Musician Linden 24 - 28 May 2004

Monday

Today started with our termly basic fitness test of a mile and a half run, so we were down the track for 0730 ready to see Colours McGough and our new Colour Sgt Lawton. We then had to double our way back to our accommodation to get showered and rigged up ready for work as half of us were on a concert band gig with a school from Liverpool at the Corps Museum, the rest of us were to stay at the School and do a normal working day. It was nice and quiet for a change for the remainder at the School. I have personally been working towards Cassel Prize which is in a couple of weeks and I am competing on piano; rather a nerve wracking experience all around.

Having worked a hard day at the School, everyone was ready to go back to the accommodation to chill out after doing our regular stuff for rounds. Preparing for another day at the School tomorrow.


Tuesday

Today was a normal day, after yesterday. We started work at 0830 after falling in for inspection and we worked the whole day. A selected few were chosen for a review on our pay and to give feed back as to how we felt about our pay and life in HMS Nelson. Most of my Troop are preparing themselves for their M3 exams which start in the next couple of weeks. A bit of a nerve racking time for all of them. Good luck guys!


Wednesday

Today was a half day as Wednesday's always are as we have recreational training in the afternoon. Today there wasn't anything organised for RT, so people could do what they wanted. Some of us did compete in the athletics for Nelson and from what I heard we didn't do too badly.

In the evening we went out for drinks with Colours McGough as he is sadly leaving us and moving on to pastures new and hot climates, he has just got a job in Dubai so I think a lot of trainees will be looking at going on holiday out there!!


Thursday

Today was a normal day again for us, apart from our phys which was nice and easy this morning as we ran to the local cafe for a nice fry up to start the day off, thanks Colours! We were working hard and slaving away for the rest of the day mind, practising for our gigs, exams and masterclasses that are all coming up this term. We then had evening rehearsal for concert band, looking through some of our new repertoire and going through some of the older stuff in preparation for gigs we have coming up, especially Open Day.


Friday

Today started with Parade Band and I was a Bugler for the morning, very strange. This was another rehearsal for Open Day over at HMS Excellent as they have a bigger parade square than us. We were then back in Nelson for the whole day practising solidly. We then had Concert Band in the afternoon with WO2 Farrar, he then very kindly thinned us out as we had worked quite hard, so everyone was looking forward to the weekend.