Monday
Much to the dismay of Training Company (especially me, being affectionately
known in the 'wing' as Perfect PT Pete!) there was no physical exercise this
morning due to my heroes, Colour Sergeant 'Joseph' McGoff and Sergeant 'Whisky'
Grounsel being away in Wales for the week with the New Entry Troop. As the musical
study books emerged from the shelves however, the extreme low morale of Monday
morning gave way to little excited shining faces as we got stuck into our practice.
The working day concluded and we all bounded down to the beach for a large Training
Company bonding session, in the form of sausages on the hot coals i.e. a BBQ.
Tuesday
Rounds again. I got away, for the ninth week, with a dirty bed and enough dust
on my surfaces to build a small bungalow, only joking Sergeant! It makes for
comic reading! Hey, we are in showbiz! The day is pretty uneventful with the
threat of losing our coffee boat due to admittedly blatant negligence, we all
made a conscious effort to return mugs to the sink, as William 'Braveheart'
Wallace famously said, "They may take our freedom, but I ain't losing my
coffee boat"! We all enjoyed a good rehearsal in the evening for the gig
in Alton.
Wednesday
The day began with Parade Band. This morning was an unusually hard blow. The
afternoon saw us playing for the Bandmasters Course, rehearsing music by Philip
Sparke till around 1430. Then it's to the beach for fun.
Thursday
Again no phys, we hasten to our instruments to avoid too long down in the depths
of pity and despair. Recitals completed it's time to go back to practice. My
abilities on the horn are ever improving and developing, for me to eventually
take my place on the world stage as 'Perfect horn Player Pete'. It may just
be a glimpse on the horizon, but it is attainable, I'll just have to keep blowing.
We again enjoy evening rehearsal, preparing diligently for the Alton gig on
Saturday. Gigs on weekend are brilliant because we don't need to plan anything
to do in our otherwise free time, anyway I'd rather blow.
Friday
An air of excitement infiltrates the otherwise gloomy mood of Training Company.
Parade Band goes hitch free again and the day's practice whizzes past.
Saturday
The Alton gig. This is an annual concert - a poignant engagement for the RMBS.
A charity concert in Memorium of a past colleague, Bob Simmons who died in the
Deal Bombing in 1989.