Once upon a time, when I was a younger officer, one of my ground tours involved chasing recruits up hills and teaching them pine pole technology on windswept peaks in the Yorkshire Dales. At lunchtime we would go for a run up the same hills and then in the afternoon walk another two or three exercises just to prove our prowess and set an example to the troops.
I ran marathons and believed in the mantra of health and fitness, twenty years later I am now plagued by arthritis, can't even walk the golf course.
I just can't believe how lucky I am to have this opportunity thrust upon me to claim an extra 68p a month on my pension.
