KEY POINTS:
Bruce Blanche struggles with ideas for things to do on Christmas Day.
He is unfamiliar with the notion of a day off - he has worked on December 25 for the past 35 years. But tomorrow, for the first time in his career with the Life Flight air ambulance, he will have Christmas Day off.
"I am not sure what I will do. Perhaps play cards. Perhaps read a book, spend time with my family."
Mr Blanche waves away the idea he is a workaholic, saying that he has a different approach to the holiday: "That is the reality of aviation. I am a shift worker, and we have a small team, which suits everybody.
"I do Christmas in my own way, by working."
He works as a mission co-ordinator, organising the logistics of Life Flight's two planes, which carry patients between hospitals and provide in-the-air intensive care.
They fly an average of four missions a day, and have helped more than 14,000 people.
"I work long hours, sometimes on call for 24 hours, but I love it. I am always attached to a phone, but I try to keep a positive attitude."
He cannot recall a Christmas he regretted. "If I get a really horrible job, it is no big deal. I move on."
Life Flight Auckland operations manager Ian Lauder is not surprised by Mr Blanche's commitment.
"We are needed every day to bring critically ill patients to Auckland and Christmas Day is no different," he said.
Mr Blanche's most memorable Christmas was two years ago, when he saw his grandchildren opening their presents, before going to work.
But this year he is going to Sydney, where he will take a cruise with his mother and son.
"I am not sure what I will do, I am not used to this feeling. I think my workmates are more excited than I am." While he does not regret working at Christmas for 35 years, he says, "it will be nice to be able to put the phone down and think that is that".
