Upwards and Onwards
two thousand and twelve
One more year older
but not on the shelve
The order was….
If it Moves.. Salute it
If it doesn't Move.... PAINT IT!
2012 is the start of yet another great year (one of many) and hopefully lot’s more to come.
My Dad was a Military Man (Lancashire Fusilier) so even as a kid I traveled lots (Ex-Brat)
The life of an Army Brat
Hell knows all the schools
they were at !!
Life at the double
some finding it trouble…
But for others … (RIP)
just have to look back
So many schools! Not that I EVER wanted to be at school. However (in retrospect) it was an extraordinary time with plenty of variety.... mainly after classroom hours. Variety is the spice of life. Certainly I was rarely bored... the curriculum per se was not the main learning curve…..
One of the adventures (an Army Brat for 15 years) was moving to Penang Malaya. A holiday resort before the time of Package Holidays. I would have liked to stay there full time but there was no secondary school for British Kids so my parents packed me off to exotic boarding schools.
I attended Slim School. This school nestled in jungle clad hills in the Cameron Highlands Pahang . Later when the school closed, ( British forces were slowly pulling out of Malaysia) I moved down to Bourne School ending my secondary education in the capital city Kuala Lumpur.. Education for me in Malaya/ Malaysia had moved from Cool to Hot.
Penang was an Oyster I was the Pearl
with lot's of great things to do and see
Caused no harm leaving me full of charm
took the Queens shilling joined the REME
My Career in The British Army (REME) started at 15 years of age. In Penang I was told to report to Arborfield UK. I was delayed for a few weeks in Singapore Nee Soon Transit Camp RAF Chagi en-route. as an enlisted soldier.Maybe I should apply for the Malaysian Medal Pingat Jasa Malaysia (after all Harry got a gong for five minutes in Iraq) The Malaysian Government dished out medals in retrospect for service in Malaya/Malaysia….Maybe I need to be in the NAAFI queue to get mine.
The NAAFI was our only hope
a refuge from the storm
You could get a Bacon Butte
and tea to keep you warm
Arriving at the Army Apprentice School/College in Arborfield UK I commenced training as a VMB*. Vehicle mechanic / electrician. This preceded a military career spanning 25 years. I was fortunate enough to leave “Brats School” after three years training with sufficient educational qualifications (at 19 years old) for promotion right through to Warrant Officer…
By the time I was 25 years old II had been promoted to Sergeant… and was running the Soft Skinned (B Vehicles) section of a REME attached workshops for The Royal Artillery . I had qualified to attend further training on a “Tiffy Course” and sent to Borden Hampshire.They asked if I would like to go on an officer selection board to gain a place at Sandhurst… No Way!... Just starting a 18 month's Course (301b 1975) where on completion I would be on band 7 Artificer Vehicles S/Sgt pay equivalent at that time to a six year Captain. I wasn’t very interested in “starting over again” as a young officer on Academy pay then having to spend more years working my way up financially to where I would be as a Tiffy in 18 months. With having a wife and two kids….I needed any extra money sooner rather than later
The Tiffy is a funny beast
some could say overpaid
But he knows the bloody lot
and all your skiving ways
The MOD looked after me very well, promoted me to WO1 (ASM)… Warrant Officer Class 1 Artificer Sergeant Major... Bulletproof... Fireproof..... Top of the Pyramid.....
Completed my Regular Service in 1990 and went to work for Contract Repair Branch REME as a Contracts Manager
Back in 2005 I passed my “Sell by Date.” At 55yrs old and no longer on the Regular Reserve I don't expect MOD to ask for any further active service. Watching “Dad's Army” on TV... reminded me that I started my own Army Career in Battle Dress, reaching the dizzy heights of Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery ACF circa 1960.
Never did loose habit of moving…. After my Army Service I went to work for… The Civil Service / ESSO Petroleum / Commercial Coach and Bodybuilding / Then into RAC Sales…… With a couple of stints as a Home Carer between jobs.
I now live in West Vancouver BC (The Pacific Side) with my wife Jenny. She is a Beauty Adviser manager La Mer (Estee Lauder)... I am hoping she can guide me in ways of retaining youth…. some of her products are claimed to work miracles..... they might need to !
Our second home is in Culgaith Penrith (North Lakes) UK
Culgaith is a good place to retire (expire?)
with the odd cow or two and some sheep
One could easily die while the world passes by
the local folk would just think you’re asleep
My Kids….. or is that the Brats?
Jenny and I are remaining in Vancouver Canada our youngest girl Phoebe finished her studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) easter 2011… and now works for TD Bank
The next oldest older girl Natalie graduated from UBC in microbiology and immunology and completed a further two studies at BCIT March 2011 as a radiologist She has now started work at the Royal
Karen has settled in Marchwood Hampshire with Paul and children Brooke, Georgia, Thomas, Mike and Emma. Karen works in a Veterinary practice in Southampton…… mending animals.
Stephen has settled in Hook Hampshire with Amanda and children Jake Maddy and Archie. Stephen a Retread Major from the Army Air Corps is now a Squadron Leader in the RAF.
