BillyBen.com

I’ve just come back from completing another one of my goals from my list of things to do before I die. When I first turned 17, in August last year, I was sent a letter by the National Blood Service asking me to give blood. I decided it would be something good to do, especially as it may mean the difference between life and death for some one.

Anyway off I popped, heading down to my local blood bank with Mobb Deep on the iPod and veins full of blood just begging to be drained away. I was a little nervous to go in, not really knowing what to expect. I became a little more relaxed when I saw one of my mam (mum for all you southerners)’s friends. A nurse handed me a form and I was asked to fill it out, just basic stuff on whether or not you think you may have any diseases or infections. After that I was shown back to the waiting area where I had a good chance to look around, the place was organised in a very public way and you could see the donors’ blood coming out their arms.

I got taken into this little cubicle, a blood sample taken to test the Iron levels in my blood, just a little prick on your finger, and then I was asked whether I had ever accepted money or drugs for sex and a few other random questions and then got sent back to the waiting area.

After my name was called out I took my jacket off and was asked which arm I wanted to use, decisions decisions. After an overly long consideration and then many changes of choice I opted for my left arm just because the bed for left arms was closer. I lay down and then they put a tourniquet around my arm and then asked me if I wanted a local anaesthetic (which I declined). The nurse told me it usually takes 15 minutes to get the pint of blood they collect but I was done in 4. They also took a few test tubes for testing to see my blood-group and whether I have HIV etc.

Then comes the fun part, after all that you get a free drink of juice and a couple of biscuits just to make your day that little bit nicer.

So there you have it, giving blood is not that bad! From now on I will be donating on a regular basis. Yet another goal over and done with.
As always, if you would like to find out more, click the image above

Last night, well… a few hours ago, I went to Curry Capital in Newcastle’s Bigg Market with a few friends. For those of you who don’t know, Curry Capital is home to the ‘Curry Hell’, officially the world’s hottest curry (certified by the Guinness Book of Records). For a laugh, and because it was on my list of things to do before I die, I decided to order it. It was not anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be and I managed to eat roughly half of it which is good considering some of the other lads tried about half a spoonful and were crying!

According to their site if you eat the whole thing you get a certificate and the meal for free. On the other hand, if you die attempting to eat it the bill gets given to your next of kin!

I met the owner, pretty cool bloke. We ‘accidentally’ told him it was one of our birthdays and Katie got a birthday cake for free! I would have some photos but they didn’t allow phones and I didn’t have a digital camera with me.

Anyway, strike another thing off the list to do.