The pitter patter of my new quasi doctor martin steel toe boots echoed down the street.  I had been back packing London by myself for a couple of weeks by now. My travels had led me to stroll into a bar called "The elephants head," located in the infamous area known as Camden Town. This neighborhood was once an abundant source of punk rockers,tattoo artist, and other interesting eclectic individuals. However over the years  it had been having an identity crisis. The colorful neighborhood had now also became a mecca for tourist and douche bags. To me however its  unique alternative roots still could be seen among the many annoying people and commercialized store fronts.

The Elephants head bar was in the center of it all. It was often full of like minded people who seem to enjoy the same genre's of music as myself. I sat there alone one afternoon in the corner charging my cell phone "forever alone"as some might say.

I had been living in another dimension (Saudi Arabia) and was still adapting back into the western world again. As I sat there admiring the battery bar indicator slowly making progress on my Nokia, they walked in.  We might as well have been from 2 parallel universes them and I. The Danes walked, talked, and dressed like the friends I remembered from the USA but with subtle differences. 2 of them made there way to the jukebox which just happened to be next to where I was seated. I had consumed several pints of "Liquid courage" with a shot of "Social butterfly" by now. "Ok "forever alone boy, its now or never" I thought to myself. As the unsuspecting Danes analyzed the contents of the jukebox the duo had no idea they had just walked into an ambush. I knew I had to make my move... Striking hard and fast like a cobra, my mouth slowly opened and the words "Here's 2 pounds, can you please play something that does not suck" bellowed from my lips. I preceded to complete my trap by presenting my hand to them with the coins.

My devious plan had worked and soon there Scandinavian comrades joined us by my table to investigate. It was not more than 5 minutes before we where deep in conversation, yelling obscenity's, pounding pints of lager, and laughing like we had known each other for years. They where all fantastic company but one of them was particularly captivating to me. Little did I know she would later become my girlfriend and change my life in every way possible.

To be continued....

I suppose I need to tell you about the past before we talk much more about the present. I believe we last left off 10 months ago. I sat comfortably in a coffee shop in London eloquently butchering the English language to complete my previous blog, "Mike rocks Saudi." In my last and final entry I mentioned things like taking some time off, preparing for my next Paramedic adventure somewhere in the world, and taking some university classes, particularly in writing. Well I am pleased to tell you that I have accomplished and am accomplishing all of those goals. I sat there in one of Camden's finest coffee shops wafting in the pungent aroma of free trade Arabia beans. Writing, reflecting, day in, day out, completing my previous blog. I reflected, and oh did I reminisce my friends.


 During my paramedic service in Saudi Arabia at the busiest ALS station, in the busiest city in the country, something strange happened to me. I had worked in Emergency Medical Services for years prior and even spent time in the military before that. In all that time I had never been exposed to the kind of shit I had been subjected to on my paramedic assignment in Saudi Arabia. 
At this time in London professionally and personally, I was confused,used, and abused. A year in Saudi Arabia under Sharia law is hard enough. In addition the working conditions I was subjected to was unlike anything a EMS worker in the EU or USA would be exposed to. Take Sharia law and now add severe sleep deprivation, a plethora of the dead and the dying everyday, risking my life on a routine basis, being assaulted routinely, physically fighting patients and bystanders with out police backup, staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, being in 3 ambulance crashes, and much more. 


Mix the combination I described above and you have the ingredients to one hell of a crazy mental cocktail. Watching more people die before my eyes in 1 year than I had my entire career prior and more than most paramedics would see in 5 or even 10 years. Although in all honestly I can say it was equally difficult just living in Saudi Arabia. Even outside of work I began to think about my own life and just how precious and uncertain its outcome was. I needed to forget about work, and remember who I was as a person.  It all had taken a toll and I needed a break, I needed to relax, I needed London. As I wrote " We could do our jobs flawlessly like robots, but at what cost? What about our empathy and caring.... Had we lost some of it or all of it along the way? " I did not know anymore and I did not know myself anymore. 


Luckily thoughts like the above slowly began to fade away . They where soon replaced with intoxicated moments in Merry ol London.  I could have went anywhere in the world, why London you ask? I am not exactly sure. Whats interesting is with out London this blog, Denmark, my job, and current personal life would not exist. Those who are foolish enough to believe in god might call it "divine intervention" others who are gullible might call it fate, still others would call it simply coincidence. Call it what you wish but it was in London 10 months from today that my life took a drastic and unpredictable change. All after i happened to cross paths with some punks from Denmark. Who also just so happened to be vacationing in London.


To Be continued....

INTRODUCTION: First off I would like to thank those of you who followed my last blog "Mike rock's Saudi". http://mikerockssaudi.blogspot.com/ As of today I have almost 12,000 hits on it from all around the world. Its been 10 months since I last blogged. I have been dying to start a new blog for some time now but was not sure what to write about, until now....
Please bare with me the next couple of weeks. This is a true "work in progress." Book mark and stay tuned for more information.
PS: I promise to have new and improved grammar and punctuation.