This is my story of my most memorable Christmas
The year was 1989 I was 24 and serving in Northern Ireland at a place called Bessbrook mill in South Armagh bandit countryâ€
Why do I remember this one above all others ? well its not the obvious ! I lost my grandfather ( my hero) in the November and as I was on active service I couldn’t go to his funeral
I gave him my word I would be there ( I have never broken my word to anyone since )
As I write this I have a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye but ! the Christmas that year tort me a lot
Christmas eve we had pulled a p.v.c.p detail ( permanent vehicle check point) we patrolled out of BBK one of us had a small radio and on it was playing jona lewie “ stop the cavalry†ironic really as we where cav , we had a laugh about it as we went past the helipad and turned left into Bessbrook town
The v.c.p wasn’t far up the road as we got there it was about 8 or 9 o’clock .we settled in for a night of pissheads and envy , talking about what we would be doing if we where at home
We had decided before we went to N.I that we would all bye each other little pressies to open on Christmas day just so it felt like Christmas
As the night went on people came through the check point all in high spirits and having a great time .we had no real problems
There was a row of old houses about 10 meters across from the v.c.p . we could hear people having fun and all the Christmas music the 4 of us looked at each other in the cold dark sanger ,nothing was said , it wasn’t needed we where all thinking the same thing.
It got to about when one of the front doors opened and out came 4 or 5 people , drunk but happy , they shouted “ merry Christmas “ to us we did the same back then one of them went back in and brought out a massive tray of mince pies some butties and a bottle of “old bushmills†whisky they came over to us and ,even drunk and merry they said “thank you†we sat most of the night with those people talking and joking , it tart me a very valuable lesson there is good in everyone even your enemy, all you have to do is find it.
4 very merry squadies patrolled back to B.B.K the next morning a job well done
that was 17 years ago and I will remember it for the rest of my life
my best Christmas song ? “stop the cavalry†what else lol
this year my dog and I have decided to have a brill Christmas and make the most of every thing
hope you lot do to
yes we gave each other the pressies, after we sobered up
what’s your most memorable Christmas ?
:rose: 
) Before we sat down to eat, my Mum gave us all another present.
The rest of us were dressed up in old fancy dress costumes and told to pose for family photos! I ended up in the Penguin outfit, complete with big yellow felt feet and bowtie... hideous but funny.
... bear in mind I am 17, trying to impress by 21 year old boyfriend (who was a wanker btw and his brother was a better shag :P ) with how mature I am, and I have to go for new year at his parents house... with a bloody black eye I got from a kids bike
