It's been 11 long months, but we finally signed off from the Academy last week.
Very exciting, though the sphincter factor has now jumped up a few notches.
Everything seems to be happening quite suddenly after all those months.
We've all got about a week's leave to pack and move to our new locations, some much further than others
, before we start the
real training next week.
Hard thing is, you become such close mates in a relatively short period of time, our partners and kids as well, but being a tower course we're then flung off to opposite sides of the country.
Nice to have been able to catch up with the instructors for a few pints before we left. They do everything they can to get you through and you need to soak up everything they have to offer, whether it's giving you grief when you mess up or a back-handed compliment when you get it right.
It's a great feeling after you pass that last exam and people pop over to shake your hand. Everyone seems excited for you, whether it's your coursemates, instructors, blippies or even the girls at the front desk.
Without a doubt the hardest, most intense year I've ever had to go through, even if you discount the financial pressure you're under if you're the main breadwinner.
Good luck to all you newbies starting, pay close attention to max1's advice, especially the stuff about not being in competition with your course-mates, it's vital that you help each other out.
Fivel, social butterfly that he is, might say that he's maintaining sanity by bonding with his course mates, but you'll often see him helping his mates out in his spare time.
If ever there was a team game, this is it.
Finally, good luck to all the guys and gals who're still slogging it out at the college (both Tower and Enroute), it's been a blast, looking forward to our paths crossing again in the field.
MiG