Being There

When I was at school one of the lessons that I hated was sports. I was bored out of my mind playing football mainly because I was hopeless at it. I could kick a ball anywhere but where I wanted it to go and on top of that, if I had the ball and everyone’s eyes were upon me I just went to pieces and seldom made contact with that piece of leather with a pig’s bladder in it.

I developed a pretence that I was a long distance runner, anything rather than have to go onto that pitch. I wasn’t that good at running either but at least it got me out of the grounds and away from school. I did get to like it a bit but wasn’t going to make it a career.

I had jobs when I left school that were pretty physical so had no great need for sports.

It was when I first went into the army that I began to get interested in keeping fit, if you weren’t prepare to do your bit it wasn’t long before you lagged behind the others in the gymnasium.

I guess I must have looked pretty fit, well at least I was lean. I was waiting to go for an interview with the company sergeant major when the commanding officer of the unit came out of his office and on his return stopped and looked at me. ”you look fit young man” said he, “Yes sir” I replied, “Come into my office I have just the job for you”. Before I knew where I was I had been given the details of the PT Instructors course that I was attending in 4 days time. As the post was for lance corporals only, it meant that I had instant promotion and instant dislike from some of the chaps that I was serving with but everything has it’s price. Read the rest of this entry »