I had a strange telephone call

[askyourgran]

from British Gas, asking if we were satisfied with the service from the Gas employee who came to service our gas fire. I knew why they were ringing, but I couldn't bring myself to give the poor lad away.

The man had just left the army, and was obviously still uncomfortable with civvy life. After he had sorted out the gas fire he hunkered down and told us practically his life story, how he had left the army and his wife had left him for someone else. I felt sorry for him but I couldn't really give him any advice. It was obvious that he needed the job. So I told the Gas Board that he was OK. Someone must have complained about him.

What gets me is that this young man must be like hundreds of ex forces personnell, who have to try to fit into 'normal' life again . It seems unfair that they are not given some kind of assistance to get back into civvy life.

[boxtops]

Interesting tale Gran. I know several people (including family) who are ex forces and found it difficult to adjust to life without the framework and hierarchy - especially if you've been "in" for a long while. Single guys seem to find it the hardest but families find it hard too when someone comes home. Informal networking afterwards seems to be really important because only other squaddies (for example) will know what life was like in the field of fire. Good luck bobjugs, you're going into a worthy profession on the outside, I hope it all goes well for you.

[askyourgran]

I kept thinking about him hoping that he's settled down and found someone by now. The way he behaved at our house he was still a sqaddie, how he squat down on the floor to talk.
Bobjugs is going from hero to hero again if he does the Ambulance course, the ones my OH had were marvellous with him. (It's slowly coming back to me bobj that was a long initiation night. lol)

[bobjugs12]

"Hero to hero"....lol. I'm just going from one stable career to another thats all. I'm not a hero at all.