Turbo Man's Fitness Blog: 30 Years Ago Today ...

NO LOVE HANDLES ALLOWED!

'It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.' Theodore Roosevelt 23 April 1910

Thursday 24 February 2011

30 Years Ago Today ...

... I joined the RAF! I don't remember the attestation ceremony in CIO Brighton very clearly, but I remember vividly the following day: walking to Newhaven Town train station with a rucksack and a small holdall; the train journey to Newark Northgate via London; the coach journey to RAF Swinderby; getting shouted at for the first time (of many!); multi-man rooms - 24 I think it was; polished floors and the amazing buffers; one double wardrobe and a bedside cabinet each - that was it; bedpacks; inspections; firing the 7.62mm SLR for the first time (I had never fired a gun before and I remember being about to squeeze the trigger for the first time and not really knowing what to expect. Squeeze - Bang - Ouch!); etc etc etc.

At the time the strength of the RAF was about 105,000 - how things have changed!

5 comments:

Cavegirl said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 24 February 2011 at 16:49
Cavegirl said...: Previous post deleted for typos! Lunchtime drinking for you ...

Those were the days eh!

Mr Grok joined 30 years ago last August and says ... 'get some time in lad!'; 24 February 2011 at 16:52
Sags said...: About time you were released for good behaviour chap!!; 24 February 2011 at 19:40
Unknown said...: happy anniversary mate,you've got 18months on me!; 24 February 2011 at 20:45
Daz Sharpe said...: Happy RAF Birthday Tman, I feel very young today having only 19 years under my belt.; 25 February 2011 at 08:43