I'll eat my hat .....
'Every year the promotion signal comes out with the cry round the fleet 'how the f*ck did that t*at get promoted, this year I wish to be that officer'.
Reminds me of the time in Singapore, all too many years ago, when, shortly before the promotion signal came out at 1730 GH, the Gunnery Officer of my carrier announced in the wardroom anteroom that, if the CO of the Sea Vixen squadron (well, I did say it was a long time ago ...) were to be selected, he would eat his hat.
At approximately 1740 GH, Guns was to be found chewing rather ineffectually on his Panama hat, surrounded by cheering members of 89* NAS, all drinking at his expense!
Jack