I had turned up in Holland at the National Paracentrum Teuge, The Netherlands, to join the Pathfinder Parachute Group's Basic Para course. I was full of apprehension - I had heard about these people.

 

Hamilcar’s whirlwind tour of Wales - took in some historical sites.  We began with Brecon and a tribute to the South Wales Borderers (The 24th Foot).

With the year filling up fast with detachments all over the globe, I had a chance to nip back to home-base in Jersey to catch up with old friends and get some R&R. Little did I know how busy things would get during my brief stay.

All good things come to the right Bear!

After a busy trip to Northern Ireland I decided that I should join the ARRSE trip to Ypres.

After a rather dark and bumpy journey the bag opened and the sunlight poured in. I couldn’t wait to find out where I was. I was so excited! Then I found out I was in the Recognition Cell at Larkhill and my heart sank. This had to be some sort of sick joke! Larkhill? Nooooooooo!!!!!! Fortunately, this was just the first leg of quite an adventure. I was told I would be going to Abu Dhabi for a week to visit IDEX 2009. This is a defence exhibition for the Middle East and promised to be huge.

I touched down in the Emerald Isle, was driven up to the north coast hot spot of Portrush and then collected by FFs 'Uncle Allan' the postie, who took me for a spin in his red van; good job theres no snow here as he drives like a lunatic! But fortunately he says that vodka helps him read the road better. He dropped me off at Maggie’s, she'd knocked up a massive Ulster Fry and then took me for a walk around 'the Port' to try and burn off some of the lard.  Unfortunately Barrys Amusments is closed for the winter, so we ended up in the Harbour Bar (this would become a frequent event over the next few days) having a hot toddy to warm my stuffing as its freezing here.

You may remember I was complaining about my jacket being a wee bit tight following a week of maple‐soaked pancakes and full fry‐ups. Well, as you might expect, Scottish cuisine and hospitality aren't the best allies in the battle against the bulge. The combined results were only partly offset by the amount of walking we did, even though it all seemed to be uphill (Scotland IS uphill, I've decided, but only in the nicest possible way!). I shouldn't have worried. Everything now fits a treat once more, following a week of enforced diet and solitary meditation courtesy of the Bosnia and Hercegovina Customs Service.

Special thanks to my Scottish hosts for ensuring the transit accommodation was safe and cosy. I'd never have survived the week in a Jiffy bag!

 

After a week of maple soaked pancakes and full fry ups, I am feeling my jacket is a wee bit tight.  A long lie in followed my quick trip to City Chambers. Quick look at bright lights and fairground shows followed by quiet evening sipping whisky. Early rise 0600, followed by sharp return to bed as it was frosty outside. Later on, the train to Edinburgh was fun as I got to travel free, and I saw the Castle for the first time. The station was mobbed but we got to the Princess Gardens shows with no delay. My first stop was a big helter-skelter, a quick climb up and a rather fast descent left me wondering was that rough rug not a door mat?

My earliest appointment after arriving at the Leave Centre in Chester was to get to Build-a-Bear to have my “war wound” attended to. Thanks to my Bearer’s quick actions in Afghanistan, and the work of the Medical Centre out there, my stuffingitis was finally completely cured by the kind staff of Build-a- Bear and I was back to full fitness. They even presented me with a Build-a- Bear medal!

I arrived in Germany only two days before the 1st anniversary of the 'Help Them Out' appeal on the 'Army Rumour Service'. So the first thing to do was celebrate and have a birthday cake. There are worse ways of starting a visit, I'd say. The Junior Bearer got me the perfect Christmas hat for my stay in Germany at the Christmas Market in
Bielefeld. And so we were ready for anything.