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So I'm flipping through my oldest and favourite set of webbing, when I remember that all the NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) protective gear should be in the poncho roll. well, it still seemed to be there and I thought about getting it out just to see what was there and take a few photos of it all. Then I remembered the gas mask, and all the decontamination powder, chemical detection paper and decontam. pads, so I decided to unroll it. Not a mean feat as the thing was never designed to take so much, and the last time it was rolled up, one of the lads had his knee in it, whilst I cursed the buckles shut!
I unrolled it all but never found the 'fish' overshoes which are like big rubber fish that go underneath your boots, and up the sides a little, with laces running around them to tie them up, but the suit was there. Inside one of the trouser pockets was a used decotam. pad which must have been from the last time I did NBC training. I started to feel quite nostalgic ( apparently, it's a known illness amongst ex soldiers.) then I found the white cotton cloves, with the rubber over-gloves and decided a picture of these could be good, then with a strange kind of fascination, I decided to put the bloody lot on. It had always been heavy, hot and bloody uncomfortable, but I could not quite remember how much.
the trousers have tapes for braces and I looked at them and all the loops and could not remember the procedure for getting them done up right, but here was the really amazing thing, as soon as I pulled them up, my hand grabbed the tapes, crossed them over my back, over shoulders, crossed again, through the loops, join and tie, all in a very few seconds, whilst I watched on in disbelief. It hadn't been a conscious set of actions, it had just been automatic. I was quite pleased but also a little in awe.
Anyway, once all the other stuff was on, I asked Jacques to take a few photos. This one was nearly in focus!
Unsurprisingly, it was still hot, heavy and uncomfortable, and after a couple of minutes I gave up, rolled it up and again, surprised myself by getting back into the poncho roll without needed another guys knee in there. I have improved! YAY!
I never finished about the 'museum' of kit I seem to have amassed. it's on cupboards...
there's another rail full as well...
Kevin had a box for parts and some spares and a can of fuel...
Here's the bread knife, and a couple of smaller ones as well, but I seem to have lost the Ghurka Kukry although two two small sharpening knifes are there...
here are nicely folded things. Makes it easier to see what is there.
Yes, having now started sorting it all out, the museum is coming on fine!
Well, It's good to keep it tidy!
