Ouch.......

You know what is going to happen.......but you will still watch it!

A new life begins....

In another desert somewhere.....

Well that’s it. Last Saturday was the completion of thirty-two years, 2 months, 2 weeks and a day (- which is about 11,760 days if my maths is correct).  That is how long I have served my Queen and Country in the Royal Air Force and now I have become a “Mr”. 

In the jungle of Belize

It is a time to reflect on the past.  A time to remember all those adventures and opportunities that the RAF has given me, all those events that have made me the person I am today and also all those things that I have missed out on because of the commitment that the military expects of those serving their country (despite the effect it may have on their personal lives). I do not think those that have not served in the military can really, fully understand just how far reaching that commitment is.

But that is the past:

"Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in." 

- Katherine Mansfield

So after one last glance back, it is now time to look forward and to shape my own destiny.

I was lucky enough to get a flight in a Harrier

Princess Anne checks I'm cleaning my rifle correctly

Showing Prince Phillip around the Rapier missile system in the Falklands

Somewhere in Sierra Leone there is a boy called Steve, after I managed to get his mother to hospital in time to give birth

Chucking aircrew in the sea was always fun!

London Prepares

Canary Wharf.

A few days out in London saw a trip to both the Boatshow and a ‘London Prepares’ event. I have never seen gymnastics live so a night at the O2 (or whatever they are calling it for the Olympics) was a real treat.

         

            One of the many attractions at the Boatshow this year.

The event was well organised and each discipline was run like clockwork.  It was great to see a Brit take the gold medal on the final event of the evening - the men’s horizontal bar, a great omen for the Olympics later this year.

The arena of combat!

It all happens in a blur. 

 Sorry about the pics not being up to standard, but they were taken on my phone and the lighting wasn’t great.

Happy New Year to one and all - let's make 2012 a great year.

Let us be lovely

And let us be kind

Let us be silly and free

It won't make us famous

It won't make us rich

But dammit how Happy we'll be!!

(from the interesting thoughts of Edward Monkton)