diff --git a/bridge_master.py b/bridge_master.py
index 7a9db59..63d9867 100755
--- a/bridge_master.py
+++ b/bridge_master.py
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ import re
 from twisted.internet.protocol import Factory, Protocol
 from twisted.protocols.basic import NetstringReceiver
 from twisted.internet import reactor, task
+#We're going to *try* and be thread safe
+from twisted.python import threadable
+threadable.init(1)
+
+from threading import Semaphore
 
 # Things we import from the main hblink module
 from hblink import HBSYSTEM, OPENBRIDGE, systems, hblink_handler, reportFactory, REPORT_OPCODES, mk_aliases
@@ -264,9 +269,21 @@ def stream_trimmer_loop():
                 else:
                     logger.error('(%s) Attemped to remove OpenBridge Stream ID %s not in the Stream ID list: %s', system, int_id(stream_id), [id for id in systems[system].STATUS])
 
+def threadIdent():
+    logger.debug('(IDENT) starting ident thread')
+    reactor.callInThread(ident)
+    
+def threadedMysql():
+    logger.debug('(MYSQL) Starting MySQL thread')
+    if not mysql_sema.acquire(blocking = False):
+        logger.debug('(MYSQL) Previous thread is still running (can\'t acquire semaphore). Try next iteration')
+        return
+    reactor.callInThread(mysql_config_check)
+    mysql_sema.release()
+
 def ident():
     for system in systems:
-        if CONFIG['SYSTEMS'][system]['MODE'] == 'OPENBRIDGE':
+        if CONFIG['SYSTEMS'][system]['MODE'] != 'MASTER':
             continue
         if CONFIG['SYSTEMS'][system]['VOICE_IDENT'] == True:
             #We only care about slot 2 - idents go out on slot 2
@@ -281,6 +298,8 @@ def ident():
                 for character in _systemcs:
                     _say.append(words[character])
                     _say.append(words['silence'])
+                #test 
+                #_say.append(AMBEobj.readSingleFile('44xx.ambe'))
                 speech = pkt_gen(bytes_3(16777215), bytes_3(16777215), bytes_4(16777215), 1, _say)
 
                 sleep(1)
@@ -291,7 +310,8 @@ def ident():
                             break
                     #Packet every 60ms
                     sleep(0.058)
-                    systems[system].send_system(pkt)
+                    #Twisted is not thread safe. We need to call this in the reactor main thread
+                    reactor.callFromThread(systems[system].send_system,pkt)
 
 def mysql_config_check():
     logger.debug('(MYSQL) Periodic config check')
@@ -765,17 +785,24 @@ class routerHBP(HBSYSTEM):
                         _say.append(words[num])
      
                 speech = pkt_gen(bytes_3(9), bytes_3(9), bytes_4(9), 1, _say)
-
-                sleep(1)
-                while True:
-                    try:
-                        pkt = next(speech)
-                    except StopIteration:
-                        break
-                    #Packet every 60ms
-                    sleep(0.058)
-                    self.send_system(pkt)
-                    #print(len(pkt), pkt[4], pkt)
+                
+                #Nested function - see below
+                def sendSpeech(self,speech):
+                    sleep(1)
+                    while True:
+                        try:
+                            pkt = next(speech)
+                        except StopIteration:
+                            break
+                        #Packet every 60ms
+                        sleep(0.058)
+                        #Call the actual packet send in the reactor thread 
+                        #as it's not thread safe
+                        reactor.callFromThread(self.send_system,pkt)
+                        #print(len(pkt), pkt[4], pkt)
+                
+                #call speech in a thread as it contains sleep() and hence could block the reactor
+                reactor.callInThread(sendSpeech,self,speech)
 
             # Mark status variables for use later
             self.STATUS[_slot]['RX_PEER']      = _peer_id
@@ -1210,13 +1237,16 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     stream_trimmer.addErrback(loopingErrHandle)
    
     # Ident
-    ident_task = task.LoopingCall(ident)
+    #This runs in a thread so as not to block the reactor
+    ident_task = task.LoopingCall(threadIdent)
     ident = ident_task.start(900)
     ident.addErrback(loopingErrHandle)
     
     #Mysql config checker
+    #This runs in a thread so as not to block the reactor
     if CONFIG['MYSQL']['USE_MYSQL'] == True:
-        mysql_task = task.LoopingCall(mysql_config_check)
+        mysql_sema = Semaphore(value=1)
+        mysql_task = task.LoopingCall(threadedMysql)
         mysql = mysql_task.start(60)
         mysql.addErrback(loopingErrHandle)
     
diff --git a/read_ambe.py b/read_ambe.py
index 0981570..4a3ed86 100644
--- a/read_ambe.py
+++ b/read_ambe.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class readAMBE:
         ])
         return _wordBADict
 
+    #Read a single ambe file from the audio directory
     def readSingleFile(self,filename):
         ambeBytearray = {}
         _wordBitarray = bitarray(endian='big')