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From HMS Nottingham to HMS Kalmar
By: Lt George Franklin
MS
Nottingham, Northern Arabian Gulf, January 1998.
Fighter Controller, Captain's Cabin...
"Ah, George, what have you got planned for May?"
Basically, doing no work at all, but other than that there was nothing specific on the horizon.
"Well, Sir, I'm going to be very busy with paperwork, and I will be taken up processing. The new sailors who join at the end of April."
"Oh, that's a pity. You see, we have been asked to provide an exchange Officer for a Swedish corvette, and I was hoping you could do it.
Damn. I cursed my own stupidity. I had nothing to do for a month and I had just been offered a free trip to Sweden.
"Apparently it includes a Dinner Dance, and they have got some Swedish
bird to act as your escort."
Damn, it had suddenly become extremely important for me to get this exchange.
"Actually Sir, I think the paperwork might wait, and I can probably get the new sailors processed before I leave."
The Captain raised his eyebrows. It was now clear to him that I had been lying about how much work I had, but I didn't care. My life now depended on arriving at a Dinner Dance, in dress uniform, with a lovely Swedish girl on my arm.
"Are you sure the paperwork will wait, George?"
"Oh, yes Sir, quite sure. In fact now that I think about it there is not really that much to do at all."
"Still, if you are busy perhaps I had better send the Navigator."
Now the Navigator is a good friend of mine, but I would cheerfully have broken both his legs to stop him taking my place. "Well, I'm not sure Sir, ... he has just had eight months away from his wife..."
"Hmmm... well I suppose you had better go make sure that work does get done though".
Choirs of Angels are singing in my head, I have springs in the soles of my shoes, and I lose the valiant battle to stop myself smiling. Hang the bloody paperwork, I'm going to Sweden for three weeks. I practically danced out of his cabin.
And am I glad I came? ... Oh yes! ... Thank you all.
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