Random reminder

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 25

Random reminder

ROMANCE OF TRAVEL

It was a wartime romance. Or, at, least, a Territorial-Army-Annual Camp-1 time romance. In today’s integrated; Army the girl you leave behind you is I less'likely to stay behind, knitting! bandages; she is more likely to appear beside you, or slightly in front. They are still outnumbered, the girls. Five to one. But they learn five times as fast. It started inauspiciously, the romance . . . “• . ~ another sheila,” called the elegant, arrogant Regular soldier (male). “Look out for that rifle, honey. They go bang, ha ha ha.” Steely eyes surveyed him from under a steel helmet. “Shaddup,” replied the elegant, arrogant Territorial soldier (female). “Button your lip, Noddy, or I’ll shoot your . .. off.” The Army trade of each was; cookery — an intelligent person’s; choice, for cooks are always warm and | dry and well-fed. And. in compensation ’ for getting up at 4 a.m., there are long

lazy afternoons off duty. The ! fortnight’s camp passed all too fast. ; Jogging together upriver to the falls, I rambling together the downstream I fields murmurous with innumerable ibees, cadging lifts together from passing Lieutentants’ landrovers to lash out on lolly ices at the local store, sharing a smoke or an evening beer at the Ambulance wet canteen ... It got so that their fellow cooks, to attract their attention at all, had to hammer on a 50-litre pot with a ladle, and whistle. ; One question occupied their final days: would he apply for a transfer to Blenheim, or she to Christchurch? Enter, instead, a Company Sergeant Major. “Get packed,” he said to the \ Regular (male). “You’re on the ; Singapore list.” ; Was there hesitation? Was there ! heartburning? There was not. i A woman is only a woman, but a ! Singapore trip is a perk.