The Ulster Military Vehicle Show

thumb_hamilcar_bofors WO2 Hamilcar ticked the box for Ulster - at their Annual Military Vehicle Show.

It was raining when I arrived in Belfast and, being a little old for all that "fur is waterproof" nonsense, I settled myself on the Bearer's couch with a good supply of biccies and a mug of tea. I tried my paw at something called Call Of Duty, but the controller thing is not suitable for paws. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Video games dispensed with, the Bearer put on a telly channel showing lots of "how we won the war" type films ... black & white Hun bashing is always entertaining [ooops, that's not PC these days, sorry!].

We had a small smoker in the evening, just a little lager, cards and gentlebearly conversation. It was sometime during this discourse that the Bearer decided to call me "Hammers". I don't normally 'do' nicknames. But in the spirit of the evening I refrained from comment.

Onward to the crux of my Mission, the Ulster Military Vehicle Club's annual show as a guest of the Wartime Living History Association. Upon arrival at the north coast..... It was raining (can you see a theme developing here?)

I took my natural supervisory role as the club members created their displays, it was good to see some of the bits of kit that I recall from my Cub days in Junior Leaders (Bear). And of course I was able to offer instruction on the finer points to the ever enthusiastic re-enactors. I played with a Jeep [that needs a booster cushion, btw] and a rangefinder, and an MG-42 --- and a Bofors [which fitted my bum nicely!]. Thence to the pub.

The following morning dawned rather too early, awoken by the sound of clanking pans, I left my tent to discover.... It was raining. Still, the public seemed undaunted, the re-enactors busied themselves re-enacting, the vehicle owners did their thing in noisy, clanky diesel smelling fashion and I borrowed some equipment and set up my little stand. Small people in rain coats and wellies were regular visitors and some bigger persons also stopped to chat. That included a couple of chaps from 5 Regt, down the road who were pleased to see the capbadge. The rain did cut down a bit on the activities that a Bear can easily get up to, but I managed sometime later arrived at ... the pub. Very sensible, holding this Show in the next-door field! The tide went out quickly, though - top me up, eh?

(It was about this point that the Bearer discovered his camera is rainproof, but his lenses aren't. He may only pretend to be a squaddie at shows, but he can curse like one, very convincingly)

Sunday morning was actually sunny, and I was enjoying catching a little tan beneath the fur when I was bearnapped by a dangerous female gang. They demanded cash from the Bearer for my safe return, he however refused to negotiate. It was looking a bit sticky for a while but the good people of the public and the stall holders at the Show managed to collect enough cash for my ransom. I arrived back with the Bearer to find him briefing a crowd of children on a rescue mission. He's all heart really!

Mission completed. I returned home with the Bearer to beer and bacon butties.

And now I'm heading for Kenya - I hope it isn't the rainy season there as well!