|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 19, 2021 14:36:47 GMT
Was assigned to a Hanger, where the Officer in charge,was really just a Lad and we played him up something awful. I asked him if I could work in the packing Bay, at the end of the Hanger, he said,"no way", the Men Workers, Arab Gentlemen, would not work for a Woman, I did a bit of Eyelash fluttering, and a bit of "pleeeeze""pleeeze!" G, so he said, we could give it a go! Was in charge of the Packing Bay, and really enjoyed it, Orders would come in, either AOG, or IOR, AOG, meant, Aircraft on Ground, so part was needed urgently, or the Aircraft, could not move. I had thirteen Male Workers under me, I supervised everything that went into the Boxes, they did the rest. We got on well. I was paid once a Fortnight, and come the end of the Fortnight, I had no Money for the N.A.F.F.I. Van that came round at Break Time. Abdul, would come to me, with a Handful of small Coins, and say" N.A.F.F.I Miss Cattie ! They did not get a lot, so made sure I had something on Tick, from the Catholic Club. When the Men arrived for Work, they would put their 'Mungaria', tied up in a sort of Dick Whittington Cloth, on one of the big Racks, from my Desk, I could see, Mice, sitting on every One of the Cloths. Every time they caught a Mouse, they drew a Picture of a Mouse Head, behind my Desk, I remember when I left, there were 27. I was sad to leave.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 20, 2021 7:47:43 GMT
Myself, and one or two of my Pals, would go down to Fayid, to the Swimming Pool, or the Skating, or the Souks, and early on, went into a Cafe for Lunch, the Dish of the Day, and probably every Day, was Spaghetti, with a free Glass of Wine, only thing was, it was a Tumbler full, only time ever, I did not know which Curtain to go through, good Job, my Friends were more cautious. I Babysat, for an Officer, along the Canal Road, the Canal Road, was the main Road to Fayid. Loved doing that, you opened their back Door in the Morning, and if you had your Costume on, it was straight into the Water. Went into the Kitchen one Night, did not put the Light on, and there was someone crouching in the Bushes.Pretty scary.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 20, 2021 13:52:01 GMT
It was my 20th Birthday, I had a Telegram from my Mum, and a Card from my Nan, and was sitting on my Bed, howling, was missing them so much, when my Pal B she who took me to the Catholic Club, came in, She was a Glasweigen , and said, " stop yer greeting, and let's awa to the Club." Determined to wallow in my Grief, I resisted all her Efforts, but just to get her off my Back, I finally gave in. Went to the Club, and that dear old Man, had made me a Birthday Spread, and there was even a Cake! He was the Epitome of a true Christian. and for some reason, we just took to each other. Time rolled on, as it does, I had by this time disengaged myself from N, so was fancy free, once more. Once more they asked for Volanteers for Aden,and Iraq, put in for Aden, and got Iraq.
|
|
|
Post by irist on Mar 20, 2021 15:06:24 GMT
You really were adventurous, Tina. I wouldn't have had the confidence at 20 to go off like you did on your own. Great memories.
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Mar 20, 2021 16:35:18 GMT
My long-gone brother was in the RAF, and I can remember when he was stationed in Munchengladbach that we (me, my Mum and my Dad) went to stay with him. He had some holiday and we went to the Black Forest camping. We had such a good time, that when we got back, we went into the NAAFI and bought some sleeping bags and a military tent (very cheaply!) and many years after we were able to have holidays with our bell tent. In fact, we still have the sleeping bags (made in cotton!) - they had all-round zips, so we use them as a quilt, fully opened. Brother also spent a posting in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, and, while there, as a joke, sent us a pair of antlers, by post!! Sounds like a lot of fun in the Forces - and Tina, your stories tell us that was probably true in those days!
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 20, 2021 20:13:20 GMT
We were stationed at Moenchen Gladbach, on the Dutch Border, used to go into Holland for my Weekly Shop.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 20, 2021 20:35:33 GMT
Well, there were four of us, from different Units, going to IRAQ, we had a four Hour Flight to Habbanniya, in Iraq, sitting in Bucket Seats along the Side of the Plane, the kind you see Paratroopers, jumping out of. There are a lot of Air Pockets, in the Desert, and when we hit One, the Plane dropped like a Stone! Coming in to land, we saw what looked like a beautiful Oasis, with a lot of Buildings. And so it was, only fifty Miles from Baghdad, and nothing else but Miles of Sand. There was a big N.A.F.F.I., a Church, a Man made Park, that was kept Green, and o lovely Place to wander through, very basic , and guarded always, it had been attacked in 1936. There were always Aircraft on Standby, in case we had to make a quick Exit. It was only a couple of Miles from Lake Habbaniya, and every Afternoon, a Gharry, different Name for a Lorry, would take off to the Yacht Club, coming from a long Line of Navy Men, I soon found myself a Skipper, needing a Crew for a Snipe.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 21, 2021 8:10:54 GMT
And so I became a Member of the Yacht Club. Near by, was the 'Rest and Leave Center, Where you could stay, if you had the Money, and were so inclined, it does hold special Memories for me. Well it was just like being by any Beach, but belonged to the Club. We had a special Guest, the Sheik upon whose Land the Club was built, and he would hold Suppers, suppose you would call them, at which he would ask for me to sit beside him. He was a nice fatherly Man, and sometimes his Sons would come with him, but strictly no mixing, or Iwould have been on the next Plane home. Wish I had the things that I admired on S, took me a while to realize if you admire something, they have to give it to you, and I had Strings of Prayer Beads. Life was not all Fun, I did work, but again, we started at 7am, and finished at twelve. We had the big Naafi, and it had to be big, as every Function was held there, and everybody mixed, although they did have the Officers Mess. There were not a lot of Aircrew, but they were Devils, and always up to something, I had a Boyfriend within their Group, and this will have a signifigance later.
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Mar 21, 2021 15:12:14 GMT
We were stationed at Moenchen Gladbach, on the Dutch Border, used to go into Holland for my Weekly Shop. Yes, we did too, it was a town called Venlo if I remember correctly, just a couple of miles from Germany, over to The Netherlands.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 21, 2021 15:32:33 GMT
There were some Families on the Camp, in Married Quarters, and I sometimes crewed, a Staff Sergeant, who had two little Girls, that were often with him, and I sometimes Babysat for them. There was nothing for Children to do, so decided to form a Brownie Pack. I had always been a keen Guide, and later, a Guider. So sent to England for all the Bumpf, and permission to form a Pack. so we became the 'First Habbaniya Brownies. Just loved doing things with the Kids, we only had two Boys,so we allowed them to be be honorory Brownies. Meanwhile, was learning to Skipper the Boat, but had several Life threatening Things happen. Lake Habbaniya, was shaped like a figure eight, you started off in the big 0, then went into the small 0. When you were in the big O, you could be seen, but once in the small O, you were out of sight. My Friend, who had permission to take out her Fiancee's Boat, asked me if I would crew her, to an Island, in the second O. His Boat, was a 'Firefly', so small, if you sat the wrong way on it, it turned over. We got to the Island, and I have a Picture of one little Arab Boy sitting between us, the other One, was obviously taking the Photo. We sat off again, but a 'Devil Wind', blew up, we were trying to get into the big O, but were completely at the mercy of the Wind, which tossed us about, then, the Mast broke! Maybe, that was a good thing, as least the Wind, could not use the Sails. You had to 'Sign out', in the big Ledger, when you went out, and sign in, when you got back. There was a Lifeboat on 'Stand By', at all Times, and if a Devil Wind blew up, they would know we might be in Trouble, and set off to find us. Luckily, it was not too long before we were on dry Land, again.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 21, 2021 15:35:12 GMT
Next Time I would not be so lucky.
|
|
|
Post by irist on Mar 21, 2021 19:27:28 GMT
Cliff hanger - need to know what happened next!
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 22, 2021 9:01:51 GMT
Do it as soon as I can, Iris. lol.x
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 22, 2021 14:58:48 GMT
having trouble with this machine, do not know how much I can manage. It was the big all class Boat Race, that means every Boat can take part, and the The Times adjusted accordingly. I do not know why I was not crewing my own Boat, that Day, but crewing one of the big Airbourne Lifeboats. Big heavy Boats. we were just coming up to the finishing Line, The four other Lifeboats, were behind us in a straight line, when a Devil wind, came out of nowhere, and saw the four other Boats, go over like a Pack of Cards! Skipper is shouting" stand on the Plate!", am trying to do that, and the Boat is going over, the Hatch Cover, hit me , thought i had lost an eye, blood pouring over my Face, had to swim for the Shore, the People who had been watching, were wading into the Water, forming Human Chains, to help the Swimmers. would like to say, everyone survived, but cannot.
|
|
|
Post by ambersparkle on Mar 22, 2021 15:22:42 GMT
Before this happened, was getting pretty confident, as won, the 1951 Ladies Boat Race, but, went out once more, and never again, completely lost my Nerve. I was getting ready to sit my Helmswoman Exam, so never made it. but something else was about to happen, met my future Husband, by literally falling off my Bike at his Feet. He, was lounging about outside the Gates of the MU, having a Cigarette, and made no effort to hurry to pick me up, this was not on, ten Men to every Woman, I could pick and choose, how dare he linger to help me up. so upright once more, noticed his good Looks, and thought, I'll, get round to him later!
|
|