Touching My Father’s Soul

#backtothehills, outdoors, Touching My Father's Soul

I think I have an addiction to army surplus gear.

Part of my gear refresh has seen me purchase one or two items. Such as the BCB crusader mk1 cookset, a British army basha, a British army artic sleeping bag, US Marine bivy bag from the modular sleep system, a Dutch army hooped bivy bag, and a USGI poncho are the items that come to mind as I start writing this post.

Why?

The gear isn’t the lightest, most hi tech latest and greatest walking/outdoor kit. Although it is great value. Often cheaper than a similar “civilian” product.

The gear is also usually a lot more robust. Able to keep working after taking a lot more abuse than regular gear could. Yes it’s built to a higher spec. It has to be. A soldier has to be able to rely on the kit in much more harsh environments than your average hiker/bushcrafter will ever experience.

But I think there is another reason why I’m drawn to it.

My dad was in 2 Para D Company in the late sixties to early seventies. He left the army not long after my brother was born.

Although I was born in Wisbech. The first two years of my life were spent in Aldershot. Which at the time was the home of the Parachute Regiment.

Growing up my brother and I were very typical little boys. Always playing soldier. Especially on days out to Sandringham, or camping trips to Thetford. We had dad’s old beret as part of our play gear. We even had homemade shields from old playboards.

I have vague memories of going to army shows as a kid, along with family days held by the TA. Which saw kids being able to fire guns on the firing range. Supervised obviously. Of the shows I have memories of helicopters, armoured personnel carriers, and tanks being there for kids etc to explore and climb over. I remember cargo netting for climbing, even death slides.

Some of our birthday parties were at the old TA hall in Wisbech (now long gone and replaced by an Aldi).

There used to be an army surplus store at Eye. Which dad took us to once or twice. I enjoyed my visits. Always leaving with something. I was in the scouts at this time. It was on an over night camp at the old scout hut (now built over) that I wore a surplus wool shirt purchased from Eye. Boy was it itchy.

I think part of me sees getting and using this army surplus kit as Jamling Tenzing Norgay describes so well with the title of his book, (and I borrowed for the title of this post) Touching My Father’s Soul.

There was never a chance I’d join the army. Despite that being my life ambition when I was under the age of ten. There would only be one regiment I would ever be able to join. As a teenager I knew that I wasn’t up to doing that. My skills lay in other areas. The home computer boom of the early eighties had shown me I had a talent for programming.

I know that in his note to me dad said I was a good son. But I can’t help thinking that if I’d followed him into the Paras he would have been really proud.

I did have a spell in the air cadets (mainly because my mates were in it) and got my marksmanship badge. I’m not sure how dad felt about that.

I think this is my way of saying my early years were as an army kid.

Dad took his own life in 1988 at the age of 42. I was 20 at the time. Going over the events of that morning is maybe for another day. I’ve now lived more than 14 years longer than him. That day has been with me ever since.

This surplus gear for me on a personal level feels like I’m connecting with dad. Yes it’s not gear he actually used. But similar. However just having it, using it (eventually), somehow creates a link between us.

Using the protractor to work out a compass bearing on a map. It’s something dad would have done. Somehow in that moment I’m following in his footsteps.

One day before I get too long in the tooth I too will under take my version of the journey Jamling Tenzing Norgay took by jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

Until then I will continue to think of dad every time I use a bit of military kit.

Mystery Solved!

#backtothehills, outdoors

Did you even know there was a mystery that needed solving?

I have recently been tempted to purchase a BCB Crusader Mk1 cookset.

This is a cookset that was apparently issued to British forces (replaced by a Mk2) It consists of a cooker, pot, water bottle, and cup. These all stack into a neat tower that fits into a storage pouch.

I went for the Mk1 over the Mk2 because of the shorter form factor. The stove and pot are shorter. I particularly liked the look of the smaller pot over the taller mk2 pot.

So I went onto eBay and bought the BCB Crusader Mk1 cookset, along with the BCB mini fireball flint and striker, the BCB cup lid, the BCB pouch. I also bought the Mk2 Multi-Fuel stove as well (just out of curiosity, it should work with the Mk1 stuff nicely).

But whilst I was waiting for my new purchases to arrive I kept seeing how to modify your BCB Crusader Mk1 to work with a trangia strove videos on YouTube.

I was asking myself why aren’t they using the stove cross stand you can get for the trangia? Is the stand too big and won’t fit?

Granted with a trangia sitting in the stove the pot has to sit on the trangia itself. Which means you can’t use the trangia. The video below shows the issue and their solution.

But does it warrant cutting out the base of the stove as I saw in one video? Or as above the use of a grill? Even not using a trangia but using a coil of wick?

When the kit arrived late last week I quickly opened it, and dug out the trangia and the stove cross stand.

I inserted the trangia in the stove base, assembled the cross stand. Lo and behold it fitted.

Why were all these bushcraft YouTubers making life so much more complicated?

Yes the crusader pot isn’t sitting nicely partially enclosed in the cooker base. It is slightly higher.

But you aren’t cutting the cooker, carrying a grill, etc.

I haven’t used this in bad weather, so I have no idea how the stove works without a windshield in its intended way. I’d imagine a windshield of some description would be needed. I have a lightweight windshield in my bag anyway. So this cross stand seems the perfect addition to me to allow the trangia to be used without any flaffing about.

Got to catch ‘em all

Fenland Gamers, game night

Another club night.

I took Splendor Pokémon and Tonga Bonga with me.

We split into a group of four (playing Power Grid), and a group of three (Dave, Colin, and myself).

We started off playing Splendor Pokémon on our table.

Whilst we set up a man came over asking what we were playing, and made a derogatory comment about being too old for Pokémon. And when we were asked if we played Monopoly I didn’t reply but Dave and Colin pointed out what a poor game it was. Shooting this man down. His partner came over and said their son collected Pokémon cards. The implication clear. It was obvious they thought grown men shouldn’t be playing “kids games”. I didn’t really interact with them. I thought it best not to. If they wanted to be ignorant and try and make us feel bad about playing games. They didn’t deserve my time.

A little known fact about the Splendor family of games (classic, Marvel, and now Pokémon) I’ve never won a game! If I include the two player Splendor Duel I have won a single game.

Despite having such a bad run with the game I really enjoy playing it.

Yes I no longer own the classic version. I didn’t see much point keeping it after getting the Marvel edition. I preferred what the Marvel edition added.

Splendor Pokémon is an import from Korea with no official english version of the rules. I had to rely on translated rules from the bgg website.

If you know how to play Splendor then you know a good 90% of the games rules.

You can only purchase the rare and legendary cards (which also can’t be reserved) if you have a master ball. So at some point you have to reserve a card on your turn to get the master ball to enable you to buy one of the face up or legendary cards.

You can also on your turn evolve your captured Pokémon (if the evolution is available). I like this a lot. The old card is replaced with the new evolved Pokémon. With the old card going face down under your trainer.

I like this version of Splendor and the little tweaks it added.

Dave won.

We followed up with a game of Tonga Bonga.

I do like this game. It’s very clever and deeper than you initially think.

But this time we never got to complete the game. We were in the closing round or two, when Colin had an emergency call that required him to leave immediately.

Dave and I called it an evening at this point leaving the other table playing Power Grid. The decision had been made easier with the fact I had no two player games with me.

Another fun club night despite the interaction with the “public”.

Finally…

“Collectibles”, Batman, Geek

Nearly a year ago I wrote a post about my relationship with Batman.

Earlier in the year I saw that Corgi were for the first time ever in over 40 years reissuing the 1966 Batmobile from the tv series.

If you read that previous post you will know that this particular toy was an object of desire for my younger self.

So I didn’t even think about it when I saw that it was being reissued and I could preorder the Batmobile of clicking the preorder button.

I was excited that at some point in the future (November was the target date, but I know how this sort of thing can slip) I would finally own a 1966 Batmobile.

Like kickstarters I back this would be a present for future me.

Today that dream of finally owning one came true.

I now have an inner struggle going on between the young me wanting to break it open and play with it, and the older geek collector me. Who wants to keep it in pristine condition in its box.

It’s almost like the struggle Sheldon had in series 5, episode 20 “The Transporter Malfunction” of The Big Bang Theory. Except there is no identical one sitting on my best friends desk, or Penny, or best friend. But you get the idea. In all other ways it depicts that inner struggle I’m experiencing very well.

I’m really not sure how this inner conflict will resolve. There can only be one winner.

Now to track down the Corgi 1966 Batcopter.

Final morning

father son gaming

The final morning with Nath always seems to always fly by.

It never seems long enough.

After breakfast of warmed croissants and coffee, as I finished writing the previous post about what the outdoors means to me Nath played a bit of Overlord on his XBoxOne.

We played a final couple of games of Star Wars Unlimited using our updated decks. Mine is definitely working better than Nath’s. Although I did notice he is playing with a sixty card deck. So next visit we will have to look at what cards can be removed.

Afterwards it was time for me to pack my things before heading off back.

The good bye is always tinged with a bit of melancholy. But before I pull out of the car park I call mum to let her know I’m on my way.

The journey home was a little longer than it should have been because a major road I usually take was closed. So I needed to turn to Apple Maps to get me a route from the M1 to the A1.

The new year can’t come soon enough for me before I return. But first I have to survive December and the insanity at work.

What the outdoors means to me

#backtothehills, outdoors

I’m currently reading Rewild Your Mind, Use Nature As Your Guide To A Happier, Healthier Life by Nick Goldsmith.

I’ve been watching some of Nick Goldsmith’s YouTube videos (his channel is no longer active) for a few months now. But in his good bye, so long and thanks for the fish video. Nick mentioned he was writing/written a book about the outdoors. So I thought I’d see if he’d finished putting pen to paper. Indeed he had so I ordered a copy of the book.

In the opening chapter, first paragraph even! Nick wrote:

“Time out in a hammock somewhere wild or sitting at the base of a tree has become an essential part of my daily routine. In Japan, this is almost an art form, known as shinrin-yoku, which roughly translates as “forest bathing”. However, no water is involved, and you can keep your clothes on! Forest bathing involves completely immersing yourself in nature and in the moment.” p27, Rewild Your Mind, Use Nature As Your Guide To A Happier, Healthier Life by Nick Goldsmith

That struck a cord with me. The whole chilling in nature.

I’d stumbled into that years ago through the wolfpack and getting in to hiking and backpacking.

Very longtime readers who were with me here when this was an outdoors blog and for some reason remained. Will remember often at weekends with the wolfpack I’d find a quiet spot whilst out with them and brew up (often filming whatever stove I was using).

Whilst I was brewing up the dogs would chill as well. They’d be taking in the new smells, finding sticks, never going very far, always in sight of me.

Probably the one thing I miss from living in Farnborough is being within such easy access to places like Fleet Pond, Frimley Park, or the army land such as Caesar’s Camp near Aldershot. I particularly miss Frensham Little pond. I still recognise the trees! when the place is used as a location in movies.

I have nothing even remotely close to what I had in the Fens. Sandringham or Thetford but they are a lot further away. More a day event than a quick get away.

Plus most of the access in the area is busy bridle ways. Whether it’s foot traffic of dog walkers, or equine. It’s very hard to find that quiet spot to just experience nature.

But Nick is right about the benefits of this timeout from the rat race, and all the stress and pressures of everyday life.

I think I can best illustrate this with when I was made redundant in 2008.

I was working for a financial software house in Surbiton at the time. A couple of years earlier the company had opened an “offshore” office as they called it in Bangkok. At the time we all knew what the future held for us. The employees there had less rights than us. The office was open 24/7, the employees worked shifts, got paid less, had less holidays. You get the picture. It was inevitable that one day management would scale back things in the UK.

One day late July, early August (I can’t remember precisely) a company meeting was called and it was announced they were cutting back and there would be some redundancies.

Well you could imagine the atmosphere, the shock and worry that people felt. I wasn’t really surprised or particularly worried. This would have been my third redundancy over the years. I knew it wasn’t the end of the world. But for some it was their first time. Naturally the uncertainty of what the future would bring, meeting financial commitments etc was a major factor on everyone’s minds.

The rest of the day was spent by management calling staff into meetings to inform them they were at risk of being made redundant. I was one of those “unlucky” ones. It was just before lunchtime when I was called in and sat down to be told I was at risk of being made redundant.

I don’t particularly remember feeling anything at the news. Almost indifferent. But when the manager said they understood this was shocking news, and offered me the opportunity to go home early to process things. I jumped at the chance to leave.

I barely spoke to anyone as I returned to my desk, just muttering I was off home. Looking back I remember the odd guilty look. Survivors remorse maybe. I grabbed my things from my desk, and was waiting for the next train home fifteen minutes later. Little did I know at the time apart from one more occasion that was the last time I’d set foot in the office.

Within an hour and a half I was home, changed, brew kit packed, and in the car with the wolfpack on our way to Fleet Pond.

We parked in our usual spot and about half way round our regular walk wondered off into the trees to find a spot to chill.

After making a brew, I sat there sipping coffee and processing the days events, as the dogs did their thing. I let the healing power of being away from it all wash over me. Here for a brief moment in time I had a respite from all that was happening. It doesn’t solve the problem, the problem doesn’t magically disappear. Once you get back into that car reality returns, as does the stress and problems of modern life and whatever else is going on in your life.

But you feel recharged, refreshed, a little bit stronger to face whatever the world is throwing at you.

Over coming months I had no idea how important these dog walks would become for my mental heath as life was about to throw another major curve ball at me. But the continuation of this story is for another day.

However that sums up what being outdoors means to me, what health benefits I get from it. Yes life over recent years has meant I’ve not been doing that. But as you know from other posts my return to the hills is in “progress” and so is trying to get out more locally in the fens. The hunt for that special spot is on.

In the meantime I’ll end with another quote from the same chapter of Nick’s book.

“Everyone has their own individual problems and concerns, but the joy of forest bathing is universal; there isn’t a more gorgeous way to destress and process.” p28, Rewild Your Mind, Use Nature As Your Guide To A Happier, Healthier Life by Nick Goldsmith

Have a nice day

father son gaming

After visiting the ex with Nath (there was a conference call both of them had to be on) and a round about journey back (stopping at a show home and a lunch stop at KFC and McD).

Nath and I played on my Switch OLED. We started out with Nath thrashing me on Mario Kart. Followed by a quick death match on Doom. The honours were just about even with Nath edging victory. Followed by a return to Mario Kart and a fun random battle mode game.

After a break I broke out the WWE Dice Masters.

I was a little disappointed there was no Stone Cold or Undertaker. I think they were left for the rivals and tag team packs.

But it had Mankind and Triple H so I was placated a little by the choices Wizkid made.

We played two games Nath winning the first and I won the second.

After packing away Dice Masters I got out the Star Wars Unlimited cards from the first two sets for Nath and I to upgrade our decks.

So a little time was spent doing exactly that.

Afterwards we played a game with our modified decks. Which saw my deck edge it for the victory.

Nath’s back was hurting so we ended up chilling in front of the tv watch some episodes of Supernatural season 1. Nath has recently started working his way through the series. It’s a long project because if memory serves me right Supernatural had 15 seasons.

For the republic

father son gaming

Yesterday morning was spent house viewing. I’m not moving (see imminent big news post) however economically it makes sense for my ex to sell the flat Nath is currently in.

So between them they are looking at options for him.

After the two viewings it was time to hit Basingstoke town centre and its gaming shop.

As the photo below shows the latest Star Wars Unlimited set Twilight of the Republic got more than a few of my hard earned pennies.

I also bought Nath his own copy of Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth. I knew he’d like it once we played it. So I jumped the gun a little.

Mistakes were made

I also got Nath copies of Zelda Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom to play on my old Switch Lite.

After pigging out at Burger King we headed home.

Once back at Nath’s we started cracking open the boosters. I think Nath enjoys opening the packs and seeing what cool cards we get. It is addictive.

After a little break from that excitement I set up LotR Duel for Middle Earth. Nath played Sauron and I played the fellowship.

We really enjoyed the game. It was familiar but new!

I love the art by Vincent Dutrait. I love his style. He really captures Tolkiens world.

By luck I grabbed a victory by completing the Quest of the Ring track when I completed a tile that allowed me to go through the discard pile and play a card for free. In that discard pile was a three ring card that allowed me to move the final three spaces I needed to reach mount Doom and destroy the ring.

We followed up by playing the two new starter decks for SWU Twilight of the Republic. They didn’t disappoint. I was expecting them to showcase the new token spamming and they did. Just like the previous starter decks they were fun to play. I won this game.

Afterwards we played our own decks in which I won the first game and came close to winning the second but Nathan managed to hold on and grab victory.

We finished off the night watching the latest Alien movie, Alien Romulus. It wasn’t a bad entry in the series.

Unnamed Dish

Uncategorized

Yesterday was a travel day.

The day started off with the usual travel prep of getting in the supplies for mum and the furballs. I usually use that shopping trip to pick up bits and pieces for Nath and me too.

Once back home and the shopping put away it’s time to start getting the stuff together for my visit. Clothes, games, food, and gadgets. I hope I have packed everything as it goes into the car. There is a calm acceptance of the fact I know I will have forgotten something.

All packed it is time to say my farewells to the two apex predators and mum. I left Nico in charge.

Three hours driving south with the latest Jack Reacher novel keeping me company. I managed to avoid the potential traffic queues at the expected spots on the M25 and M3.

While Nathan was out babysitting his niece for an hour I decided to make tea after repairing the hole in the bag in my copy of Splendor Duel.

Earlier whilst I was shopping I had an idea for a dish to cook for us and had bought the ingredients. It was time to see how that idea worked out.

I chopped up an onion and softened it in the pan. Added chopped chorizo to release the paprika infused oil from it. Then a good squeeze of tomato paste, salt, pepper, mixed herbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder were added. After a minute I added two cans of chopped tomatoes. Followed by drained cans of beans (pinto,black,black eye,cannellini,kidney, and butter), sliced cottage sausage (a Central European pork sausage), a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of sugar, and some vegetable stock.

I don’t know what you’d call this. It was kinda like a casserole/stew. I wasn’t following a recipe. I was just making it up as I went.

I was pretty happy with how it turned out. The balance was about right. I thought that there would be a strong almost overpowering taste of tomato. But there wasn’t.

The aim was to create something hearty, and healthy. I think I achieved that. Although you could argue the sausage and chorizo aren’t that healthy.

I served it with some sliced tiger bread. Ideally a fresh french stitch or tiger baton would have been used. But I used what was at hand.

Nath isn’t a big fan of beans. But he did enjoy it.

There was plenty left for the next day, and to freeze.

Afterwards as I sleeved LotR Duel for Middle Earth Nath played on his Xbox.

Yes no board games got played. But I’d done some needed game “admin” so things were ready for the next day.

The start of the r&r

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

The r&r has started.

Official it started 1pm yesterday when my shift ended.

But I didn’t get to lie-in and enjoy a lazy relaxed start to this week off work.

I had to get up early to help a relative replace the felt on my downstairs toilet. It’s been leaking during heavy rainfall for a while now.

The leak was due to rotted felt under the tiles. The tiles themselves were still doing their job.

So 8am this morning we stripped the roof of the tiles. Removed the old batons and rotted felt.

It was then time to lay the new felt, new batons, and re-lay the tiles (once I’d cleaned the moss off them).

We got that done by lunchtime.

Tomorrow some cement work needs doing and once dry some sealant stuff (that’s about as technical as I get on this diy stuff), and it’s all good as new.

What this means is that my visit to Nath is going to be at the end of the week.

And hopefully before I see Nath I’ll have some big news to share with you.