Category: Fun Story

Still working on the fire truck, we visited a recent event, where the inclement weather caused problems to the vendors. The mud meant that pretty much anything heavier than a bicycle had to be recovered with winches and tows etc.

Coming from a funfair background we are used to having to do this. However, in the past, on a typical fairground the recovery was a co-operative affair. Everyone helped each other until we were all out.

Nowadays we tend to attend events where the vendors don’t have a common connection. As a result you may got an occasional helping hand, but often it becomes a bit of an everyman for themselves sort of affair.

Our Solution

What we came up with was upgrading our food truck with this;

This is a 10 tonne military spec recovery winch. Using a single snatch block it gives us a 20 tonne pull. Should be ok for the roughly 7 tonne weight of the fire truck.

Obviously it needed mounting somewhere on the truck. What we ended up designing was a bumper mount. Or to be more precise, we had a heavy duty mount fabricated to bolt into the front chassis rails. The fact that on US fire engines these tend to extend two feet forward of the cab made it much easier.

Chassis Rail Mount

The next issue was mounting the hook. It needed to come through the front bumper. Unfortunately the middle of the bumper is right where the number plate is mounted (licence plate for our American cousins), which necessitated moving it. Or did, until we found an alternative. Seems the Yanks do this sort of thing regularly, and make a nifty flip up licence plate mount that allows a roller fairlead to be used just by, well, flipping the plate up!

To finish off we added a new American style plate and a hook mount. Along with a selection of 10 tonne recovery straps and shackles to extend the usable reach of the winch system.

Oh, and we added quick change mounts to the number plate holder, so we can add custom printed plates as a little extra touch.

Next step is to source and add some recovery track mats, much easier to winch a vehicle onto mats and drive it off rather than winch it all the way

There are all sorts of burgers. Big burgers, little burgers, fat, thin, stacked, spicy, not spicy. The new kid on the block is the ‘Smash Burger‘.

What Is A Smash Burger?

A normal burger is usually a pre formed pattie of beef. Or some combination of beef and other ingredients. A smash burger starts as a ball of beef (or other ingredients) and is then smashed down onto the grill. A heavy weight is then pressed down onto the pattie to provide pressure into the heat.

The result is a thin burger. Much thinner than a normal burger and a more jagged random shape, but with a lot crisper texture.

Oh, and usually a fabulous taste that tends to leave other burgers for dead.

The Sciency Bit

As the burger cooks, the Maillard reaction kicks in. This complex chemical reaction occurs between amino acids and reducing sugars when food is exposed to high heat. It’s responsible for the browning of the meat, producing a range of flavor compounds that contribute to the burger’s deliciousness. The result is a deeply caramelized crust that adds a satisfying crunch and an umami-packed taste.

What Makes A Good Smash Burger?

Like many foods it starts with the ingredients. There is much discussion on Wagyu, Angus, Kobe and other varieties of beef. Many feel that Angus makes the best burger, but , food is subjective.

The fat content can make a big difference. It seems to be a common idea that around 20% fat makes for a good burger. The fat keeps the burger juicy and adds a depth to the flavour.

Typical Smash Burger Patties

If you want a fabulous smash burger then book our gourmet burger service and specify smash burgers.

If you want to make it even more fabulous, have them served from our full sized American Fire Truck Food Truck.

The whole point of the US fire truck food truck, is that its, well, a fire truck. So most of what we have done with it has been aimed at theming around it being a firetruck.

When we officially launch it we will have some nice touches that match up with the theme. One of these will be our new work aprons. They are actually made form used fire fighter turn out gear. If you don’t know turn out gear is a term for the safety outfits they wear when attending a fire, or ‘turn out.’

We happened upon a Dutch based company, Remade Industries, that takes used fire equipment and repurposes it into things such as bags, oven mittens etc. And aprons. These are all unique, as they are made from different outfits cut in different ways, but they suit our theme to a T. Also being made from turn out gear, they are fire proof and tough.

These are fabulous quality, and tick the environmental box as they are re using equipment. Oh, and we like the idea of them all having a history, like being used in real fires.

When we purchased our ex Evansville, Indiana USA fire truck, it came with a name proudly emblazoned upon the side. This was John W. Sanders II.

I did some research and actually made contact with the deputy fire chief of the department the truck had served in. He explained that in the US they name their appliances after deceased fire fighters. (Or local dignitaries or long serving fire chiefs if they are lucky enough not to have any deceased fire fighters when they buy a new truck).

We decided to keep the name the same, we felt that a bit like buying a boat, it might be bad luck to change it.

On the side of the fire truck are four holes where a plaque would have been mounted. This is usually along the lines of thanking the local mayor, council etc for raising the funds to buy the truck. This was obviously missing on ours so we had a replacement plate made. This is pictured below and carries the fireman’s prayer.

The Fire Fighters Prayer.

Written by Alvin William “Smokey” Linn, a fire fighter in Brunswick Maine. A man who’s life story is worth a read.

It is often accompanied by the Fire Fighters “Wife’s” prayer;

“The table’s set, the meal’s prepared, our guests will soon arrive My husband once more disappears with a hope of keeping a child alive.

While waiting at home alone, our plans having gone awry My first impulse is merely to sit right down and cry.

But soon again I realise the importance of my life When I agreed to take on the duties of being a fireman’s wife.

While there are many drawbacks, I’ll take them in my stride Knowing “My Daddy saved a life” our children can say with pride.

The gusting winds and raging flames may be his final fate But with God’s help I can remain my fireman’s faithful mate.”

Author Unknown

International Waffle Day: A Global Celebration of Fluffy Delights

March 25th is a day that brings joy to breakfast lovers around the world – International Waffle Day. This delightful holiday celebrates the beloved waffle in all its crispy, golden glory. From classic Belgian waffles to creative interpretations from every corner of the globe, International Waffle Day is a time to indulge in one of the most versatile and delicious breakfast foods known to humanity.

Embracing Waffles Across Cultures: What makes International Waffle Day truly special is its celebration of waffles in all their diverse forms. While the waffle may have originated in Europe, its popularity has spread far and wide, with each culture adding its own unique twist to this beloved treat. From the sweet, syrup-drenched waffles of North America to the savory gaufres enjoyed in France, waffles come in countless variations, each more delicious than the last.

A Rich History: The history of the waffle is as rich and varied as its toppings. Waffles have been enjoyed by people around the world for centuries, with evidence of their existence dating back to ancient Greece. Over the years, waffle-making techniques have evolved, leading to the creation of different styles and varieties of waffles. Today, waffles are enjoyed by millions of people worldwide, making International Waffle Day a truly global celebration.

Waffles Unite Us: One of the most beautiful things about International Waffle Day is its ability to bring people together. Whether you’re sharing a plate of waffles with friends and family at home or indulging in a delicious waffle breakfast at your favorite cafe, there’s something special about coming together to enjoy this beloved breakfast treat. Waffles have a way of transcending cultural boundaries and uniting people from all walks of life in a shared appreciation for good food and good company.

Celebrating International Waffle Day: There are countless ways to celebrate International Waffle Day, no matter where you are in the world. You could start your day with a stack of classic buttermilk waffles topped with fresh berries and whipped cream, or you could get creative in the kitchen and experiment with new and exciting waffle recipes. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, there’s a waffle out there to satisfy every craving.

Spread the Waffle Love: International Waffle Day is also a great opportunity to spread the love by sharing waffles with others. Host a waffle brunch for your friends and family, organize a waffle-making competition with your coworkers, or simply surprise a loved one with a homemade batch of waffles. However you choose to celebrate, sharing the joy of waffles with others is sure to make International Waffle Day a day to remember.

In Conclusion: International Waffle Day is a time to celebrate one of the world’s most beloved breakfast foods in all its delicious glory. Whether you prefer your waffles sweet or savory, crispy or fluffy, there’s no denying the universal appeal of this humble yet oh-so-delicious treat. So grab your waffle iron, whip up a batch of batter, and join people around the world in celebrating International Waffle Day in style.

If you need a waffle cart for your event, give us a shout, they are waffly good.

We have just finished a complete refurbishment and overhaul of one of our compact generator systems. TBF, this one is a bit special, in that it was gifted to me by my late Father in Law. I wanted to keep it working as it provides a connection to him. It has actually turned out a bit like Triggers broom in Only Fools and Horses. It has had a new cabinet, radiator, alternator and control systems. If the engine blows then there really isn’t much left of the original.

We actually ended up using this one much more than we expected, due to its low running costs, making it perfect for smaller events such as a coffee cart hire, etc.

What happened was the unit we were using was designed to demount from its transport trailer into the back of one of our vans. This worked great, up until the original casing fell apart due to corrosion. Being a Kubota engine there was plenty of life left in the actual unit itself.

It was built on four castors, up until one corner fell off and it came back on three wheels. Luckily whilst obtaining a new generator to build into the rear of our fire engine, we noticed that the dealer we were dealing with had a large supply of new cases for compact generators.

We obtained one of these, which were priced at a really keen price point, and set about the construction. The cases were pretty complete except for things like control panels, door locks, etc. We managed to track these down, with a delay on waiting for a delivery from China for some parts unobtainable over here.

The unit when it was constructed looked superb. Unfortunately following the advice of some experts to bond the Earth line to the Neutral, a requirement in most generators, the unit went bang. Seems that on centre tapped alternators this is a big no no.

So back to our supplier for a new alternator. Unfortunately when we removed the case to wire the new one up, we found that it also was a centre tapped alternator. Cue another trip up north to obtain a non centre tapped version.

So far so good. Except when we came to assemble it, the coupling system didn’t meet up. Seems our original unit had a recessed flywheel, which left the tapered shaft mount about 5 mmm short.

Cue yet another trip to swap flywheels for the correct one. This one happily did fit, and everything went together perfectly.

Well almost. Whilst screwing in the Earth point connection, the end fell off my screwdriver, and into the alternator internals. Meaning another complete strip down of the cabinet, to then strip the alternator down to retrieve said fallen off bit.

Happily this time everything did go together properly. We dropped the unit onto its original trailer, necessitating a few minor alterations to the fastening system and Bob’s your Uncle.