It's starting to feel all Christmassy down here now. Not as much as back home, obviously, but still...!
Well I've had a couple of days off work, Reid and I tried to organise a heli-trip but were far too last minute about the whole things and ended up just sitting around drinking tea and watching repeats of 24 instead. Oh well.
Last night was fun, it was exchange night. This meant that the officers mess would play host to the sergeants for the evening. Except the officers made the sergeants march down the corridor, in uniform, before being allowed in. It was a free bar too, which was good!! As we've been spending quite a bit of time in the sergeant's mess we knew a fair few of the guys in there, so it was nice to have everyone all together. I didn't stay up too late though, and got plenty of rest for the fun run at 1030 the next morning.
The weather was perfect for a run, overcast, dry and importantly for down here not too windy. I woke around 0930, got ready, had my penguin onesy on standby and went to go and collect Reid... I knocked on his door and heard a grunt as reply. His reply was "Why...." when I told him to get up. When he came to the door it was clear that a "fun run" was not something Reid would be doing today.... Oh well!
I arrived at the gym in time for the brief, and there were about 100 people or so. As well as a 10km and a 5km there was also a childrens / families run too. Some were in fancy dress, but most of the military people meant business. The 10km was to start at 11am, prompt, and the prize giving was scheduled for 12 - a one hour limit doesn't seem like the sort of charity fun run you get back at home. I had been trying to work on my short distance running and my speed since I got here so decided to enter the 5km race, which started at 1110.
The wistle went at 1100 for the 10km, and about 60 people were off. I was surprised to see that only about 15 people were waiting to do the 5km. Hmm. Not much atmosphere then really. Amoungst us was one of the boys in the family I had met on my Sealion Island trip weeks ago, an 8 year old boy named Sam... He actually had quite a similar pace to me to start with, and in the absence of marshalls and empty roads with no markers for where to go, I thought I best keep and eye on him. Also in the 5km race was the bomb disposal unit - there was 10 of them doing a relay of 500m each. The kit weighed over 45kg and looks horrendous.
Sam and I reached the last corner, to see a small crowd of people and some bunting for the finish line. With the next runners a good couple of hundred metres behind us, there was no way I was going to go for a battle for gold with an eight year old, so obviously I hung back and took second place.
The 10km winner did it is 37 minutes... blimey. We all waited for the last runner to cross the line, which wasn't that long after to be honest!!
Turns out prizes were for 1st 2nd and 3rd male and female for both races. So I got presented with a plaque and a box of chocs and had my picture taken. I have never won a spoting event of any kind, and a certainly didn't think that the first time I would win would be on a military run!!
Well, I was basquing in the glory of my victory, and showing anyone who would look my trophy, which is going to be displayed in pride of place when I get my house back in the UK!
Spent the afternoon sitting around drinking tea and waiting for James to wake up, then it was time to start getting ready for the ball.
Miraculously the dress James brought for me fitted perfectly, so that was good. It was a really nice night, and not too boozy either as I had to be in work for a day shift the next morning. But there was port, dancing, and really nice food. And nice to have an evening off with James too.
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