Saturday 15th - Friday 20th Oct

Well, the competition is well and truly over now for the RAFRU IDRC squad as on the Saturday we moved from our adopted home of RAAF Glenbrook in the blue mountains to the relative hustle and bustle of RAAF Richmond some 25km north. All that is left to say on this chapter is a very big thank you to all the personnel at RAAF Glenbrook for the tremendous support throughout our time there; it is very very much appreciated.

Very special thanks to Raelene & Janet who looked after us so well, thank you.

Sunday saw the head coach Tug return to RAF Brize Norton and to his key role as FS movements which required him to return to base as soon as possible. It also saw our team Doctor Wg Cdr Clive Monkley decide that he was best employed at the beck and call of one Reggie Reid who was recovering in St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney, unfortunately for the Doc as it was the weekend we were unable to secure any military accommodation for him.......so being the fine officer he is he volunteered himself to stay in a local hotel!

Wg Cdr (Doc) Clive Monkley

During the week the squad has continued to train and make best use of the time together to provide a strong foundation that will take it forward in both the U23 and senior XV Interservice Competition. It was also the time when the Australians decided to turn on that great big heater in the sky......nice. The squad are making good use of local facilities especially the swimming pool and the ice cream machine in the mess, which is now starting to work overtime!!

The training regime was now lead by Fish our very mild mannered coach whose strong approach to forward play and love of contact resulted in the players understanding what the level of contact would be required in the IS competitions. Unfortunately Alfie Myles was injured in one of the contact areas resulting in an ambulance being called and him being escorted to the local military hospital by Sqn Ldr Pete Lilly our resident sports therapist. Initial results are inconclusive on the exact limit of the damage however cruciate ligaments are suspected.

With the guys training so hard twice daily over the past 3 weeks it was also the opportunity for the management team to allow them time to enjoy our wonderful hosts country with a bit of free time. Thursday was also a big day where we were also reunited to James 'Reggie' Reid following his operation having broken his tib & fib. Reggie was eager to see the facilities at RAAF Richmond and especially the wifi as all we have heard off him for the past week is 'I have no internet and cannot do anything'. Well the RAAF Richmond internet system lived up to its hyper and allowed Reggie to log on then immediately mysteriously turn itself off........much to Reggie’s frustration.

On a slightly funnier side Alfie decided to come with me to Sydney to collect Reggie, with less then 20 mins to Sydney we received a call from the Doc informing us that the lads had 'accidentally' taken Reggie’s shoes and as such he had nothing to wear on his one good foot to leave the hospital. That was until we realised that Alfie and Reggie who were both on crutches were the same size shoe, size 9. Alfie had damaged his left leg where Reggie had damaged his right, so the solution was easy Alfie lost his right trainer and sock and Reggie's little problem was solved. There are photo's available and when possible they will be uploaded - they do portray them both in the best tradition of the show 'Inbetweeners' as Shoe Friend's!  That said looks like Alfie has had the last laugh as I have just been infromed that he appears to have won £1000 of the RAF Sports lottery! 

"Shoe friends, best friends"

aka - Alfie & Reggie

The squad is now not due to get together until Monday 24th Oct where we will make the final preparations for our return back to the UK. I will still try to make regular updates however the temperamental wifi access may dictate otherwise, additionally it makes it almost impossible to upload photos.

Regards

Eric