Does anyone have a son or daughter joining Harrogate Army College in March?

[triplets]

My son joins on the 15th, would be nice to talk to others! :)

Hi Triplets, my son also joined the AFC on March 15th doing the 42 weeks. I'm struggling this weekend, he's my only one and I'm missing him massively :( x

Hi Triplets he absolutely loves it. That's what has made it easier for me to get used to it, tbh. He was made for it, I think. When we went to families' day last week it was great to see him interacting with everyone from the others in his troop right up to the Captain and CO. He wasn't awkward or nervous, which he could be before. He had a glowing report when he left, so we're very proud and very pleased for him.

It's very difficult when they first go. It took me along time to get used to him not being here. I had little cries for weeks after he went, then he came home for a long weekend at 7 weeks and it was hard to put him back on the train.

DS1 was so happy when he went, he wasn't at all homesick but was very busy so didn't ring as often as I wanted him to. I didn't tell him that, I knew how busy he would be because DH is in the RAF so I knew how hard the inspections are, but it was very hard to ring him, or text him. They have a lot of inspections of kit, their rooms etc. DS1 had jobs in the barrack block too, on a rota, like cleaning the toilets, showers, corridors, etc, so their days are very, very long and very busy.

It's a double edged sword. On the one hand it's great they don't ring because they are happy and enjoying it, on the other it's hard for us mums because we miss them and want to chat to them. I sent DS1 little parcels of chocolate, nice toiletries, jelly beans, etc (not a lot because they can't store it) because that prompted him to text or phone. Practically every phone call began "Hello mum, sorry I've not rang, I've been busy...."

I'm sorry I can't help you wrt the leave questions, but what I will say is if you have any questions ring and ask them. They are usually really, really helpful, they'd rather you asked than stewed over it, tbh.

The forces is one big family, the army have looked after DS1 really well since he joined. There was an excellent WRVS facility where he did his Phase2, they had to have that as they had under 18s there. DH and I were very impressed with it. The man in charge of it was really, really lovely, and it was reassuring to see, although DS1 is 20.

Try to keep busy, it makes it a little bit easier and it makes the time go a tiny bit quicker. xxxx

for you and n1cruth

Thank you so much Fairy, that was such a lovely comforting post, it echoes how I feel. Thomas only rang twice in 10 days, then he phoned last night and tonight! Apparently they were given their phones for 2 hours tonight and got to go to the welfare centre, they also watched a movie today so he was very happy! Welcome n1cruth , I can imagine in a different way how much you are missing your son, its hard when its your only child..........be proud of yourself that you have raised him to be independent and ready to take that very big step into the world outside of home. Like Fairy said the forces are one big family, that's very much what it feels like, two weeks ago I knew no other parent now I am in touch with many..........its good, really good. Fairy do they really get jobs cleaning the loos???

DS1 did Triplets it was his first job. They'd have to be up, doing their jobs before breakfast. The cleaners would come in once or twice a week, maybe more, but they'd have to do it as well so they were clean and tidy at all times. I remember DS1 ranting that people weren't respecting their surroundings and were treating it like a hotel and not their home. I couldn't stop laughing.

Priceless :o

Just seeing how you all are? Got a late call from my son last night, almost 10pm......only just given their phone back. He wanted sub of £20 to pay for a months internet, that quite a lot they are charging them £18.30 a month. He wont get paid apparently until the end of April. He was full of cold, said everyone had got one, two lads were in the sick bay with tonsillitis! Think they have been doing more with them, he likes to be active! So so far so good, three weeks tomorrow hell be coming home

Hi Triplets!
Glad you had a call. Won't be long now until he's home.
My army DS is home for Easter and eating us out of house and home! He's just back from army stuff in America and is going to Canada for the Summer, very much enjoying his army career. Doesn't seem two minutes since he was in basic training, I remember he didn't phone home much then either - they were kept too busy for that!
xx

Hi Ruby........lovely to hear from you. Sounds as though your ds is having an amazing time, how long has he been in now? How is everything else?

Hi Triplets, He's been in 5 1/2 years now, enjoys every minute.
The army has been very good at keeping in touch with us about what is going on, regular letters about overseas trips and how to keep in contact etc, and we always had emails/phone numbers for someone to contact ourselves.
Tough hard soldier they may have made him, but at home this weekend we have had our very new baby great niece to stay and he hasn't put her down yet!
Still in touch with his softer side!

Aww glad you have him home for Easter...........enjoy! Just spoke to my js tonight, still sounding happy and positive:)

Hi All and Happy Easter . Thanks all for the lovely supportive words. I'm feeling much more positive. My DS is happy and excited about the activities coming up and he's chosen his sport too. Great to have support from people going through the same. Hope you're all fine x

Hi what sport did he choose? Mine for reasons known only to himself has chosen horse-riding as his first choice then scuba diving then paintballing!! It seems much longer than exactly 3 weeks ago this very hour that we said our goodbyes, seems so long since we have seen him. Really missed putting his Easter chocolate out today..............empty space:( Still countdown now 2 weeks next Frid!!

Sport can open lots of opportunities in the army so do fully encourage them to play. My DS has a sport, cricket, which he plays for the army; so far he has been awarded 3 caps and has toured South Africa and played at Lords amongst many other exciting places. Even when in combat zones he has been able to play which proved welcome respite from the day to day grind.
When in Canada he also did some horse riding - his battalion had been asked if anyone had any knowledge of horses and my DS piped up that his mum gallops racehorses. As that was the sum total of horsiness in the whole battalion, him and his buddy were 'volunteered' to go off with the Mounties for a week. He had a great time despite never riding a horse before in his life!
I know I am much further along the road of being an army mum than most of you here, but missing them does get better when you get to hear of the great things they are doing.
to all of you. xxx

Hi Triplets, he chose boxing, no surprises there ( other than he said he wasn't going to choose it before he left) " of course dear" . Horse riding sounds like fun and from what Ruby1234 said there are lots of opportunities to be had from a wide variety of sports. My JS said he'd had a lecture about the opportunities sport can bring, he's v excited. I did pack him off with an Easter egg, I imagine it was gone inside of a few hours of arriving!! Roll on the 24th! Have you sent a parcel? My JS advised he didn't want anything He's on a health kick xxx

Happy Easter, everyone.

We've had DS1 home for just over a week now. So far we have gone through 30 pints of milk , I am contemplating buying a cow! I would say he has caught up on all the sleep he has missed too!

I remember DS1 getting a cold in basic training, triplets, I think most of them do. I'm glad it's all positive for both you and n1cruth, and your DC, it makes it easier (although it's hard). Try not to eat that Easter chocolate before he gets home! [tbuwimnk]

Hi all...........thanks for all you reassurance Ruby, it really does help. I have sent a couple of parcels, one was a calendar he asked for to tick off the days!!Did also send some chocolate for Easter which he devoured in day 1! He phoned again tonight and said they had had an easy day but then was off to do his kit as big inspection tomorrow!

Luckily DS1 has rang almost every night except when out on exercise, he seems to have days were he loves it & days when he hates it, although he has assured us he still wants to pursue the army career.
I need to get his permission to leave letter sent asap but I'm not sure what to write??
Does anyone know what time family day is on the 17th? We have been told by DS1 that a letter has been posted to us but as yet we haven't received anything. We're in Southampton so it's a very, very long drive to Harrogate :(
I was planning on decorating his room this week as a surprise, ready for his return but his girlfriend told him!! He moaned that he doesn't want the wooden floor I have purchased, he wants carpet. I had to explain that the reason I have purchased wooden flooring is because he doesn't look after carpets properly. He had a brand new carpet 9 months ago which he has completely ruined, he has spilt numerous drinks, food items, etc & left them hours before cleaning it up, leaving huge stains. His girlfriend has got hair dye, foundation, etc on it also, so I'm now wondering wether to even bother :(

Hi have pmd you :) Is your js on the short course then, PIP on the 17th? Mine is passing in on the 24th. Well you never know, after all the house work they have been made to do up there he may well surprise you with his hoovering!

Hi triplets, thank you for the PM.
Yes he's on the short course, he has gone for an engineering trade. We have been told family day is the 17th April & his POP is on the 18th August.

Sorry I have been out most of the day and completely forgot to post you. Will do it in the morning, are you on FB?

have pmd you! x

Think there has been goings on at AFC y/day, most platoons not given their phones last night. I have heard there has been more stealing, twice this week in the same platoon. Awful for one js to do that to another. I am out tonight so won`t hear from him anyway. Poor lads and lasses!

Hi Triplets, hope you don't mind me asking, but I was on the cruise thread, did you ever go on your cruise? and how is your husband doing? x

Oh, I am and to hear there has been stealing going on triplets, and very annoyed for them not to be given their phones because of it. Poor kids.

DS1 was a victim of theft in Phase 1. He had money stolen when he was in the shower, as did other lads. It was handled appallingly by the army, tbh. DS1 and the other lads had a good idea of who it was, they think it was a lad who was desperately homesick and wanted out so was trying his best to get chucked out. As soon as he left all the stealing stopped, but it really affected them all at the time.

Hello landrover, no we never did sadly. Finances wouldn`t stretch, but we did go to Puerto Pollensa in Majorca for 9 days which was lovely. Good news and bad news about my dh. Good news is he is still in remission from cancer, but bad news is he was diagnosed with Parkinsons just before Christmas. He has developed a tremor in his left hand and the oncologist told us not to worry, prob caused by trauma after all the chemo. Well it got worse and I suspected Parkinsons, after a 5 month wait to see a specialist it was diagnosed in minutes. He has been put on medication but has made little difference :( Will just about be impossible to get travel insurance now!