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| A Little Of My Past History Pt.1
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Where to begin, School i suppose, I wasn't the most accademic stunt neither was i the thickest, I hated school and resented the fact that i had to go, there always seemed to be something better to do. I took every chance to stay off from dying with the most horrid medical conditions some unknown to man as yet :) to begging my parents which usually fell on deaf ears.
I left school at 16 with passes in all subjects, even tho i spent alot of time scivving i read alot and still do, if i watch T.V its usually a documentry or something intelligent, don't get me wrong i do enjoy watching everyday programmes
or as i like to call them Mind Numbing T.V its good to escape sometimes.
After leaving school I went into catering earning £56.50 per week, £20 was paid to my parents for board, £13 cost in bus fares to and from work total cost per week of £33 leaving me just £23.50 not much but i survived and it taught me the value of money a lesson alot of teens these days could do with learning being a parent of 3 teens.
Catering was always something i'd wanted to do from an early age but money was a key factor back then as it is today, i was offered a chance to work for a family friend in the forestry trade starting wage £150 per week three times what i was earning, so after much thought i decided to leave catering right or wrong, some people say i was a fool to give up on my dream, maybe there right i can't say i agree as i've lived a good life and never really looked back and wished i'd stuck with catering. I do enjoy cooking and still love having people round for dinner.
So now im training to become a feller (lumberjack), the first few weeks was pure hell using muscles i didn't know existed, i couldn't stand straight for ages without some pain or discomfort the other guys laughed most days watching me trying to walk straight backed, Then one day you wake up with no pain do your days work and don't realise untill your in the shower that Hey it didn't hurt today Hurray at last the body was used to it.
I worked in the forests for a couple of years then joined the army R.E.M.E (Royal, Electrical, Mechanical, Engineers), This being the regiment my father had been in during the 50's and 60's leaving as a sergeant.
I sat the entrance exam and passed without telling my parents or anyone else, just incase i failed.
Now i had to go home and tell them, Mother was the first to be told in the hope she would tell father, no chance i had to tell him, I thought he would be pleased but to my suprise he went crazy calling me a fool and an idiot and that i should of had my head examed instead of sitting the entrance exam. 3 days later he eventually spoke to me, His words still ring in my ears to this day. he hoped i wasn't joining because of the stories i'd heard him tell as a child, and that those where the good times he had had and that for every good time there was four bad.
Once again he was right looking back it was the same for me 1 good time for every 4 bad, even though i think some of the funniest times came about from the bad so if you can laugh about them was they that bad ?
The first few weeks of basic training was hell i don't think a night went by in those weeks i thought about leaving getting out of it and back to normal life, again it was my father who got me through this, stick with it son, there getting rid of the chaff.
Before you can make a soldier you have to break them, mentally and physically, then they rebuild you into a soldier fit to wear the uniform and perform as part of a team as well as alone, Yes the trainings hard the physical side is hard but the mental side is worse or at least it was for me,
Basic training over then onto trade training my chosen trade was recovery mechanic (recce mec )
Training, Training, Pain, Pain, Wet, cold, hot, thirsty, Hungry, Tired, then just for good measure even more of the same, good times i have to admit looking back we laughed and cried together friends made there are friends you know will always be there no matter what life brings a common bond shared by all soldiers of all nationalities.
The army taught me many things self discipline and self respect being the most important without these how can you respect others.
I have many stories to tell from those years and hopefully will retell a few here at a later date.
After leaving the army i went back into forestry, untill i moved to Scotland near John O Groats, where i lived for 14 - 15 years, only went for a holiday !
Scotland was good lots of fishing and hunting, didn't need to buy meat for years untill i moved to wales, what a suprise couldn't believe how expensive meat was. I still prefer the meat we hunted than the bought meat tastes so much better plus you know the animal hasnt suffered. We manly hunted Deer, Duck, Goose, Pheasant, Grouse. A friend kept sheep and pigs so we got all the meat we needed, and all the fish we could eat fresh from the sea caught and cooked the same day, a luxury most people will never experience.
getting tired now will add more later.
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Posted by shw1967 on 2007-12-10 16:02:06 | Rating: | Views: 68
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| Blog Comments
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Thank you for sharing this, it always feels like a priviledge getting a glimpse of someone elses life. I look forward to hearing more.
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Posted by viennavelvet
on 2007-12-11 08:56:41
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