We have only been back at work for four days and it feels like a lifetime.
The last of the first auditionees went back today. I can't believe it
has been a year since we were doing the same thing. Most of Training Company
were rehearsing with Parade Band ready for their trip to Italy the following
week. The rest of us, were confined to our cells as usual - no rest for the
wicked.
Finally the weekend arrived and once again we were in work envying our civvy
friends who were already hitting the beach however we weren't far behind.
The second week of auditionees arrived today and were greeted by a lovely PT
session from Sgt Griffin. Training Company had theirs earlier in the day - a
beasting would be a more appropriate word. We were soon into our normal routine
with rehearsals cropping up for the Italy band. The brass groups finally did
their recitals after waiting for weeks. It was the first for some of our term,
well done to Musns Beasley and Harwood.
Tuesday's weather didn't cool down so the auditionees had a rather
hot mile and a half run around the dockyard. Tuesday was pretty uneventful.
Yet again the girls were better at their rounds than the blokes - and they say
we don't belong in the Band Service! Well done girls!
We started to deplete in numbers from Wednesday. Musns Hairsine W, Dolby, Beasley
and Harwood were taken by Cpl Bean and Capt Henderson to Plymouth to compete
in the Corps Sailing Championships for the first time. Hopefully all their hard
training will have paid off - good luck guys.
Thursday and there is no one left. Training Company have left for Italy - at
least we can have some time in peace - oh, we are still in our cells! There
was a mini-thrashing in the fitness suite for the nine who were left. The rest
of Thursday carried on as with every other week. The flute class had their monthly
assessments - less said about those the better. We have found the first perk
to not going to Italy - we had the evening off. Did we celebrate in style and
take advantage of no Parade Band in the morning? No, most of us were in bed
very early.
Friday and Troop 1/00 had a nice start to the day being greeted on our way to
work by our ex-drill instructor from basics. People fidgeted as they worried
about what impression they would create from their kit - some things never change!
It was nice to see you too Cpl Smith! It continued to be quite a routine day
with only the aural class to break up the time in our cells. With any luck we'll
have a good end to the week and be able to spend the weekend on the beach.
Musn Lawson