As you're no doubt aware, Christmas hysteria is well and truly upon us, and I have to admit, it's nice to have a bit of it about. Everyone seems more relaxed at Christmas, more friendly, open and helpful. Which is odd, because when you think about it, behind the warm cozy scene, Christmas is probably one of the most stressful times of the year. Running around getting presents wrapped up, figuring out what it is people want, working overtime for the cash to pay for the presents, buying the food, cooking the food, etc, there's a lot of work behind the scenes...
But we wouldn't do it if it wasn't worth it, would we? I have to admit, I look forward to every christmas with plenty of anticipation and excitement. Not because (as was the case when I was younger) I had a shedload of new presents, but because for a week or so of the year, a kind of strange peace descends upon the country, and you do notice the change in peoples' behavior. It's nice, for me, to be able to see everyone having a good time, getting the presents they wanted, spending time with their family, it's all very nice.
With that in mind, I've started my christmas spending. Yes, in this capitalist technocracy of ours, round november december time, the financial transactions start coming thick and fast, as your bank balance deflates faster than a balloon that a hedgehog is trying to carry home on its back.*
So far, as is the norm for me, I'm well on my way to buying all the presents that I want to buy for my nephew, who I've always favoured (if I'm honest), and have actually bought a couple of presents for other people already as well. Now I've got to wrap them up, which is sort of pleasantly distracting and incredibly tedious at the same time.
Even the weather's turning, with snow reported over most of northern/central England, particularly around Birmingham and Solihull, but also Nottingham and even some on the other side of the city. Outside our house, it's just drizzling slightly, but apparently other parts of the town have been getting anything up to an inch or so, with Birmingham getting several inches of snow - this bodes well for a white christmas, and would be very fitting, and very nice, for what will possibly be my last christmas living in this house, for some years.
Yes, folks, this brings me neatly round to the Army again. Despite the shameless neglect and diabolical treatment of the armed forces at the hands of the Government and Ministry of Defence, despite several very high ranking officers complaining publicly** about the conditions that soldiers are fighting under, living in and generally subjected to, my enthusiasm for getting myself back into the green machine has increased substantially, as has my fitness. With that in mind, the part of my mind that is testosterone fuelled young man with a taste for adventure and glory is whispering "Why not join a teeth arm (teeth arm = combat regiment) instead of a support arm". To be honest, it appeals a lot more than the thought of getting stuck in a workshop for my entire carreer, though I have been given assurances that even if I did go for REME vehicle mechanic, that would probably not happen. If I did go for Vehicle Mechanic, with some luck, I'd be posted to all sorts of different units and get to ahem, "join in" for want of a better word, with whatever they're doing".
So what other carreers appeal to me?
I could join the Royal Armoured Corps as a tank crewman - Challenger 2's are supposed to be bloody good fun to work in, and there's a hell of a camaraderie when you're part of a four man crew that work, fight, sleep and chill out together.
On the other hand, I could go for the local regiment, and get myself into the Infantry. My TA unit when I was a kid was infantry and I have to admit I loved it. Never been shot at during training through, so I'm in no position to claim to "know the job".
I have also expressed an interest in joining the Royal Artilliery, as an AS90 Gunner.
Like a tank, but bigger, with a bigger gun, and a larger crew, AS90's are used for long range fire support. Supposed to be pretty cool.
Like I say, my fitness is coming on in leaps and bounds, I'm about to start running again, and my weight training is progressing at a decent pace too. I can feel and see myself getting stronger and fitter, so before long hopefully, I will finally, at long last, be ready for ADSC.
But, let's have christmas first, eh? work is continuing okay I suppose, though it is getting incredibly tedious and boring, and to be honest, the sooner I'm out of there, and training to serve, the better. Until then I'm gonna carry on here, keeping you updated and generally bimbling through life, while training hard and getting ready for my new life, at the same time.
Here's some pictures for you.
From left to right
TOP ROW
1. REME Vehicle Mechanic working on what looks like an 8 tonne wagon
2. Challenger Armoured Recovery Vehicle - a cross between a tank, a dozer, and a towtruck!
3. A Challenger 2 Tank - the British Army's main battle tank - an absolute beast!
BOTTOM ROW
1. Part of an infantry section (a bunch of infantry soldiers) doing whatever it is they're doing.
2. An AS90 Self Propelled Gun. It's a big bugger, isn't it!
*At last, a metaphor that isn't "pointless".
** I hesitate to quote The Sun as a reference, since generally it is little better than a comic with news in, but it's the only news site that actually still has the story on from what I can see.
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