In Good Times and In Bad

 

BMH Iserlohn

It's me again and I promise this is not a takeover of the blog. We do have other people lined up but as it's December everyone has other things on their mind. It was ever thus in the military as well - the month leading up to Christmas took on a whole new level of frenzy. Where ever you were posted, December was always magical. This got me thinking about the good times and the bad times in the QA's.

I'd like to start with the bad. Not that there were that many bad times as I loved every minute of my time as a QA. There was always a particularly stern matron whose look could turn you to stone at some imagined transgression. And the times you booked theatre tickets only to find someone had gone sick and you were suddenly on night duty. My most hated part was the BFTs. I did them. I passed them. I forget about them until the time came around again when a sadistic PTI reminded me I needed to get myself out running. I know, I know, many people loved them but I'm a sprinter and the 100 yards was my thing. A BFT was much longer than that. Let's leave the bad times in the past where they very firmly belong.

The good times far outnumbered the bad and were glorious. The many postings, seeing the world, getting to know new people, all of that made us better people ourselves and much more compassionate and friendly. You always knew, no matter how often you were posted that you would fit right in and everyone would welcome you with open arms and look out for you. When saying goodbye to friends you knew you would see them again in a future posting. The nursing experience we gained was second to none and the social life could not be imagined by anyone other than military personnel. I remember the balls with funfairs and partying throughout the night until dawn brought breakfast. The Christmas Balls were particularly spectacular. From regimental breakfasts to regimental dinners, from cocktail parties to wine and cheese evenings, from junk trips to barbecues we did it all and enjoyed every minute. 

In terms of postings we often had to take the good with the bad. Some of the accommodation was phenomenal as in the Officers Mess in BMH Iserlohn. Other accommodation we shall say was less than luxurious with cracks in the walls which seemed to grow bigger by the day and were pretty much held together by blueback. It didn't matter because in the end the camaraderie, our fellow QA's and the friendships we made pretty much made up for it all. I would say that the good times far outweighed the bad and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.  

About the Writer

 

Wendy H. Jones served as a Nursing Officer in the QARANC between 1987 and 2004 leaving with the rank of Major. She never went on an operational tour but undertook many exercises as well as serving in numerous units in both the UK and overseas. Hong Kong and Jerusalem had to be two of the highlights. Moving into nurse education, she was proud to have served as Tri-Service Head of Pre-Registration Nurse Education. This brought her full circle to where she started as a student nurse in the QARNNS. She is now an author and lives in Scotland.