So the first notorious 5 weeks are over. I must first apologise for my near total dropping off the radar over the last few weeks, and my inability to update here. Mobile phone time was severely rationed, and laptops were right out, making contact something of a challenge. That leaves me with the unenviable task of trying to summarise what was most certainly the fullest 5 weeks of my, and I'm sure anyone else's life, without boring you all to tears.
Well to the basics, was it ridiculously busy and incomparably tiring? yes! Was it the horrific, nightmare of a time which so many had told me it would be? No, in fact at stages i had fun. For those unacquainted with general routine it goes a little like this: Wake up 0515, water parade (singing of the National Anthem and downing water) at 0530, breakfast 0615, lessons start 0700, (lessons encapsulates everything from physical training, to learning how to use weapon systems, voice procedure on the radio, how to dress, speak and write letters like an Officer to the organisation of the Army etc). Lessons finish 1830 (with a small gap for lunch but otherwise no let up), dinner 1900, 1930-2200 some form of compulsory cleaning activity (e.g. bulling ones boots) 2200-0000 ironing organising cleaning etc for the next day. That has been the scheme of things day in day out for the last weeks, 5 hours sleep being a major achievement, 3/4 being more likely closer to reality.
Of all emotions exhaustion is probably the most common; the struggle to stay awake in lectures is a constant one, i have seen over the last few weeks people falling asleep in every scenario possible; standing up in full combat kit, in hallways, under trees and in my case on one occasion mid shoe polishing.
I will certainly have little patience now for whinging about tiredness though; it is amazing how one is able to function, especially physically to a fairly high standard on no sleep whatsoever. After our first big exercise in the field where we had slept for less than 5 hours over a 96 hour period, we had an exerting 7km jog with full kit and it was perfectly doable.
The down side of the lack of sleep though is its impact on one's ability to retain information. While packing in the entire infantry recruits basic 14 week training package into just 5 weeks, the actual content was not an issue, but the sheer scale of it and ones limited mental capacity makes remembering everything very hard. I struggled often on very basic spelling and information retention.
There were certainly lows! 4 days of exercise on no sleep, wearing body armour helmet and rifle literally 24 hours a day, including while in the sleeping bag, stinking and exhausted and covered in more filth than i thought possible. Being made to change 7 times a day, through every outfit in the wardrobe just so that everyone has an impossible pile of ironing in the evening!
But equally there were highs! Storming through PT sessions, leaving the CSM with nothing to criticize while inspecting you (I've never considered silence as success before), impromptu Platoon parties in the corridor after a highly illegal sneak visit to Morrison's on the way back from Climbing, and the major miracle that was the whole Platoon passing our week 5 Drill Test known as Passing off the Square.
The Platoon is coming together strongly, and while perhaps not the best, we are the fittest, and also certainly the silliest, which suits me just fine. From evenings spent wearing just respirators and pants, to surreal showering sessions with our rifles (because we have to be within 1m of them at all times) , to ridiculous singing on Water Parade, a silly comment or a cheeky smile abound, which really is all that keeps you going at times. Our Colour Sgt helps, who I'm pleased to report is brilliant. It may be just Stockholm Syndrome but we all have a real affection for him, the fact that he's a no nonsense Para definitely helps, as does the fact that i think deep down he finds us quite amusing, as well as totally inept!
While closer to being Cub Scouts than Soldiers, still we're getting there and I'm proud to be part of the group i am. Its a cliche but you definitely do feel an inch taller marching off the parade square, or standing in chapel belting out Jerusalem with 300 other guys who you know really, really mean every word.
From this stage on we start to regain small liberties, my phone is fully mine again, as is my lap top and as such my ability to update here regularly. I am allowed a beer with dinner, and a positively indulgent wake up time of 0600. I'm also allowed to ball my socks in pairs rather than individually and i can stop ironing my towel. As such i will hope to be more diligent in my keeping you all updated. My thanks in the meantime to all those who have given words of support by text and especially through the mail, i appreciate them hugely. Further reports will follow, in the meantime enjoy the pictures.
The week has culminated though at an almost civilianly lethargic pace, starting with my first foray outside these hallowed grounds for a few drinks with the Platoon, and the dubious wonders of Fleet. Our impact on that poor little town however was severely limited by our 12pm curfew. Sunday then saw Old College Sunday, which essential provides an opportunity for one's parents to come and see what magnificent soldiers we have become. We marched (apparently not too awfully) belted out a few hymns in chapel, then in a wonderfully chaotic gaggle, bubbled not marched around the camp looking at accommodation and other bits and bobs; noticing the paintings and artifacts that usually we simply rush on past. On that note the week has ended, and here goes another, although its only 4 days long which is good. But its going to be crazy busy and the weather is looking lovely and hot, which for most of you is great but for those of us in body armour and helmets is not! 
