jon! Enjoy (if it’s possible – crazy, isnt it ?!)
I have always loved Jon Snow. He’d be my perfect man! Bright and handsome, I’m here for you Jon!