Popstars in the Desert
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Popstars in the Desert
Rumour has it that Gerri H and STEPS are going to 'perform' for the troops out for SSII! What happened to Jim Davidson? Wonder if he'll be watching the footie instead... 
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Good to see our 'Ents committee' have a sense of humour. If the Americans spend a day in theatre they get the whole month tax free. They get 'hostile fire' pay or something similar, and generally have a lot less to gripe about when they get sent away somewhere $hitty. We get 'pop stars'.
Is there any reason why us guys doing a valliant job defending democracy/marsh arabs/UK defence jobs* (* delete as appropriate) should pay income tax if we're out of the country? If we're so valued why shouldn't we be valued that much? I don't want this to sound like a whinge, but we fight alongside the yanks as best buddies and we get sod all in comparison.
I don't think I'll miss Jim Davidson though, that's one thing the committee got right. I would like more than 20 mins telephone calls a week to call home though; maybe I'll get a phone card out of all that extra dosh we get. Oh!!
Is there any reason why us guys doing a valliant job defending democracy/marsh arabs/UK defence jobs* (* delete as appropriate) should pay income tax if we're out of the country? If we're so valued why shouldn't we be valued that much? I don't want this to sound like a whinge, but we fight alongside the yanks as best buddies and we get sod all in comparison.
I don't think I'll miss Jim Davidson though, that's one thing the committee got right. I would like more than 20 mins telephone calls a week to call home though; maybe I'll get a phone card out of all that extra dosh we get. Oh!!
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Hey Fox-1, some of us have been going away for a very long time, with no phone allowance at all. The new welfare package is a god send - 20 mins is pretty good especially as it is from anywhere in the world eg South Atlantic, Sandy Places etc. The other thing you can do is to top up your phone account before you go, this will allow you to talk to everyone for much longer. By the way not all other services get an X factor in their pay like we do.
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There was a splendid piece on Radio 4 yesterday describing off-duty troops relaxing around a swimming pool drinking beer. It sounded great, pity you missed it.
One soldier (described by the excited reporter as 'looking like a Greek God') was interviewed as were a female sailor 'in a bikini' and a Lt. Col. 'an officer - so sitting in the shade'.
All were looking forward to the concert...
Pip Pip
One soldier (described by the excited reporter as 'looking like a Greek God') was interviewed as were a female sailor 'in a bikini' and a Lt. Col. 'an officer - so sitting in the shade'.
All were looking forward to the concert...
Pip Pip
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I can indeed confirm that Miss Halliwell and steps are in the desert to entertain our boys. As pop stars and important people top class transport and accommodation has been organised for the event. The mighty wokka will be used yet again as the work horse to transport them around with their entourage. I bet the boys are all queuing up to fly that one! I woder if anyone will use the **** tube with them onboard and try the old intercom gag?
No doubt the sound crew supporting the gig will have done a better job than the idiots who provided the excrutiating racket from the ex-Spandau Ballet lot at Base Aerea Gringo, Islas Malvinas did last year? Some extremely tasty dancing babes and a half-funny comedian were fine, apart from their acts being interrupted by pi$$ed squaddies. But the 'top' act was dreadful - it might as well have been a dying dinosaur bellowing 'GOLD' over the sound system as a so-called professional act! Many people just upped and left, it was so awful.....and what a waste of money for all concerned. Hope you have better luck in the desert!!
well, we were offered to go and we put our names down but then most realised that they wouldn't sit in a coach for 3 hours to see those bands in UK, but then we are in slipper city.
I might go as I have quite the crush on Geri and if I can be bothered to go I'll send you all a PXR.
The welfare package is pretty damn good esp the internet and phone calls, but they've chopped LOA, so I reckon the government saved themselves a bit of money. Still, mustn't grumble, many people (e.g. poor blokes at Camp Fairburn) don't even have toilets - they are really suffering, don't have Op welfare package or LOA and are pretty damn peed off.
Well, must be off to top up the old Chris Robin tan, see you whiteys later
ttfn,
I might go as I have quite the crush on Geri and if I can be bothered to go I'll send you all a PXR.
The welfare package is pretty damn good esp the internet and phone calls, but they've chopped LOA, so I reckon the government saved themselves a bit of money. Still, mustn't grumble, many people (e.g. poor blokes at Camp Fairburn) don't even have toilets - they are really suffering, don't have Op welfare package or LOA and are pretty damn peed off.
Well, must be off to top up the old Chris Robin tan, see you whiteys later
ttfn,
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24/7
Ah yes, but I think you will find that that is exactly why we didn't join the grunts in the first place
Tonks
Oh well, of to a 21st birthday party in St A's. How I miss the front
[ 06 October 2001: Message edited by: Tonkenna ]
Ah yes, but I think you will find that that is exactly why we didn't join the grunts in the first place
Tonks
Oh well, of to a 21st birthday party in St A's. How I miss the front
[ 06 October 2001: Message edited by: Tonkenna ]
I suppose you had a little 'action man' dolly when you were little didn't you 24/7? Those of us who worked hard at school had the choice between being a 'Blighter' in the trenches and a 'twenty minuter' and it's not big or clever to live in a ****hole between war sorties just because it makes you look hard!!!
I suggest you log on to www.ilikecamping.com where you might find someone who sympathises with your point of view.
I suggest you log on to www.ilikecamping.com where you might find someone who sympathises with your point of view.
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I refer you to the thread about spending more on the military.
Save more by saving a fortune on RAF luxuries and spending it on real military hardware {and that includes the hardware that fly it, not the soft ****s that need a hotel between sorties}
Save more by saving a fortune on RAF luxuries and spending it on real military hardware {and that includes the hardware that fly it, not the soft ****s that need a hotel between sorties}
You might be interested to know that there's already a bollicking letter being circulated amongst the desk-sucking blotter-jotters at HQ which expresses concern at the impact on the budget of all the 'working visits' to SSII - because of the 'most expensive airline and hotel options being used when UK camps were available'
Bad enough for normal standards to be sacrificed because HMG says it can't afford it, but when some REMF waddles over to 'meet the chaps' from his palatial hotel....
And yes, when the outside airline market recovers, as surely it will, those who wouldn't spend the money on normal accommodation will just have to spend 10 times as much on replacing aircrew who will have had enough by then.........
Bad enough for normal standards to be sacrificed because HMG says it can't afford it, but when some REMF waddles over to 'meet the chaps' from his palatial hotel....
And yes, when the outside airline market recovers, as surely it will, those who wouldn't spend the money on normal accommodation will just have to spend 10 times as much on replacing aircrew who will have had enough by then.........
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I would just like to clear up this "should have tried harder at school" myth (was going to put mith, just to see). Personally I didn't try hard at school and do you know what? I couldn't give a flying (quite apt) F***. I didn't leave with many formal quals but I had a good time. Sorry no time for sitting in the sixth form common room with grannies cardigan on, too busy out shagging birds and smoking tabs.
I am now a Military (NB) Pilot, having completed a Tri Service course. I had the pleasure of topping my ground school class at Shawbury, more after school study required sir(s). Prior to flying I worked for a living, meaning away from the anti admin corps.
All I can say is I wouldn't transfer to the cake and arse force if my very existence depended on it. As a team commander in South Armagh a few years ago (sound of sandbag being pulled up) when there were people getting shot on a regular basis, if ever our Heli pick up were late or didn't turn up at all, you could (almost every time) guarantee that it would be the Crabs not bothering to get off there arses 'cause the met was out of limits, or they had a bone in their leg, didn't stop you getting back to Aldergrove for changeover though did (or does) it.
What does all this mean I here you say? (and who cares). School days are the best of your life, you’re damn right they are and if you fancy sitting in the common room with Gerald talking about quantum physics you crack on me old son. I presume from the name you are one. so why go spec aircrew are your officer qualities that lacking that you feel it necessary to fly instead. Guess what, I can stay flying and don't have to do a desk job ever either. Go figure.
Oh before you mention money, as I am sure you will, my give a f**k-o-meter won't even flicker.
The view from outside the RAF, you know from the people its your job to support, is that you are a bunch of whining ninnies who can’t deploy unless you have your amex gold card and your soft sheets. You do nothing to help yourselves and I am sure you will say you don’t care. Not bad from the ‘professional’ aviators.
Why isn’t the senior commander in South Armagh a Crab, I just wondered?
Oh, and you can’t drink !
I am now a Military (NB) Pilot, having completed a Tri Service course. I had the pleasure of topping my ground school class at Shawbury, more after school study required sir(s). Prior to flying I worked for a living, meaning away from the anti admin corps.
All I can say is I wouldn't transfer to the cake and arse force if my very existence depended on it. As a team commander in South Armagh a few years ago (sound of sandbag being pulled up) when there were people getting shot on a regular basis, if ever our Heli pick up were late or didn't turn up at all, you could (almost every time) guarantee that it would be the Crabs not bothering to get off there arses 'cause the met was out of limits, or they had a bone in their leg, didn't stop you getting back to Aldergrove for changeover though did (or does) it.
What does all this mean I here you say? (and who cares). School days are the best of your life, you’re damn right they are and if you fancy sitting in the common room with Gerald talking about quantum physics you crack on me old son. I presume from the name you are one. so why go spec aircrew are your officer qualities that lacking that you feel it necessary to fly instead. Guess what, I can stay flying and don't have to do a desk job ever either. Go figure.
Oh before you mention money, as I am sure you will, my give a f**k-o-meter won't even flicker.
The view from outside the RAF, you know from the people its your job to support, is that you are a bunch of whining ninnies who can’t deploy unless you have your amex gold card and your soft sheets. You do nothing to help yourselves and I am sure you will say you don’t care. Not bad from the ‘professional’ aviators.
Why isn’t the senior commander in South Armagh a Crab, I just wondered?
Oh, and you can’t drink !
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Why is it that the majority of Pongos I meet always feel the need to compete with the RAF, is it some sort of inferiority complex?
I mean dwayne, honestly, the age old banter "should've tried harder at school" doesn't literally mean that. Yet you've jumped up and spouted stories about not being a biff - "topping" your groundschool and everything (which by the way is not exactly nuclear f***ing science).
The Army fellas I know do a good, professional job. A job which requires completely different skills and attributes to mine. Yet, unlike mostly every pongo I've met, I don't feel the need to bang on about how much of a better person I am. Whats it all about?
PS I've deliberately tried to keep this as unabusive as possible... that comes later.
I mean dwayne, honestly, the age old banter "should've tried harder at school" doesn't literally mean that. Yet you've jumped up and spouted stories about not being a biff - "topping" your groundschool and everything (which by the way is not exactly nuclear f***ing science).
The Army fellas I know do a good, professional job. A job which requires completely different skills and attributes to mine. Yet, unlike mostly every pongo I've met, I don't feel the need to bang on about how much of a better person I am. Whats it all about?
PS I've deliberately tried to keep this as unabusive as possible... that comes later.
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Blimey, I'm off to get Matt Hayes the fishing in here is great.... S armagh blah blah blah ,desert Blah .....Blah Blah Blah
Been there, seeen it, got the medals, doing it tomorrow!!!
[ 07 October 2001: Message edited by: Rude C'man ]
Been there, seeen it, got the medals, doing it tomorrow!!!
[ 07 October 2001: Message edited by: Rude C'man ]
Dwayne, you are a man after my own heart - I'm out here in the desert and where we are is the cushiest place in theatre, has an awful lot of crabs and some of them are still whinging. It is tough in some parts out here (stag on Royal mates!), but this place is a holiday camp - I mean it.
...and still they complain.
Still though - much as I love the corps, it ain't so good for flying if you are an officer as you well know - now if we got that sorted out I'd sign on the dotted forever, and there wouldn't be so many guys hotfooting it to whinge-land.
...and still they complain.
Still though - much as I love the corps, it ain't so good for flying if you are an officer as you well know - now if we got that sorted out I'd sign on the dotted forever, and there wouldn't be so many guys hotfooting it to whinge-land.