Oldest Soldier:
Too early to Commit myself. Who signed the circular anyway? What other week-end exercises are they having which will keep certain people away? Will see again when the time comes.

Old Soldier:
Too early in the year - it will be cold and wet so probably best to avoid. Possibly a few good skive numbers if I see John in due course.

Young Soldier:
Goody, goody - sounds great - will attend.

Potential Recruit:
Yes please - I wonder if they will ignore the fact that I am under 18 and cannot legally sign that form.

Oldest Soldier:
That settles it - nasty, noisy things - will not attend - on the other hand, if they list all these technical weapons there is every chance it will be altered to good old Map Reading or something equally peaceful. Wait and see.

Old Soldier:
It was a giggle last year when there was no ammo. Perhaps it could happen again. I must look at the replies in the Orderly Room and see who's going.

Young Soldier:
Sounds like lots of good training and bangs. Looking forward to my second TA weekend. I wonder what Karl Gustav did.

Potential Recruit:
I can learn all about these new weapons and perhaps take one home when I go in May.

Oldest Soldier:
Ah, yes. I remember last year. We got re-directed to do recruiting at Hendon. Once bitten. Anyway, I can't see how it will key me up for the "over 30's" Club in Norwich this July.

Old Soldier:
Perhaps I will go. I quite enjoy these so - called Weapon Weekends. Last year I made a fiver on a bet when the firing was cancelled because the WRAC had organised a cross country run right through the ranges. Cor! They were magnificent.

Young Soldier:
Perhaps I can become proficient or classify or something and get a stripe.

Potential Recruit:
That fellow they call Alan tells me I will be put in the butts - whatever they are.

Oldest Soldier:
Surely the Anti-Tankers know this one by now.

Old Soldier:
Oh, oh! The usual non event. Lug the bloody guns down, get marched about with the peasants all week-end; then come back late Sunday and clean the bastards when everyone else has gone. Perhaps David will say something this time but I doubt if it will make any difference.

Young Soldier:
Perhaps I can get a transfer to Anti-Tank. Sounds great.

Potential Recruit:
What's Anti-Tank?

Oldest Soldier:
Well I suppose he can fool some of the people some of the time - even if it is only himself.

Old Soldier:
It all sounds too risky. How naive does he think we are.

Young Soldier:
He doesn't give much detail but I suppose he knows what he is doing.

Potential Recruit:
I am told the strength is around 120, so I should get to know everyone at once.

Oldest Soldier:
I am sure this does not apply to me.

Old Soldier:
Now can I?  I left my stuff on the Drill Hall floor for a month and some tea-leaf nicked it. I told Colour it was stolen from my locker last September. I wonder when THEY will do something about it?

Young Soldier:
The C/Sgt says he doesn't have any in stock. Should I buy some do you think? How on earth do I carry my civvies as well as uniform? Last time they got ruined in my kit bag in the big truck. I wonder why we need them anyway?

Potential Recruit:
Jeans and bovver boots should do for everything.

Oldest Soldier:
What! No expense claims. Hardly seems worth it.

Old Soldier:
If I go down Saturday a.m. and visit Sue in Woking for the night perhaps I could avoid Hut Charges.

Young Soldier:
It seems odd that I pay as much for a noisy dormitory as an officer does for a two-berth.

Potential Recruit:
12 for staying in a hut! I thought THEY paid ME in this man's Army.

Oldest Soldier:
I would go by car anyway but it all sounds rather dull and disorganised. Thank you. No.

Old Soldier:
If I do go I will arrive at 20.45 hours so that those new recruits and PSI's will have done all the loading. I should manage to fiddle a front seat in a Landrover.

Young Soldier:
Last time I got there at 6.30 straight from work. They kept me loading till 9.00. The first food I got was fish and chips at the Hut and I had to pay for them.

Potential Recruit:
I wonder what that means.

Oldest Soldier:
I finally made up my mind and went. Quite enjoyed it actually. Everyone was so angry with everyone else for changing the whole Training programme and it was a laugh a minute. The Young Soldiers should have learnt their lesson for next time.

Old Soldier:
Unfortunately something came up and I couldn't make it. I never said I would come - well, not in writing anyway. Besides, it was raining on Friday so how was I to know the weather would improve?

Young Soldier:
I wonder what the Karl Gustav, 66 mm, two-inch mortar and L2 grenade look like? Perhaps we will see them at the Recruits' Course.

Potential Recruit:
I kept telling Mr Pearson there were four of us on Friday - not three. Perhaps Jimmy hit a train in that tunnel he led us through. Wonder if he signed that form?