The Birkenhead Drill

Seen the bastardized Hollywood piece of shit that is "Titanic"?  Well, the women and children first ehtos was introduced after the sinking of the HMS  Birkenhead.  The soldiers on board the stricken vessel were actually ordered to stay on the deck up until the moment the boat went under, to give the kids and bitches a fighting chance. Now that's what I call disciplined.

 Rudyard Kipling's "The Birkenhead Drill"

To take your chance in the thick of a rush, with firing all about,
Is nothing so bad when you've cover to 'and, an' leave an' likin' to shout;
But to stand an' be still to the Birken'ead drill is a damn tough bullet to chew,
An' they done it, the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies -- soldier an' sailor too!
Their work was done when it 'adn't begun; they was younger nor me an' you;
Their choice it was plain between drownin' in 'eaps an' bein' mopped by the screw,
So they stood an' was still to the Birken'ead drill, soldier an' sailor too

I love the way the pronunciation of the H is dropped. Fascinating stuff.

So that's today's slice of naval history eaten.

Good news from the doctors today; My blood pressure is back down to normal. Neither good, nor bad news from the rheumotology specialist. He's happy to dismiss me a gout sufferer; should my blood test on Monday not come back abnormal. I'm keeping everything crossed. Recruitment for the R.F.A is closed. I've applied for the Royal Navy in the 'comms branch.  I've already aced the RT test, so it will shave off 12 months for the waiting time. It'll give me time to get into shape; which I am gradually doing. After I initially applied for the Royal Navy earlier in the month, I tried to complete the 2.4k run, which I failed miserably at; 14 mins was my time. I ran it again with my Friend Sean as a pacemaker and did it in 12; so I'm only 30 seconds off. I'm not going to get caught up with speed and times just yet. I went for a 4 mile run two nights ago, and felt it the day after!  I've got a long way to go, so I will now concentrate on the weight loss aspects. I'm currently 19st 13LB- Three years ago today, I was 26st 7lb. My plateau was 21st, which I was loitering about at during the past year, it's time to press on.

Here's some further reading on the HMS Birkenhead- http://www.submerged.co.uk/birkenhead.php

New year. New resolution(s)

Resolutions are generally made with good intentions, and more often than not; the notion will drift in to the back of my mind and eventually perish. I'm re branding the term 'resolution' and I'm calling it my "List of shit I'd like to do"

Here's my list of shit:

*Find a paid job (This is my 2nd year of being unemployed!)

*Move out of the house I currently live in; already the ball is rolling; I've just got off the telephone with the environmental health. I have mold growing on my walls as a result of my landlords negligence.

*Read twice as many books as I did last year (roughly about 20 then)

My highlight of 2010 was : "Escape to the sea" - Fred Rebell (Pictured above)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rebell - For some limited information on him.

*Lose three stone by summer. (Taking my grand total to 9 stone lost)

*Get on track for a long term career.

*Try and learn French


2010 wasn't that bad in hindsight. I rode well over 1000 miles on my bike; probably closer to 2000 miles. I completed the Liverpool to Chester and back charity bike ride. I rode my bike to Abergele in Wales. I went to L'arenal in Majorca for a week. I had two visits to Portsmouth for RFA interviews; granted I was rejected for both, but what doesn't kill you, and all that . . . eurgh I feel like an A Level Philosophy student; quoting Nietzsche in my diary.  I lost a stone in weight.  I got two puppies (gave one to my father, who was made redundant) I seriously cut down on my drinking.

I didn't learn how to sail, which was one of my 'resolutions' but I did have a quick go on a canal boat. I didn't get in the RFA. I didn't lose as much weight as I would have liked to.

So 2011 so far; I'm in training, I'm under application for the Royal Navy. Got a deal breaking appointment with a specialist tomorrow. I'm shitting myself.