Secrets of your trade.

[Confusedfornow]

I have worked in my current area of expertise for the last 20 years or so. It's in Aviation, can't say exactly what or for who as it's a relatively small community (for my role) and it would be VERY outing. Before this, my only other "job" that I did for a few years was dancing (yes, that kind ). So I don't have massive experience of the world of work.

But I was chatting with some people in a bar over the weekend and conversation turned to jobs and then to my role. I was telling them about some stuff which is perfectly normal to me, but was absolutely news to them.

For instance . .

When a plane is "parked" and everything is switched off, the aircraft is referred to as being "Cold and dark".

If a helicopter has engine failure, it won't just fall out of the sky. The pilots are trained in a procedure called "autorotation" and can usually land safely even if the engine isn't running at all.

All British Airways flights use the call sign "Speed Bird". It's unique and no other airline in the world uses it.

Last one . .

Pilots can't wear polarised sunglasses. They make the electronic displays on the flight deck appear black, and you can't read any information from them.

So, what do you know from your jobs that is mundane for you but which most people wouldn't have a clue/be surprised by?

Thank you Martha'sGinYard and Smotheroffive. It hadn't even occured to me that the poster of the comment about vets killing animals may be a troll. I guess that shows how naive I am and I perhaps should just have ignored the post! But I really wanted to stand up for my profession and reassure pet owners that we don't all think or talk that way.

That being said, it is true to say that we do make inappropriate jokes at times - to help us get through those laugh or cry moments. But that phrase used by the PP is not something I've heard or come across. Of course life is rarely black and white and I am not saying it doesn't ever happen....but it's not common. At least not in my experience.

Teeth whitening toothpaste isnt illegal but the dentist is on about whiteninv treatments you can buy/have done

Im interested how the vet who registered knew about the thread x

Ida I understand what you mean and that makes sense. my wonderful relative was a bit like it, she had a hard life, but she went one to just get on with it, she succumbed to it and wallowed in it, was always moaning about how her xxx felt and how her xxx felt but there was nothing physically wrong so she couldn’t be helped and she should of taken another route to find out what was wrong with her. She also had cronic emphysema and coughed constantly, she used a nebuliser multiple times a day. She smoked like a trooper tho and wouldn’t give up her fags for her nerves, but she would of lived a better life if she gave them up?! The doctors couldn’t do anything for that.
Your husband sounds like a good man.

I work with people with dementia in their own homes, it's not a secret as such but we will tell your mum/dad/aunt/uncle whatever they need to hear to get them to take their medication or to get them up and dressed. Nothing malicious of course but if they need to hear that Dr X (who hasn't practiced in 20 years) asked me to specifically give them this tablet then that's what I will tell them.
We also tell them all our issues and home life stuff, they listen and give safe advice and then forget very quickly afterwards.

Nothing makes my day more than someone who I see regularly eventually remembering me in Simone capacity even if it's 'the lady threat knits' it touches my soul like nothing else.

I heavily judge families that will be in a house worth a loved one but will still expect me to do everything, from missing a cup of tea to basic personal care, I appreciate people can't always care for their loved ones in the way I do but I'm sure they can make their parents a cup of tea once in a while.

Also, a more controversial one. Some times people are arseholes, regardless of having dementia, they weren't nice before they got it, they aren't that nice now, there is a misguided thought that people become sweet, innocent and somewhat helpless when dementia grips them and it's just not the case. I've had people attack me, spit at me, swear at me and say incredibly cruel and and personal things. On the flip side, some of the loveliest people I have met have been clients I have worked with and it breaks my heart to lose them even though it's often the best thing for them I grieve hard.

the BBC do not have a back up building at all for people to go to.

My DH was head of security for buildings,people and assets until very recently for the bbc.

Another ex police officer here;

We generally know when you are lying to us

Black or dark humour is used a lot to relieve the pressure or stop us having embarrassing emotions!

We have heard it all before-in particular ‘you should be out catching burglars’ or ‘I pay your wages’ 🙄

We are allowed to stop and eat, preferably without Joe Public making sly comments

We also never eat food given to us by members of public, unless sealed in an emergency situation

I always got super hungry after dealing with dead bodies. Might be just me though!

We can’t just walk off at the end of a shift if we haven’t finished dealing with a prisoner or case file-although no OT has put a stop to that somewhat, I have worked 26 hours in a row before

We get sick of the public (and courts) never supporting us, sometimes though they surprise you in a good way

‘Extra’ police on the streets in an emergency situation like when a bomb has gone off actually means officers have been bought out onto the streets from their office based jobs or had their rest days cancelled

When the public says “there’s not enough police on the streets” we agree with you

I never sit on a train or in a room with my back to the door and always look for an escape route

Fellow NICHE user here in South Wales 👋🏻

@Dinosforall tell him thanks from me and my team. They are so awesome & should get the CS team excellence award every year. Beautifully written, succinct, clear, unbiased and unambiguous reports. I can't say how much time and effort they save us - especially as we are a policy by headline part of the CS. It is essential we avoid unintended consequences & we can only do this if we are sighted on all the relevant policy & legislation as well as it's provenance.

I work with Type 2 diabetics helping them to manage and reverse their disease. Most don't realise that it's possible to do this because all they ever hear from doctors is that it's a progressive disease.

It's not. It's a lifestyle choice and it can be undone quickly with fairly dramatic results. I've seen insulin dependent Type 2s come off insulin in 2 to 3 days. It's magic.

Dieticians (who are bound to "prescriptive" methods of managing disease) are required to recommend 120g of carbohydrate a day - a level guaranteed to keep a Type 2 in the diabetic zone.

There is no such thing as essential carbohydrate. Your liver makes glucose all day, every day. You can literally cut out carbohydrate 100% and suffer no ill effects after withdrawal. You cannot live without fat and protein.

Everything we have been taught about human nutrition over the last 50 years is dangerously wrong. If eat less, move more worked there would be no obesity and chronic metabolic diseases like Type 2.

Fantastic thread!

I’m a barrister and I agree with PP about Secret Barrister’s book to show the issues in the criminal system. But the family system is just as bad. Not fit for purpose.

I work in employment tribunals and you don’t need any qualifications to be an advocate there. Frequently people without any legal qualifications will charge clients to represent them in tribunals - employment law consultants, employment law advocates etc. And yes, a few of them are very good. Some of them are appalling. This seems worse in London where I’ve recently started practising.

At least in employment tribunals the judge knows something about employment law. Now necessarily so in courts. A judge, particularly a part time judge, is usually a good lawyer in their own field but judges often hear cases which are outside their area of expertise. So a civil lawyer who has never been inside a criminal court in their career can get appointed as a part time judge and suddenly start hearing jury trials with only 5 days training. Same in family cases, including care cases where care and placement (adoption) orders can be made.

Obviously they get experience on the job but never assume the judge knows very much at all about the area of law at hand. They might not.

Also, there is no such thing as a case without risk. If you are planning to litigate and your solicitor is only giving you good news, change solicitor. Far better to find out from them and make an informed decision whether to proceed than to find out all of the problems with your case in court - and yes, I frequently represent clients who I meet for the first time on the day of the hearing who have not been warned what might very realistically happen.

I had a few things to say about the HR posts a few pages back but can’t remember now!!

*not necessarily that should say

Another who thinks it’s lovely about the health professionals treatment of the dying.

This is nothing in comparison to the hands on care that has been described, but my sister is a doctor. Whenever she loses a patient, she will write in the medical notes:

“And sadly she then succumbed to her illness (or whatever). Rest in Peace, Sandra Jane Johnson”.

Such a small thing but it stuck with me. It will be the last entry ever made on those records, the end of that person’s story. I think it’s nice that this is respected and marked.

I understand not all doctors do that but most will write something along those lines, “may she rest in peace” or some such.

If you work in the royal household or Royalty protection you can apply to sit in the Queens box at the Royal Albert hall and watch a show for £5 each.
Ive seen 2 different Cirque De Soleils's and La Boheme.

The box is really nothing special.

Professional dancer here, West end, theatre tours and cruise ship credits.

When you go to watch a show and you are talking about someone on stage by covering your mouth with your hand and whispering into your friends ear, we can see you and the covering the mouth action makes it obvious you are talking about us.

If you use your phone in the theatre it is incredibly distracting for everyone. And it's rude.

Same with talking. Because we are generally in front of the speakers or depending on where the speakers are placed we can hear you.

If you are waiting for photos at the stage door be nice and wait your turn. Technically that is when we are off work and we are all rushing to get out last train home. Apart from the celeb cast members who usually have a driver.

I made more money working on cruise ships than I did working in West end.

The shows are of a higher standard on some cruise ships that west end.

Usually the show team that work on ships have been rehearsing for 1 to 2 months before they are on board at the ships studio usually in the states. Then they join the ship on the last 2 weeks of current cast contracts and start the install process which takes place of an evening time starting work at around 11pm at night till 6 in the morning. This is for tech runs, to get new cast used to the stage, prepare flying equipment, costume fittings etc. So when you are in bed of a night in your cabin there is a whole production going on in the theatre.

Dancing is incredibly hard work and not great pay. You really do need the passion to get through it.

I'm now retired at the age of 35 and have no pension or security other than my own house... Which years at sea paid for. Lol. I find it hard to find a new career after literally having the best job in the world for 15 years. The high I used to get from being onstage was something else and I think I'm still chasing it. Plus dancing is a lifestyle choice. I've literally moved across the world for work before. I'm so bored now staying in 1 place.

Also to work on ships that we don't have passenger status on we have to complete a course called STCW95 which is a basic firefighting, water, crowd management, first aid course. Basically when I worked on a ship I was in charge of a muster station which lead to the lifeboats. Its so much responsibility for a then 22 year old dancer. I know how to inflate life rafts, apply cpr, prepare a lifeboat for disembarking etc. Some passengers were extremely rude to me until they knew my position and they would be coming to my muster station in an emergency.

Loads of things happen on cruise ships that passengers don't know about. We had a full on fire on crew deck thanks to a washing machine that caught on fire. It was dealt with quickly and efficiently and no passenger ever knew.

Cruise ship doctors rip you off. Ours used to charge £200 for a sea sickness tablet that was a vitamin tablet.

As crew, we have a half price bar and our parties are so much fun. Honestly. Crew has a ball.

Dancing is not glamorous. It is sweaty, aching, tiring and fast paced. Dancers usually perform with at least 1 or 2 injuries. We can't afford to take time off for injuries to heal. We will usually be in physio of a day before our shows in the evening.

We can complete costume changes in 30 seconds.

Theatre touring life is hard work. Cramped tour vans, different beds every night, no home comforts, your diet is awful, no ability to cook, it's a lot of moving round.

God I miss it so much!

I have worked in a few hospitals- Rose cottage is definitely a place in many hospitals, and "may she rest in peace" a standard in notes. Doctors no longer write code for patients "FLK" for funny looking kid etc, and if they do, then they should be reprimanded - record keeping is on the agenda for most places, and only recognised medical code "ECG" or CPR etc is allowed. Many doctors in their letters will write "I had the pleasure of meeting this delightful lady/ child..." - this isn't necessarily code for anything, just being polite, and even if the child is a nightmare, they will still try and use a nice term.
5/6am is the prime time for a heart attack - blood pressure rises quickly when getting up, increase in adrenaline and the stickiness of a type of blood cell in the early morning all increase the risk - we used to know it was a heart attack when the red phone rang in resus at that time to tell us about an emergency on the way in, especially on a Monday morning!
"Ash cash" was the fee paid to drs to sign a cremation form, not death certificate.
In the old system, there used to be a place/ bedroom for the oncall dr to get some rest in a long night/ weekend oncall, these rooms have now mostly gone.
We don't get offended by patients/ families who are obviously stressed but do get fed up with those being rude without reason. We also talk to other staff/ teams, so will know about the patient who has made multiple complaints for very little reason.
We are constantly battling against lack of resources- sometimes only complaints directly from patients will work when we have been raising our concerns for a long time, so please complain to PALS if you feel lack of appointments/ long waiting lists are significantly affecting your care.

@IfOurEyesSawSouls I'm sorry but I don't understand your comment to me. I haven't posted anything about mental health just a couple of things about teaching.

@geneandfred - have you considered doing any teaching? Not necessarily dance - I know how awful it can be to do that when you were a professional (DH was west end musician and hates teaching music) but things like dance fitness classes? I've heard of a number of instructors who have a dance/theatre background and they seem to love it. There's an element of performance to it, keeps you fit etc without having to walk around being nice to parents of obnoxious 6 year olds... Also, a lot of teachers move around within a broad area rather than working at one gym, which keeps it interesting.

@Unescorted thank you, your kind words made his day (and possibly Wendy's )

Another college tutor one - sometimes we are relieved when a student drops out (because they are usually pretty hard work) but we're never happy about it.

I know that I and my colleagues all believe the best place for the type of student who tends to drop out is in college, not in a low-skilled job or hanging round the streets. We'll usually do everything possible to keep them in college at least until the end of the course. Even with difficult, not especially likeable students who leave, we do think about them afterwards and hope they've gone on to do well.

@Rockradio

Don’t ask them what?

When you go to watch a show and you are talking about someone on stage by covering your mouth with your hand and whispering into your friends ear, we can see you and the covering the mouth action makes it obvious you are talking about us.

Making a comment about a show to your partner - is that really a thing?

Surely it could also be just saying - shall we go for a coffee after the show?!

Is that a secret?