My time on the Hong Kong-Chinese border was not all amusing as in Chinese ghost story pt1. The time was also filled with the boring and mundane along with the dangerous and frightening. Here is, as Paul Harvey would say the rest of the story.Most of our border work was conducted during the hours of darkness.  The daylight hours were mostly filled with much needed sleep. Unfortunately sometimes an II ( Illegal Immigrant) or two would make a try for the border for whatever insane reason during…See More

Each year while stationed at Ft Carson in Colorado, our brigade would make the annual pilgrimage to the National Training Centre at Ft Irwin, California. Prior to heading off to the NTC, we would spend a month or so in preparation down at the Pinon Canyon training area in the southern part of Colorado.    At the end of one of these preparation exercises in the early 90’s our company were bivouacked in a small valley. We were awaiting our time to head back to the contonement area and from there…See More

Doug, my brother in law is a member of MENSA and, for the last few years has been badgering me to take the test. He assures me that I have the smarts to pass this test. I am not as confident as Doug as the following story will show just how dumb I can be.One of my duties while in the British army was as a French Horn player in the Regimental band. Though enjoyable and included additional funds to my income, I have to admit that I was never a great instrumentalist. In my opinion I only just…See More

Many of the holidays celebrated in the United States are also celebrated in the United Kingdom. With the obvious exception of the 4th of July. In Scotland the most celebrated of the holidays is New Year, or as the Scots call it Hogmanay. In some areas in the North of Scotland the Hogmanay parties can go on for days. With enormous quantities of beer and Scotch being consumed by the populace. I am not meaning to say that the Scots are a nation of alcoholics, they just really enjoy their alcoholic…See More