I loved it in the TA
Seriously had the time of my life - I've a few stories to tell, which I will over time, but for starters you can have this.

Although I was a musician, we would have to play proper soldiers once in a while, and back in 92 we went on two week camp in Northern Germany. I was pretty useless at everything (with the exception of shooting), but I had lived in Germany so could speak the lingo. One particular day we were out on the grenade range - on these ranges they have little sheds on stilts where a local civilian is paid to sit and make some noise if a grenade does not fully explode. Also in this hut is a telephone, which the person has to man. The gentleman on this day, apparently quite common for these range employees didn't actually speak English.

Anyway I was some was away being briefed on something or other, when one of the sergeants from some distance away hollers my name(for clarity, he'd served as a regular for 22 years before joining the TA, so knew a thing or two) . So I set of at double pace to where he is standing with the Major and the range warden. Upon arrival I can see the Sergeant is close to tears, trying not to burst into fits of laughter. The major, a bright bloke I thought and just 26 years old then proceeded in his posh accent to address me:

"Drummer Charlton - can you translate what this kraut is saying - can't understand a bally word of his lingo - he's been shouting the same word at me for 5 minutes and I haven't a damn clue what he is on about"

So I turn to the German gentleman, ask for him to explain in my best german, and he proceeds to lift his hand to his ear thumb outstretched, and his little finger pointing towards his mouth and very slowly and loudly proceeds to say "TEL-E-FON"

"Sir I believe there is a ph.."

I was not allowed to finish my sentence.
(Waynster James Joyce is fucking my sister!, Fri 24 Mar 2006, 22:37, Reply)