New To British Army

[Megami]

Hello

Just a quick intro. My DH has just transferred to the British Army from the Australian Army. We have previously lived in the UK (2002-03) but this is our first time living the 'Army life' here. Also this time we have our son, who is four, with us.

I know that yes, supposedly everyone is meant to be going the other way (UK to Australia) but would love to know if there are any other 'foreigners' on this list, or just generally get to know you all.

I agree entirely - housing should (in the first instance) be allocated according to number of children.

I (as the wife of a Lt Col - cough/splutter) was quite happy to live in a small Capt's quarter in London and save £300 a month to boot.

As you go up the ranks there is entertaining to be done - and as such need a bigger house (at least downstairs).

Glad to see that bitching about MQs is a universal pursuit of Forces spouses then ...

It'll never change, there one rule for Officers and one for everyone else!

not where we're posted

can i tell them saltire said we could have a big house? mind you, at the moment the kids are fighting over who gets to share... can't see that one lasting long...

we've had the 'entertaining' discussion recently... our posting info helpfully suggests we pack all items which may be required for hosting dinner parties...

no pressure then.

I hate having to invite people to dinner! It really is an obligation - you have to do it!

why aren't you at work?

i know - we've had a lovely three years off as a singleton in an industry liaison post but will be parachuted back into the midst in the summer

but ours will be (mostly) the informal stuff lol - i'm wondering if i can get away with being the slightly bizarre wifey who does everything so badly that people don't expect much when they come round... maybe if i cultivated being 'nice' i'd get away with it... bit of a stretch though...

I have flu! I honestly think we should be given extra money to buy enough glasses etc etc for a dinner party for 12/14.

rofl

we were counting our glasses last week trying to work out whether to ship them all (and whether we had enough) and risk breakages, or whether to stuff it all in storage and buy boxloads when we get there

my favourite was the removal man who asked if we really needed that many dining chairs...

or my face when we moved them for the first time and the removal man pointed out that because they were high-backed, he couldn't up-end one on top of the other to stack - they all had to stand upright, which would take up loads of space on the lorry.
there should be a manual that explains these things before you shop... it hadn't even occurred to me...

That is funny re the dining chairs!

I was being serious re the extra money! Why should we have to have x number of table mats/decanters/port glasses?

we spent a good twenty minutes debating whether champagne flutes would be required in the next two years...

some enterprising soul would just point out that you shouldn't have extra money because you could just borrow the glassware from the mess when needed...

oh bugger. table mats.

Linen napkins too!

One must have ones own glassware - in case your own DP clashes with a mess function.

clashes with a mess function?! only in your life - never mine lol.

i've got more linen napkins than you can shake a stick at.

Stilton spoon?

i knew there was a vital item i was missing.

how will i survive?

You have really let the side down now!

Well as someone who has carted loads of glassware from one side of the earth to the other (and back again in a few cases) I really feel your pain!
I asked my husband about this whole 'officers must do entertaining' thing and he assures me it is only certain units, and that I am safe for now. Must say I am quietly disappointed about that one ...

there seem to be precious few postings where you get away with it lol. i'm enjoying it whilst it lasts...

takes me back to when i was lectured on my responsibilities as a sub-unit commander's wife by the adjutant at the first dinner party of the posting.

my responsibilities.

bless. i'm sure he thought it was a fine idea to lecture the heavily pregnant woman whose dh was about to leave on op tour about her responsibilities...

have you fetched up somewhere lively, megami, or are you in the back of beyond somewhere? i have to say that 'lively' is my worst nightmare - all that committeeing gives me a headache...

My husband is posted to RSME Chatham.

My husband knows better than to try one on about the 'responsibilities' of an Army wife - at one stage he was told that as his wife I would be responsible for organising morning teas for the other wives. He just told the numpty who said that that actually I was busy working full time so they would be waiting a long time for their morning teas!

As does McDreamy although I did get invited to a napkin folding morning once

I take it everyone has read the book 'Gumboots and Pearls'?

Good Lord. What does such a morning entail? What is the purpose?