One look at his shiny helmet and being encouraged to climb on board the truck and train a powerful hose on an imaginary fire and I was hooked.

When I was 10 I was desperate to be a firefighter and was convinced as soon as I was old enough I’d sign up.

Of course I didn’t, and I’m still regretting it now, perhaps more than ever.

So, what’s got me dreaming about firefighter after all these years? Short answer, jealousy pure and simple.

My cousin, who drove a fire engine, has retired at the age of 50 and is living the life of Riley.

He’s now managing a portfolio of rental properties, which he purchased and renovated in the time he had off from being a firefighter.

But, and here’s the thing, even when he was working there always seemed to be time to look after his houses.

"So, what’s got me dreaming about firefighter after all these years? Short answer, jealousy pure and simple..."

Whenever he was on nights he openly admitted he was either dealing with his tenants or sleeping, it didn’t matter which as he was being paid for both.

Now he’s on a ridiculously generous pension and just doing one job to earn cash, rather than two – he says the vast majority of firefighters have two jobs, and interestingly far more are injured doing the second one than the one they signed up for.

Not that it’s a bad thing of course that we have less fires today and there’s less chance of them being hurt.

But, they’re not the protected species they once used to be when they were completely beyond criticism.

Police officers were also held in high esteem back then, but they could be called to task and weren’t beyond reproach in the same way.

Firefighters first moved from being ‘untouchables’ to ordinary people (albeit ordinary people who do an important job) when there was a national strike for a 30 per cent pay rise way back in 1977.

They then went on strike many other times and slipped further in the public perception.

Earlier this year firefighters voted for a UK-wide strike for the first time in 20 years but the action was postponed and strikes averted when they accepted an improved offer earlier this month.

Now the firefighters’ union is calling for a campaign of mass non-cooperation and non-compliance over the Minimum Service Levels Bill.

I wonder if that will mean they lose sleep or won’t have enough time to organise their second jobs?

Whether they’re right to threaten this action will be judged by others and but I can’t help thinking they already hold a privileged position many of us can only dream about.

As I say, I’m sure I’m only jealous because I didn’t find a career where you can retire early, get paid to sleep at work and have enough time and energy for a second job.