IT IS REALLY QUITE SIMPLE
Dumb civilian, I said to myself, but openly I said, “The system is really quite simple.” You see, all people in the Army are soldiers, all privates are soldiers, but not all soldiers are privates. Some are officers who are commissioned, but some are officers who are not commissioned. Obviously if every private was called private it would be confusing, so some privates are called things like trooper, driver, gunner, craftsmen, sapper or signaller. Not all of the drivers actually drive because some of them cook, but we don’t call them cooks, for that matter, not all drivers are called drivers – some of them are privates or gunners. Gunners as I’m sure you know are the guys that fire guns, unless of course they are drivers or signallers in which case we call them gunners rather than drivers or signallers just to make it clearer. All gunners belong to the artillery, except that in the infantry we have gunners who are called privates because they fire a different sort of gun, for the same reason we call our drivers and signallers private as well.
A Lance Corporal is called Corporal, unless he is a Lance Bombardier then we call him Bombardier to distinguish him from a full Bombardier, who is just like a Corporal. All other ranks are called by their rank for the sake of simplicity except that Staff Sergeants are called Staff, but they are not on the staff, some Warrant Officers, who are not officers, are called Sergeant Major although they are not Sergeants or Majors. Some Warrant Officers are called Mister which is the same thing that we call some officers but they are not Warrant Officers. A Lieutenant is also called Mister because they are subalterns, but we always write their rank as Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, and second comes before first.
When we talk about groups of soldiers there obviously has to be clear distinction. We call them Officers and Soldiers although we know that officers are soldiers too, sometimes we talk about officers and other ranks which is the same as calling them soldiers. I guess it is easiest when we talk about rank and file which is all the troops on parade except the officers and some of the NCOs – and a few of the privates – and the term is used whether everyone is on parade or not. A large unit is called a battalion, unless it is a regiment but sometimes a regiment is much bigger than a battalion and then it has nothing to do with the other sort of regiment. Sub units are called companies unless they are squadrons or troops or batteries for that matter. That is not radio batteries and don’t confuse this type of troop with the type who are soldiers but not officers.
Mostly the Army is divided into Corps as well as units, not the sort of Corps which is a couple of divisions but the sort which tells you straight away what trade each man performs, whether he is a tradesmen or not. The Infantry Corps has all the infantrymen for example and the Artillery Corps has all the gunners. Both these Corps also have signallers and drivers except those who are in the Signals or Transport Corps. Both these Corps provide a special service and that’s why the Transport Corps provides cooks. In fact the Signals Corps is not a service at all because it is an Arm. Arms do all the fighting, although Signals don’t have to fight too much, rather like the Engineers who are also an Arm but they don’t fight too much either.
Hope that clears up any misunderstanding!
Certo Cito!
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Curing Damp
Last Sunday we or rather "M" set about trying to remove the damp spores that have set up home in our static.
"M" started off by using a "Glixtone Mould and Fungal Growth" solution, which was easy enough to apply to the areas which needed sorting out.
This got rid of all but one area, the other thing with this stuff is that it did not smell. Usually these cleaners smell strongly of bleach.
So for the tougher area we used "HG Bathroom Mould Spray". This worked like a treat, all you do is spray on and wipe off. But, the down side is a strong smell of bleach!
Out of the two the best result's came from the HG spray. Ok, it did wiff for a bit, but it was pretty rapid.
The real test now is to see how long it keeps it away for.
By the way the area's are as vented to fresh air as they possibly can be, but how can you vent behind the headboard of the bed without having it a foot away from the wall, which in our case is not possible due to a shortage of space!
Time will tell how well they work, the dehumidifier is working away, with one little accident as it decided not to shut itself off once the water container was full! At least all the moisture was in one place!
Apart from that nowt much else has happened.
Oh, if you haven't all ready seen the film The Sweeney at the cinema then it is now out on DVD and well worth watching.
No Ford Granada's and the action was not quite up to being realistic, none the less still enjoyable!
"M" started off by using a "Glixtone Mould and Fungal Growth" solution, which was easy enough to apply to the areas which needed sorting out.
This got rid of all but one area, the other thing with this stuff is that it did not smell. Usually these cleaners smell strongly of bleach.
So for the tougher area we used "HG Bathroom Mould Spray". This worked like a treat, all you do is spray on and wipe off. But, the down side is a strong smell of bleach!
Out of the two the best result's came from the HG spray. Ok, it did wiff for a bit, but it was pretty rapid.
The real test now is to see how long it keeps it away for.
By the way the area's are as vented to fresh air as they possibly can be, but how can you vent behind the headboard of the bed without having it a foot away from the wall, which in our case is not possible due to a shortage of space!
Time will tell how well they work, the dehumidifier is working away, with one little accident as it decided not to shut itself off once the water container was full! At least all the moisture was in one place!
Apart from that nowt much else has happened.
Oh, if you haven't all ready seen the film The Sweeney at the cinema then it is now out on DVD and well worth watching.
No Ford Granada's and the action was not quite up to being realistic, none the less still enjoyable!
Friday, 25 January 2013
Caravan Versus Static Mobile Home
After a bit of a prod I thought it about time I did a bit of a comparison on living in a caravan full time and living in a static mobile home.
We moved into our static in the July of 2012, the reason behind this was purely financial. It worked out cheaper (just) to live in the static and not have the problems of moving every 28 days then it was to remain mobile.
The main differences were more space, running water, and a good sized bathroom with flush loo! All the things to take for granted before you live in a caravan!
Not having to worry about the awning blowing away or collapsing is also a bonus, every time it rained heavy I ended up getting up several times during the night to check to make sure everything was ok.
Emptying the loo and filling the aqua rolls is also a job I do not miss.
As it was the summer when we moved in, our electricity which is on a coin meter was very low, in fact we had to keep checking it to see if it was actually working!
However this winter it seems to be eating money like it is going out of fashion. At least in the caravan we did not have to worry about how much electric we used.
We are running a convector heater, an oil filled radiator to keep us warm, which it is just about doing. To boost the heat we managed to get hold of a modern gas fire running off butane which really does kick out some heat.
We were never cold in our caravan, even when the temperature dropped to -11 we were snug at a comfortable 22 degree's. I wish we could say the same for our static!
However we still seem to be suffering from damp in various places. Something we never had in the caravan. We have tried everything to try and cure it but I'm afraid that we are loosing the battle.
We have installed a dehumidifier which is pulling moisture out of the air, but even that does not seem to be curing the problem.
So our next only real solution is to think about moving!
I don't think that we will be going back to the caravan, as it was purely financial that we moved into it in the first place. With good wages coming in we have been looking at renting a small place around the Lymington area.
Ideally within walking or cycling distance for me to get into work without a car. We can then go down to just the one car and save ourselves the running expense.
I think it will be probably be towards the later part of the year that this happens, but with everything, you never know whats around the corner and anything can happen!
After re-reading this post it does make out that I did not enjoy our caravan experience. Far from it, it was a great experience and if needs must would do it again.
I personally could live in a caravan without a problem, but I do feel that "M" does miss her four walls.
We certainly feel that when retirement creeps up on us there is a good chance that we will be buying a motor home and heading for the hills, but that is a few years away yet!
So to sum up, there are pro's and con's to living in either. If I had to make a choice based on it just being me then I would choose the caravan, with a smaller awning. However "M" likes her four walls and a more settled way of life, so four walls it is.
Till later.....
We moved into our static in the July of 2012, the reason behind this was purely financial. It worked out cheaper (just) to live in the static and not have the problems of moving every 28 days then it was to remain mobile.
The main differences were more space, running water, and a good sized bathroom with flush loo! All the things to take for granted before you live in a caravan!
Not having to worry about the awning blowing away or collapsing is also a bonus, every time it rained heavy I ended up getting up several times during the night to check to make sure everything was ok.
Emptying the loo and filling the aqua rolls is also a job I do not miss.
As it was the summer when we moved in, our electricity which is on a coin meter was very low, in fact we had to keep checking it to see if it was actually working!
However this winter it seems to be eating money like it is going out of fashion. At least in the caravan we did not have to worry about how much electric we used.
We are running a convector heater, an oil filled radiator to keep us warm, which it is just about doing. To boost the heat we managed to get hold of a modern gas fire running off butane which really does kick out some heat.
We were never cold in our caravan, even when the temperature dropped to -11 we were snug at a comfortable 22 degree's. I wish we could say the same for our static!
However we still seem to be suffering from damp in various places. Something we never had in the caravan. We have tried everything to try and cure it but I'm afraid that we are loosing the battle.
We have installed a dehumidifier which is pulling moisture out of the air, but even that does not seem to be curing the problem.
So our next only real solution is to think about moving!
I don't think that we will be going back to the caravan, as it was purely financial that we moved into it in the first place. With good wages coming in we have been looking at renting a small place around the Lymington area.
Ideally within walking or cycling distance for me to get into work without a car. We can then go down to just the one car and save ourselves the running expense.
I think it will be probably be towards the later part of the year that this happens, but with everything, you never know whats around the corner and anything can happen!
After re-reading this post it does make out that I did not enjoy our caravan experience. Far from it, it was a great experience and if needs must would do it again.
I personally could live in a caravan without a problem, but I do feel that "M" does miss her four walls.
We certainly feel that when retirement creeps up on us there is a good chance that we will be buying a motor home and heading for the hills, but that is a few years away yet!
So to sum up, there are pro's and con's to living in either. If I had to make a choice based on it just being me then I would choose the caravan, with a smaller awning. However "M" likes her four walls and a more settled way of life, so four walls it is.
Till later.....
Thursday, 3 January 2013
1st Stupid Question Of 2013
I stop to allow a passenger to board and am asked the following!
Passenger: Did you have a set of keys handed into you as Ive lost mine?
Me: No
Passenger: No? I must of left them on this bus!
Me: How do you know it was this bus?
Passenger: It was red!
Me: (trying to keep a straight face) We have over 30 buses that are red it could of been any one of them.
Passenger: Oh!
Me: When did you loose them?,
Passenger: 3 weeks ago.
I think the look on my face told her everything she needed to know and she got off!
Amazing - how do people get through with living a daily normal life!
Passenger: Did you have a set of keys handed into you as Ive lost mine?
Me: No
Passenger: No? I must of left them on this bus!
Me: How do you know it was this bus?
Passenger: It was red!
Me: (trying to keep a straight face) We have over 30 buses that are red it could of been any one of them.
Passenger: Oh!
Me: When did you loose them?,
Passenger: 3 weeks ago.
I think the look on my face told her everything she needed to know and she got off!
Amazing - how do people get through with living a daily normal life!
Friday, 28 December 2012
Happy Christmas To You All
Well, I hope that Father Christmas came and visited you all and left something special for you?
As we now get ready to see out the Old Year and welcome in the New Year, looking back, 2012 has been a busy year.
In fact, so many things have happened that towards the end of the year I have been literally overwhelmed, and of course when this happens something has to give.
The blog copped it!
I have also been wondering if I should continue, but must admit I do enjoy writing, so in the New Year I will try harder with updates of what is happening here on site.
Writing a blog is an interesting experience, through the blog you get a glimpse of others lives that I bet in most cases not even their own family see!
You get to build up an image of those people, their likes, dislikes, habits and the way that they live.
And, as strange as this may sound, you regard them as friends, even though they maybe in New Zealand or Norfolk.
Earlier in the year we met up with Jim and his Dad Kevin. We had a lot in common, all ex services, had a caravan and liked Warsteiner lager! All through this blog!
So for 2013, the site here is open every day, shower and loo on site and there are electric hookup points, right in the New Forest.
Your welcome to book a pitch and share a beer or two. Just contact me for more info.
It's a funny old game this blogging lark!
Till later..........
As we now get ready to see out the Old Year and welcome in the New Year, looking back, 2012 has been a busy year.
In fact, so many things have happened that towards the end of the year I have been literally overwhelmed, and of course when this happens something has to give.
The blog copped it!
I have also been wondering if I should continue, but must admit I do enjoy writing, so in the New Year I will try harder with updates of what is happening here on site.
Writing a blog is an interesting experience, through the blog you get a glimpse of others lives that I bet in most cases not even their own family see!
You get to build up an image of those people, their likes, dislikes, habits and the way that they live.
And, as strange as this may sound, you regard them as friends, even though they maybe in New Zealand or Norfolk.
Earlier in the year we met up with Jim and his Dad Kevin. We had a lot in common, all ex services, had a caravan and liked Warsteiner lager! All through this blog!
So for 2013, the site here is open every day, shower and loo on site and there are electric hookup points, right in the New Forest.
Your welcome to book a pitch and share a beer or two. Just contact me for more info.
It's a funny old game this blogging lark!
Till later..........
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Time Fly's!
I'm really not too sure where this year has gone!
I guess becoming a bus driver has taken it's toll on my time as when I get in of an evening I'm usually knackered and in need of a brew and a bite to eat.
Since moving into our mobile home in July, we have done many things to it, such as completely redo the garden, painted inside, and the latest thing to happen was too have a new shower unit fitted.
We have recently spent a week travelling up through Wales with the intention of kipping in the Pajero, but that didnt quite work out as we found some rather nice hotels and pubs to stay in.
The final part of the trip was weekend with my old army mate Mark and his wife Kate and two daughters who put us up. This was just outside of Liverpool. Saturday was spent in town, "M" went shopping and myself and Mark found a few pubs to occupy our time!
Back now to the run upto Xmas, Im flat out with work and driving right up to xmas eve at 2000hrs two days off then back again till New Years eve. It's all go.
Many things I would like to write about on here about my days driving, as no two days are the same and you get to meet all sorts of characters. However, we have a social media policy which does not allow me to express opinions or tell the many funny things that happen to me more or less on a daily basis. This I personally think is wrong, but if by some miracle it were to get back to my company then I may well be for the high jump!
However:- only yesterday I was asked by a woman "What time does the 1628 leave"? my reply with a straight face "1628 Madam"! "Do you think it has left yet"? she asked. I replied "As it's now 1645 what do you think"? Some folk are bonkers!
Now, this is a story about a Chinese man, he got on with three stacked trays of eggs, covered over with a bag. He carefully left them on the luggage area just inside the bus door and went and sat down. I didnt think anything else about it, other than I hope I dont have to brake hard!
The thing with the Chinese and I hope I dont offend anyone is that when they speak English there is a slight mispronunciation. As an example, rake sounds like wake, right sounds like wight. Hope you are getting my drift!
The bell rings and it's time for the man to get off, the bus, up till this time it had been packed, someone had obviously not seen his eggs and placed something on top of them!
All I heard was aaaarrrrrhhhhhhhh, so I turn around to see a runny goey mess oozing from his bag! he said "All eggs quacked (cracked)"! - look he said pointing to the eggs - quacked quacked quacked quacked" he said. My reply was "What - duck eggs" The whole bus shook with laughter! The Chinese man said "Oh you funny man - wife kill me"! and got off the bus leaving a trail of goo behind him!
And on that note take care and will post again soon - promise!
till later..........................
I guess becoming a bus driver has taken it's toll on my time as when I get in of an evening I'm usually knackered and in need of a brew and a bite to eat.
Since moving into our mobile home in July, we have done many things to it, such as completely redo the garden, painted inside, and the latest thing to happen was too have a new shower unit fitted.
We have recently spent a week travelling up through Wales with the intention of kipping in the Pajero, but that didnt quite work out as we found some rather nice hotels and pubs to stay in.
The final part of the trip was weekend with my old army mate Mark and his wife Kate and two daughters who put us up. This was just outside of Liverpool. Saturday was spent in town, "M" went shopping and myself and Mark found a few pubs to occupy our time!
Back now to the run upto Xmas, Im flat out with work and driving right up to xmas eve at 2000hrs two days off then back again till New Years eve. It's all go.
Many things I would like to write about on here about my days driving, as no two days are the same and you get to meet all sorts of characters. However, we have a social media policy which does not allow me to express opinions or tell the many funny things that happen to me more or less on a daily basis. This I personally think is wrong, but if by some miracle it were to get back to my company then I may well be for the high jump!
However:- only yesterday I was asked by a woman "What time does the 1628 leave"? my reply with a straight face "1628 Madam"! "Do you think it has left yet"? she asked. I replied "As it's now 1645 what do you think"? Some folk are bonkers!
Now, this is a story about a Chinese man, he got on with three stacked trays of eggs, covered over with a bag. He carefully left them on the luggage area just inside the bus door and went and sat down. I didnt think anything else about it, other than I hope I dont have to brake hard!
The thing with the Chinese and I hope I dont offend anyone is that when they speak English there is a slight mispronunciation. As an example, rake sounds like wake, right sounds like wight. Hope you are getting my drift!
The bell rings and it's time for the man to get off, the bus, up till this time it had been packed, someone had obviously not seen his eggs and placed something on top of them!
All I heard was aaaarrrrrhhhhhhhh, so I turn around to see a runny goey mess oozing from his bag! he said "All eggs quacked (cracked)"! - look he said pointing to the eggs - quacked quacked quacked quacked" he said. My reply was "What - duck eggs" The whole bus shook with laughter! The Chinese man said "Oh you funny man - wife kill me"! and got off the bus leaving a trail of goo behind him!
And on that note take care and will post again soon - promise!
till later..........................
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Chinese Whispers!
Today a bus broke down in the next town, and I was asked to take a spare bus to cover the trip.
Understandably I was around 20 minutes late getting to where the bus had broken down.
After transferring the passengers onto my bus I set off, and got to my next stop right in the centre of town.
A que of elderly folk were all eagerly waiting to get on, so as I do, I pull up and open the doors and wait for the barrage of daft questions to start.
Not a hello or good morning, it was like a rugby scrum as 20 or so old folk all scrambled to be the first on the bus with shopping trolleys, walking sticks and an assortment of carrier bags flying in all directions!
Why are you so late! was bellowed in my ear to which I replied, I'm very sorry madam the other bus broke down and I am the spare bus.
This I thought was an adequate description of what had happened, I also thought that I had spoken clearly and concisely - Obviously not!.
The old girl turned around to everyone waiting outside and shouted out "This bus has broken down and there is no spare bus"!
How I contained myself is a miracle! The uncharitable thought of, you won't be needing a bus you will be needing an ambulance if you say anything else like that as I sat on my hands trying to stop them from reaching her neck!
I then had to pacify the remaining travellers that in fact the bus had not broken down and it was ok to get on.
Old folk, don't you just love them!
Till later.....................
Understandably I was around 20 minutes late getting to where the bus had broken down.
After transferring the passengers onto my bus I set off, and got to my next stop right in the centre of town.
A que of elderly folk were all eagerly waiting to get on, so as I do, I pull up and open the doors and wait for the barrage of daft questions to start.
Not a hello or good morning, it was like a rugby scrum as 20 or so old folk all scrambled to be the first on the bus with shopping trolleys, walking sticks and an assortment of carrier bags flying in all directions!
Why are you so late! was bellowed in my ear to which I replied, I'm very sorry madam the other bus broke down and I am the spare bus.
This I thought was an adequate description of what had happened, I also thought that I had spoken clearly and concisely - Obviously not!.
The old girl turned around to everyone waiting outside and shouted out "This bus has broken down and there is no spare bus"!
How I contained myself is a miracle! The uncharitable thought of, you won't be needing a bus you will be needing an ambulance if you say anything else like that as I sat on my hands trying to stop them from reaching her neck!
I then had to pacify the remaining travellers that in fact the bus had not broken down and it was ok to get on.
Old folk, don't you just love them!
Till later.....................
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