New Recruits Diary Week 6

Half way there! Sunday: After last minute shopping and general loafing, the troop climbed aboard our coach to head for our well earned adventure training week in Jersey. We left at 1700 and didn't arrive at our new home for the week until 0030. Awaiting us was a chilli concarne and for the first time we heard, what was to become a familiar, phrase "It's all got to go!".

Monday: Up at 0700 for phys (PT), shower and breakfast followed by our morning brief. Every morning the training team put on the weather forecast video that they had recorded the night before. They appeared as weathermen in different guises they had created. This morning a character called 'Soldier from Nam' presented the weather, beginning " It kinda remembers me..." . After the brief, the troop split into its 4 groups to go and do our various activities consisting of surfing, climbing, cycling and scuba diving. However, the weather was to prove very, very wet and windy and most activities for the day were cancelled. My group went cycling, we came back looking like we had just been swimming though.

That evening the training team took us Ten Pin bowling. Congratulations to Bugler Amy Clark who beat CSgt Basford in style!

Tuesday: Up at 0700 for phys, shower and breakfast followed by our morning brief. This mornings weather was brought to us by the character 'Chinese guy'. My group took part in the climbing activity. It was enjoyed by all despite the many cuts we received whilst ascending and descending the face.

That evening we had to give our 5 minute presentations on the topics we had been set two weeks earlier on a song and an artist. After the presentations a few of the group went out for an evening of Karaoke but when they got there they found that it had also been cancelled... due to the weather!

Wednesday: Up at 0700 for phys, a run along the beach and swim, and on our return a shower and breakfast followed by our morning brief.This mornings weather was by yet another different character 'Bob "the cleaner" Ostishire'. Split into our groups we were tested on our ability to say "Group Task". Unfortunately the scuba diving company failed to do their job so none of the troop got to dive. After completing our administration it was into the wet weather routine of visiting local museums and points of interest. Some of the museums were interesting, but we did compile our own list of local 'unattractions' and local points of 'uninterest'.

Before we began the second groups presentations we were invited to join in on a game of football. Only 3 girls were brave enough to venture onto the pitch (Musns Allen, Singleton and Bugler Clark). The whole team ended up covered in blood because of Musn Richardsons recurring knee injury. Cheers Clockwork!

After the evenings' troop presentations, the whole troop then went to watch the football. No surprise England didn't win. After the match some of the troop and the training team went to a Karaoke evening in a local hostelry. The troop would like to take this opportunity to thank Sgts Griffin, Baldwin, Smith and Cpl Thomas for gracing us with their vocal talents. Thursday:Up at 0700 for phys, a run along the beach and swim, and on our return a shower and breakfast followed by our morning brief could this be groundhog day! The weather forecast this morning was brought by "What's up Surf Dude? ... Whatya doin' Soldier!". The weather was pretty much the same as yesterday and the day before and the day before...

Apart from the surfers the rest of the troop had to put the wet weather plan into action again and visited some of the local sites and museums that they had not yet had chance to see, some even managed a pub lunch.

We returned back to perform in a traditional sods opera. Many congratulations to the whole troop. The performances were excellent and very much enjoyed by all. Particular congratulations to Musns Walker and McKinnon whose impressions of Sgt Griffin and Sgt Smith respectively were extremely good. Then we all changed into silly rig for the troop 'silly rig run ashore'. Particularly good efforts were Musns McKinnon, Walker and Bug Johnson who appearance as a 'vicar' deserves a mention. Captain Cunningham's Ali G was very, very funny, along with Musn Richardson's fairy costume (which went missing...). Whilst out there were some bizarre happenings. Bugler Clark began the evening dressed as a nun and returned dressed as a train spotter, Musn Keddilty went out dressed as a cavewoman and Bugler Vyse returned dressed as a cavewoman! A good night was had by all - thanks to the training team for organising it.

Friday: With a late ferry there was some time to spend looking around the local shops. After a day of shopping it was time to return to HMS Nelson, but not before lunch. First out was the chips, then came the ice-cream, followed by the pots of jam, 14 litres of milk and blocks of Margarine. As CSgt Fulthorpe says "It's all got to go !".

We all enjoyed the week very much. Special thanks to the PT staff for organising it. Halfway there - only 6 weeks to go!

Musn Lawson.