Wahey - Chrimbo leave!

[druadan]

Damn it's good to be home

Just had a hard couple of weeks, Running Man on Dartmoor yomping with 70lbs for three days - not fun! Most troops get to do all but the insertion and extraction marches with just daysacks, we apparently didn't put the effort in on the insertion and had to do the whole lot with full kit Got extra wet and dry that night as well! Survival Ex was alright, build a shelter, build a fire, kill a couple of chickens and a rabbit, eat. Hilarious watching headless chickens running around all over the place! Came back with a blistered wrist and a hole in me beret where I fell asleep a bit too close to the fire.

Had Baptist Run this week, with no problems - the four mile speed march was surprisingly easy, though we had one lad fail, and we bimbled the 8 mile load carry back in under two hours instead of the 2hr40m you're allowed - the advantage of having an ML as your troop boss is everyone seems to get a lot fitter than the average troop! We lost six lads on the exercise, taking us down to 37 originals plus 4 back-troopers in the troop from the original 50. We were all hanging out Thursday, a full morning of drill, including arms drill pass out and the Wk 15 awards ceremony - I got a chuck up with me section leader's tapes!

How's all the other nods doing?

Take control of your glasses...to the bottom...DRAIN

[DirkDiggler]

It does feel awesome to be home. I've just finished week 5 and had ex quick cover last week. It was pretty gawpin in the end as we had an extra dip in peters pool in the night after being in earlier then some fun stress positions, pressups and other fun things for about an hour. Wasn't too bad though and had a good night with no sleep whilst deservicing bergans. Still loving it but i am so glad to have a couple of weeks off!

Going back to marshall star which we have been promised will be marshall pain and a couple of hard weeks so can't wait to crack on!

[W.Mitty]

Yea its cool to be home, even though I have only been down there for 2 weeks! (yes I am one of the lumi Nods!),
Really enjoying it so far, love all that ironing! and getting tanked after swimming in the evening, cant wait to get back though and crack on with the proper stuff.

Bit of a bummer as our Troop has to do an extra week foundation after leave as we have a buffer week to look forward to, so we will have to do 3 weeks or something in the fondation block, then over to the bottom floor of San Carlos.

Have a good leave everyone and see you in 2 weeks time.
John W.

[El Prez]

Happy days..................really good to hear that you are all enjoying Lympstone. Have a good leave.

[dannyd]

Druadan,

Where did your troop get that sign in your grot from? (the one that reads 883 Troop RM). Thought it was pretty neat.

I was down at CTC on the 9-10 Dec to do research in CTW for a uni project. If any of you saw a random guy wandering around CTC wearing a suit & carrying a briefcase it was me.

Managed to catch a bit of the King's Squad practising for their pass-out as I came out of the mess in the morning - very impressive.

To all the guys in training or preparing for training good luck & have a good xmas.

Dan

[druadan]

Erm, not a clue, it was there when we got there! I think every troop has one, I've seen a few floating around in windows and so on, our training team just had the idea of sticking it in a frame...not being funny, but it sometimes really helps, when you wander in, hanging out, threaders with something or other, and you read it...kinda reminds you what you're there for.




That sounds really chad.....

[FooBar]

is it true merchant in your troop had an ND on automatic during baptist run?

Tom

A lad in my troop, who goes by a similar name, had an ND on 'quick cover', a most enjoyable exercise i might add- NOT. He got off pretty lightly really- fined a day's pay. Not bad when you consider if they really want to throw the book at you it's a £600 fine.

I wont elaborate further as its not my place to do so, but make sure you do those all important safety checks before firing or it could be expensive.

[druadan]

After Phase 1 the penalties are much harsher...during the first weeks they give you a little leniency as you're still new to it all. By the time you get to Phase 2 weapon drills should be second nature.

[Rugee]

Just thought id come on and say my piece aswell, week 12 when i get back! how the hell did that happen! one minute i was dreaming about training, next thing i know im peters pool at 2 in the morning doing press-ups with some idiot telling me to "be proud im a Royal Marine recruit!"

I still can't believe im going through training sometimes, with all the mad stuff they have you doing.

I don't know about you boys, but being a nod has made me appreciate everything in life so much more and i mean everything from carpets and central heating to family! Warmth being the biggest one though i think.

Civvi's just don't know how cushy they got it!
Enjoy leave boys!

Cheers Ian

[druadan]

The joys of San Carlos...we've got carpets and central heating

[Rugee]

San Carlos = Choppers!!

I got seen off crappy E-Block for me!

I know the feeling Mach as soon as i haul my hairy arse out of bed, i cant wait to get back in the thing again.

The bullshit factor of CTC is second to none for sure. I mean im so used to ironing my bed now it seems nothing How mad is that!

Cheers Ian

[W.Mitty]

I heard the drying rooms in San carlos are crap, what week were you guys aloud to use the dhobi shop, please dont tell me its hand washing up to week 15 or something!

[druadan]

Drying rooms in San Carlos are crap. But I've never had to rely on them for anything urgent...we were allowed to use the dhobi shop after wk3, but were actually using it by day 3...just don't get caught! Don't worry, bullshit slowly decreases as you get further on...