Week 2 Musician Dawkins 03 September - 09 September 2001
The first two days after arrival were really hectic. They were spent being
issued and sorting all of our newly acquired kit out and getting to know each
other, I must admit so far it's been a great experience!Adapting to the food
was a big mission, the rest of the troop will agree with me on this, its certainly
different to home cooking. We all got to sleep late on the first night, since
then it has just been getting later and later, we also seem to be waking up
earlier and earlier.
Wednesday saw our first room inspections and everyone in the female accommodation
was very anxious. During the whole of the room inspection I was trying to hold
back nervous laughter.
Thursday's drill was the most horrible time of the whole week for me, I just
couldn't seem to get my saluting right and the whole troop had to wait for me…
sorry!
Thursday afternoon we had a Health and Safety lecture with some of the troop
falling asleep and I found it very hard to keep my eyes open!
Thursday night we got to bed very late and were awake early the next morning…
very early! Not much sleep at all, a few hours is all that we got.
Friday morning was a Drugs lecture and I found it very interesting. Musn Hall
was exhausted from the lack of sleep the night before and every time I looked
at her she was nodding off (Nod eye!), I had to whack her a few times! Friday
afternoon was spent being issued with our webbing and Bergans, Oh my God! My
Bergan is nearly the same size as me, I think I could fit into it.Friday evening
some of us went to Burger King and had a nice meal and for a change got to bed
before 0030.
Saturday morning we were up at 0530 to prepared everything for the Saturday
inspections, I thought mine was OK!
Musn O'Malley had push-ups for having an Irish pennant (a thread of cotton)
hanging from her trousers. I thought it was funny, at least until I failed my
locker inspection and had it rearranged by the instructors! I felt insulted!
It took me 2 hours to do my locker again… this time correctly! Afterwards
were given shore leave for 8 hours and went to get all the shopping we needed
for the following week. After the shopping the whole troop went to Pizza Hut
just to get to know each other better.
I had Musns Walton and Clevery filling me with jokes, sadly the jokes just weren't
funny, that was all I needed, dinner with the Chuckle Brothers! With my ribs
still aching from laughing NOT! I returned to barracks to do my dhobi - such
fun!
Sunday was okay, I had scran (breakfast) and the troop had Church Parade at
St Ann's Church in the dockyard, it was better than I expected and I enjoyed
the hymns.
After lunch Sgt Whysall inspected the lads lockers, all the lads failed apart
from one, so we all had rounds again at 2200. Luckily everything was immaculate
and we all went to bed at 2300. Well that's the first week done. 12 more to
go!
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Troop 2001 sit nervously prior to their attestation
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Holding a bible in their hand the troop attest
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They read their attestation statement from a projector...
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First time in uniform and their first inspection
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...assisted by a Royal Navy PT instructor
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Sgt Griffin moves
amongst the troop checking positions and posture
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once he is satisfied the introduction to PT begins. The Naval PT instructor
assissts from the side
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The girls 'spit & polish' their boots in preparation
for...
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... the first locker inspection carried out by Sgt
Whysall |
Musn Dawkins
