ARBORFIELD - Friday 18th to Sunday 20th June 2004
inclusive
The
following report & photographs contributed by Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A)
Friday
Four of us travelled together by car without any mishaps till we got to
Arborfield where some idiots had built a new roundabout. Our driver
counted the exits but didn't notice that one had been closed so we set off in
the wrong direction with three co-drivers shouting abuse. Actually
Farley hill is quite a nice place but we had to turn about and find our
target. We arrived and booked in, were allocated accommodation and a
nice A/T to carry the bags and show us the way. Whoever named the
reception area “The Beachley Centre” should be
flogged at dawn.
Surprise No 1, the ‘Females Only’ block. Our spirits
rose, perhaps we wouldn't be spending lonely nights after all.
Wrong. We were informed that the girls had been sent on leave.
"To keep them safe from us" we said. “Not so,” we were told “it was
to keep us safe from them.”
Surprise No 2 was the state of the rooms, very clean and tidy,
unlike previous years. Even our beds were made down and with a spare
blanket to make up for the lack of company. Surprises followed, one
being the fitting of a male toilet in the ladies block, must cater for all
sorts in the modern army.
Cleaned up, we made our way to the Sergeants’ Mess to look for
old friends and take on board some replacement fluids. It was
great to see the smiles and backslapping going on as old friendships and
acquaintances were renewed. Genuine feelings on show. The buffet
was based on curried everything which I gave a miss. My decision was
based on my time with the Irish Hussars where the success of a curry evening
was judged on the number of diners who, after the final course, rushed
outside and jumped in the static water tank to cool down. Lesson well
learnt.
For me, it was early to bed to get a few hours of kip in before
the drunks returned to the room. Luckily this time one actually managed
to get undressed before getting in bed, unlike a previous occasion where he
crashed out fully clothed on the floor, swearing blind somebody
had moved his bed as he lay down. Any protests at this revelation
will be proven by photographic evidence.
Published: 27th June 2004
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