Nothing at all that can be done about any of this but am COMPLETELY fed up with RN attitude and just needed a good whinge about it. In the last 7 years I've given my entire life over to the Navy, haven't complained when recalled from my father's funeral to deploy (ashes stayed on a shelf at the undertaker's for 5 months because they wouldn't give me leave to pick them up)or when refused compassionate leave when my stepfather was in hospital, or when DH2B and I haven't had any leave together in 3 years (and in fact only spent 30 nights together last year), or about any of the 4 holidays I've cancelled in the last 3 years, or about being sent to sea the ONLY weekend that DH2B is alongside between now and April, or when officially told (not in writing, funnily enough!) that there was no point trying to get married while in my previous appointment as they wouldn't guarantee me even one day off... And now, having planned the wedding over a year ago to fit in with our careers, cleared it with everyone everywhere even remotely related to either of our jobs, suddenly I find myself having to grovel to the Cdr to get time off for it because apparently they're suddenly going to be too busy to spare me - from a job that was gapped for 2 years! It's driving me mad... It's like being in a relationship with someone that you love and would never leave but who just keeps letting you down. DH2B is leaving at the 16 year point but that's still 8 years away, and I don't even want to consider what it'll be like when we have a family.
Okay, rant over, feeling better now