Part of what it’s like when they are on tour

It’s been a while since I posted properly. Partly that’s because it has felt like I am alive and functioning but not really present whilst Jim’s away.

I have thought a lot about this phenomenon. It’s not just that I get lonely, which, of course, I do. It’s not just because the other half of my heart is thousands of miles away and, no matter what, I can’t go to him or even that I have to do everything on my own.

It’s because I’m worried sick constantly. And I can only admit this to myself now that he’s on his way home. How can I describe it to you if you haven’t experienced it?

Home early from R and R – a girlfriend’s perspective

Is it really acceptable to come home a day early for R&R?

I mean, have you any idea how that messes with us? So: almost everything is ready. Most of the house is clean. The shopping is done, the ‘stuff to do’  is organised and I have a list as long as my arm of man job’s that need doing…

But I’M NOT READY!

Long distance arguing

When it’s good it’s very, very good, but when it’s bad, it’s horrid

This is my theory: being left for months on end is bound to be crappy. Leaving on good terms and making sure that things tick along smoothly whilst you are separated is vitally important.

Why? Because arguing long distance is an absolute disaster.

St Dwynwen’s Day

This is for you Jim… ignore the tragic bits!

Beacon Blog

St Dwynwen’s Day is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentines Day

According to legend, Dwynwen fell in love with a prince called Maelon Dafodrill, but her father had already arranged that she marry someone else. Dwynwen was so upset that she begged God to make her forget him.

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Odd behaviour when he’s away

Everyone deals with separation differently. I’m not an old hand yet so I notice every little difference in myself. These include benign things such as getting a bit sad when I don’t have to buy whiskey or wash his socks (who would have thought that you could miss this stuff). Other things are less harmless, such as having a short fuse and being welded to radio 4 news. 

Soldier, Soldier lyrics (more than one moral to this tale)

Soldier, soldier, will you marry me
With your musket, fife and drum?
Oh how can I marry such a pretty little girl
When I have no coat to put on?

British Army Answerphone

This made me cry with laughter.

10 good reasons to date a soldier

1) He should be used to doing what he’s told

2) He can iron (oh yes he can – don’t let him tell you otherwise)

3) You can witness ‘Bromance’ first hand

Being left behind

For me, the worst thing about seeing Jim off to Afghanistan is that I am being left behind. I want the bloody adventures. I want the danger and the testing of oneself. I want to see a different country and feel like I am part of something. I want the fear and the horror and the adrenaline and the high. I want to stand next to him as he feels it. I want to see him and know him through all this. I want to go too.

Saying “Goodbye” – a girlfriend’s guide

Seeing your man off to war is not something I have a lot of experience in. I have done it once, two days ago. Though I did wave him off for 7 weeks to Kenya for some playing around on the dark continent as us Brits historically enjoy doing.

The first Kenya “Goodbye” was truly awful. We argued in the last 20 minutes about things that should have been put to bed a long time before. For the first week of his absence I alternated from being glad he wasn’t around to being guilty that we had fought. None of it helped by there being hardly any comms (that would be ‘communication paths’ to the layman).