Monday - 7am and the alarm went off, it was PT again down the track and this time it was the annual fitness test. I had now given up smoking for three weeks and thus improving my time by at least 1 minute, getting a time of 10.05 for a mile and a half. Then into work for a days hard practice.
Tuesday - This time it was rehearsal for the orchestral gig on Friday
night. We rehearsed pieces including Amparito Roca and Chansen de Matin. After
the rehearsal had finished we all went to the bar to celebrate one of the trumpet
players birthday (Musn Burton).
Wednesday - There were a few sore heads this morning but they were soon
cleared as we were marching up and down to the sound of Army of the Nile and
Sailing. A normal days work carried on until lunchtime when we finished as we
had RT in the afternoon. We decided on bowling down at Gunwharf Quays and the
results were good for the students beating the PTI's hands down.
Thursday - This consisted of rehearsals for the gig that evening at the
Greggs School in Southampton. This was a small concert but an extremely good
cause as it was for a local cancer hospice. We played pieces such as Big Band
Spectacular and Robin Harry (a xylophone solo) which was performed by Sgt Andrews.
They looked after us extremely well and even laid on a three course meal for
us (better than the galley). A good time was had by everybody.
Friday - Parade Band again at 0800 which went quite well. Then rehearsals
for the Inverted Chevrons Dinner that evening (serving and ex-serving Drum and
Bugle Majors). This went down very well and everybody seemed to enjoy the evenings
musical performance.