Week 19 – How it ends

What a boring week, all we did was continue to clean and pack our gear in preparation for going home. Oh, and welcome the new guys. They certainly are a mixed bag this lot, come from all over the place. Good luck to them I say, they have a hard reputation to live up to. The week concluded with the end of tour function which started at the high commissioners place. The lone thought in all our minds was ‘Oh my god, beer! This is awesome!’ That was until we tasted the local beer know as Solbrew or as we quickly came to call it, cat’s piss. The canned stuff tasted slightly better than the bottled, I can’t remember, either way, it was still pretty shit. After an hour of two drinking here we were taken back to base by a very grumpy bus driver (Aussie, what a surprise) were we had an hour of drying off before we were allowed back at the bar. The bar involved me and Pinnie somehow defeated some Aussies in pool even though we were rather toasted and continued drinking. However I was disappointed in the lads as I had smuggled booze to the room to continue drinking after curfew but they all piked. Ending up being me and one other drinking in the dark, not so much fun. So all the remaining booze I gave to Solly, our good friend from the Solomon’s police force.

Sunday saw a few hangovers for our final goodbyes and the plane ride home. Got a ride in a jet this time, and with ample room, 3 seats between 2 troopies, lovely. I got a bit of sleep and before you knew it (bout 4 hours) we were coming in to land at Ohakea. First thing I did? McDonalds of course. Nowhere near as good as I had built it up to be. That and an hour later I was regretting it as my stomach was no longer used to processed food. After a decent sleep and my first real sleep-in in a long time I was feeling much more human. In summary, it was a great trip. I become close friends with some great people, I saved a heap of coin, I got some great experiences and I helped make in difference in some peoples’ lives. In saying that, I would not go back to the Solomon Islands with the army. Don’t get me wrong, the place and the people are great, but having to work under the police and Australians? Not worth it.

I am definitely glad to be home also, being able to go outside and not immediately breaking into a sweat, not being told what to do all the time, being able to do things on your own. Some things have taken a bit of getting used to. Not having my weapon with me 24/7, not having my section by my side, not having to scan and patrol when out and about. In the 3 or so weeks I have been back I have more than made up for the 4 months without drinking on deployment, gotten into some mischief that is memorable and some I simply can not remember, and basically had a great time being home. To anyone thinking about joining the Territorial or even those not, Now is a great time to enlist, not only do you get primo kit, you can be deployed within a year of joining if you are good enough. Not to mention the skills, adventures and friends you make by being in the green machine. I’m doing my part! Are you? (Service guarantees citizenship* (* not valid in this reality)).

Now it is nearly time for my next great adventure to begin. At the very twilight of 2008 I am moving to London to return to my original career as a science teacher. Luckily everything has worked out (so far, touch wood) with my visa approved, job secured, etc. All that remains now is for me to arrive in London and find somewhere to live and then the next chapter in “It seemed like a good idea at the time: A Peter Cadle Story” can begin. I am looking forward to it.