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From a trip to Magilligan in NI for two weeks. Went with the same lot to Norway last year. Compared to last year this was very poor, a lot more work, more formal, (collar & tie in the mess), and a rubbish arrangement with the rations. We had to draw rations on a daily basis with not much variety.
The weather though was excellent. Only had a light shower one afternoon, otherwise, glorious sunshine. Unfortunately we were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no transport, and if you did manage to get out you always had to be careful of the security situation. The only places I got to was Limavady, Coleraine, Londonderry, and on our days R&R, the Bushmills Distillery for a guided tour. Tried some at the end, and they were ok, but I'll stick with my Scotch Single Malts. I already had a bottle of Bushmills, but it's taking me a while to dispose of it, I won't be replacing it.
One place I missed out on seeing was the Joey Dunlop memorial at Ballymoney. Never got to the Giants causeway either.
One good point was they took their own bar with them. ?1 a can or ?1.20 a double, saved paying stupid NAAFI prices. After the first few days on cans of Stella I switched to Pink Gins and tonic. A nice refreshing drink after a day in a hot kitchen, and at ?1.70 a double cheap too.
Things didn't go so well when we got off the ferry either. A few miles up the road from Cairnryan the bus filled with smoke. The driver managed to coax it a few miles down the road to the next village and stopped outside a pub. Managed to get a quick pint before the replacement bus arrived.
Then just before arriving at camp I got a call from the master chef, could I go down to Warcop the same night, ie last night, to do Breakfast, Lunch and a formal dinner in the officers mess. The reply was a definite NO. Knackered, been away from home for two weeks, and all my kit is dirty. Since my unit hasn't done me any favours, why would I be willing to put myself out for them. As they say, what goes around comes around. In addition I'm off for six weeks or so in twelve days for summer challenge. Then we have our camp in Canada, possibly for four weeks right after that.
Anyway, glad to be back.
The weather though was excellent. Only had a light shower one afternoon, otherwise, glorious sunshine. Unfortunately we were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no transport, and if you did manage to get out you always had to be careful of the security situation. The only places I got to was Limavady, Coleraine, Londonderry, and on our days R&R, the Bushmills Distillery for a guided tour. Tried some at the end, and they were ok, but I'll stick with my Scotch Single Malts. I already had a bottle of Bushmills, but it's taking me a while to dispose of it, I won't be replacing it.
One place I missed out on seeing was the Joey Dunlop memorial at Ballymoney. Never got to the Giants causeway either.
One good point was they took their own bar with them. ?1 a can or ?1.20 a double, saved paying stupid NAAFI prices. After the first few days on cans of Stella I switched to Pink Gins and tonic. A nice refreshing drink after a day in a hot kitchen, and at ?1.70 a double cheap too.
Things didn't go so well when we got off the ferry either. A few miles up the road from Cairnryan the bus filled with smoke. The driver managed to coax it a few miles down the road to the next village and stopped outside a pub. Managed to get a quick pint before the replacement bus arrived.
Then just before arriving at camp I got a call from the master chef, could I go down to Warcop the same night, ie last night, to do Breakfast, Lunch and a formal dinner in the officers mess. The reply was a definite NO. Knackered, been away from home for two weeks, and all my kit is dirty. Since my unit hasn't done me any favours, why would I be willing to put myself out for them. As they say, what goes around comes around. In addition I'm off for six weeks or so in twelve days for summer challenge. Then we have our camp in Canada, possibly for four weeks right after that.
Anyway, glad to be back.
Got a bottle of Bushmills as a present years ago and it`s still in the cupboard, bloody horrible stuff.
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