losavo

There's no wireless signal on camp, meaning no widely available internet. The web is accessible however [obviously] but like everything else here it's limited in its uses.

19th-20th Weekend
Went home. Relaxed. Failed to correct body clock, but that’s sorted now.
…the end.

Sam’s a bit lazy and headstrong, but I get along with him. I have ways of making sure the work is split between us. Simply by slowing down myself so he has to work or it won’t get done. Like me he’s laid back and rather blunt in his words, so we do have common ground to converse on.
Dickson is probably who I get along with best here, which is strange to say as we’re always jesting abuse at one another. But when procrastination begins to sink in again, I can always find something to talk about with him. I suppose it's always nice to have a 'verbal punching bag' to vent.
Tamang [Lance-Corporal] I find rather annoying… still. Not that I expected a new setting to change him. Already he’s shown his past irritable qualities which derive from his nervousness in authority and eagerness to delegate responsibly to others to personally ease his own burdens. Now any respectable person who was insecure in their rank, I’d work harder to ease their stress. But when they go so far as to question methods you know will work and interfere to the point of illogically enforcing additional hardship… it just plain gets on my nerves. It’s “one in all in” if he has to do something but he’ll abandon you asap if he doesn’t need/want to be around.
Dean [Corporal] I’ve apparently come across before. He also knows of [at least] Chadwick/Chadders/Sadgit whatever I’ve called him in the past. I don’t know if he likes him or not, all I know is I think Chadders is a complete asshole. I put on a professional face, but I haven’t forgotten the shit he’s dished out when he’s in charge… not a chance. Anyway, Dead; he’s okay for the most part. He does some work behind the scenes mainly so that the rest of us can focus on cooking which is perfectly acceptable. The most direct involvement he has with us is devising the menu’s on our behalf and taking deliveries. Occasionally he’ll pop in, have a nose around to let us know he’s still here and he’ll give us direction of what’s required or changed. Probably partially me on this as I’m noticing a pattern, but again, he can get a bit annoying when he does stick his nose in. I’m sure he’s just doing his job and doesn’t mean harm, so I haven’t bitten his head off for it and just done as I’m told. I just hate being patronized and treated like a retard when I know I’m not. If I have questions, I’ll ask… otherwise, I like to be left alone with my work really.
Sergeant Vincent, sound as a pound. Others may disagree with me, but he seems alright on first impression. He can even take a bit of a joke and that’s a nice icebreaking trait. But I’ve already noticed [to someone else] he can exercise his authority as well. Not seen him do much in the kitchen, there’s little required of him there really. My educated guess is he’s the liaison between managing the kitchen and whatever other duties he’s doing outside. Maybe he’s outright skiving at home, but if he leaves us alone to do our thing then I won’t judge him for that either. As long as the job’s done everyone should be happy.
I’ve only met the boss twice. Once when I got here and he just did the welcome speech and gave us the background on what’s happening and required of us; I did like the fact he acknowledged we’re here to do him a favour, so that was nice. Second was randomly in the week. Apparently he had some meetings to go to. I wouldn’t know if he was lying or not. He seems someone you could talk to, but also like he has his own agenda. I don’t know him well enough to figure him out yet.
That said, I don’t know any new body enough to make a complete judgement of them. These are just first impressions based on the first week I been here.



Cottesmore is fine on a temporary basis. It’s easy, relaxing and peaceful [at current], but you could easily go insane with boredom if you were posted here for a couple years.

One word to describe the place. Dead. This has the advantage of it being very relaxed in work but there’s virtually nothing to do outside of it. The evening working hours are a bit flawed [making a total of 10] but as a result I’ve been disappearing for a couple hours each middles shift. Everything’s done and you come back with plenty of time to get the hotplate up, but if you don’t leave the kitchen during opportune times like this you’ll just waste away. I also have the same mentality about breaks; if you don’t make time to sit down, you won’t in the 8 hours you’re in the kitchen. Some of us have had some aching legs due to this.
Legs aren’t spared by PT. Due to the fact that there’s no gym functioning [or pretty much anything], mainly because there’s no PTI staff I guess, the Chefs have been banding together a bit to occupy our time with going for runs and playing football. Gives us plenty of exercise and fights off boredom.
One thing I have been able to do slowly is catch up some sleep; lost mainly due to the lingering aftermath of the officer’s mess. Yes, I have had time to correct this… yet all past attempts have been undone often by a single night where my body then just refuses to sleep. I’m there laying in bed, eyes closed and completely tired… but I’m fully aware I’m not asleep. I’m sitting here typing this now though, 90% sure I can finally start being more productive with the emptiness of camp rather than constantly looking for my next opportunity to have a nap.

On the past Friday, I drove down from Wattisham to Cottesmore to get briefed up. Waited round for the other two Chefs to arrive and such. I didn’t doddle on the journey as I had plenty of time to think [2 hour drive, but Cottesmore is closer to home than Wattisham. Another plus] and concluded “surely they won’t expect me to get in work as soon as I arrive” and not only was this true, but as soon as we were introduced and orientated round the kitchen we were allowed to have lunch and fuck off. I unpacked my car, left my full bags in my room and hit the road to go home for the weekend.
On that note, the rooms are very spacious. But not because they’re normal rooms. The camp is so dead that everyone’s being treated to the Officer’s Mess rooms and cook house. Temporarily dubbed the ‘CombiMess’. The room is spacious, and while it didn’t have a heater or a fan I managed to scavenge some from around the block [hey, no one else was using it and I’m pretty much the only person here]. It’ll save me having to bring my own climate control appliance down. Therein lies a hint. Cottesmore was going to be completely knocked down after the RAF left, so I can easily imagine that as people were leaving they didn’t mind leaving a few things in shit state. It was only after the majority of the RAF had gone that it was decided to move an army unit on the premises instead of selling the land. Hence while it’s good to be in spacious rooms and treated to gouchi kit, it’s not exactly 100% functional… or hygienic.
The Showers are probably the best things in the blocks outside my room. There’s no kettle’s, no fridges, no means of heating/cooking/storing food that require specific temperatures… and biggest bitch slap to the face is that the laundry machines are coin operated. I don’t know how old they are but I’m aware the army won a battle on this; a soldier shouldn’t be charged to wash his own kit when the army issues them it is the short version.
Cottesmore is also pretty big. I’d say bigger than Wattisham, easily. It was an airfield for the Air Force, boasting plenty of large runways. Wattisham has runways, but it’s strongly Army Air Corps helicopters… thus does not require them to excess like Cottesmore [Though I don’t know how the new Army Reg will make use of them. Not my concern though]. While this is provides plenty of empty running space for PT [of which there’s no restrictions for common personnel since anything of value has been relocated by now] the downside is that it means everything is a longass walk away. The local Spar shop is at least half a mile from the CombiMess which doesn’t make it a convenience store to me. And like Wattisham, Cottesmore is in the middle of nowhere. There’s a local village with some pubs which may or may not also do food but I haven’t been able to check out anything local off camp yet. I don’t know how far it is or in which direction to be fair, but I do plan on finding out. I’ve been trying to coax others into coming with me so I don’t have an awkward lonely boring time by myself. Going out drinking by yourself? That’s just sad…
Kitchen appliances aren’t the best either. Like the rest of the facilities, you can tell people thought “Who gives a shit? This place is being knocked down anyway”. So I arrive to find some cookers and handy machines are unserviceable. Limiting us to awkward ways around to our food prep. The main thing we need that we are without is a working steam. So far anything that needs to be steamed or warmed through evenly has been put in a bain-marie and wrapped in cling film. Yes it does the same thing but a working steamer would make things much easier.

Could be weeks, could be tomorrow.

So in jist...

Friday: Restaurant meal with parents
Saturday: Visit my house garden and kitchen, Chinese meal for dinner
Sunday: Shopping and Steak dinner
Dollie for the win

PT Monday turned out to be a surprise drug test [of which I've never touched the stuff so I know I'm clean] then fuck around all day.

Tuesday-Thursday: Chill, sorted out chores. Actually monged out a bit more than I should but my body clock is still out of wack from Officer's Mess and not resting properly when going home...

Friday/Tomorrow: Driving to a new camp, hence the uncertainty...

later!

Last day, looking forward to leaving the mess. But what a day. First on earlies with a near lack of sleep, which is never a good start.
Then, breakfast nearly went tits up. For some reason the eggs kept falling apart and I don’t know why. I never seem to have problems with them in the main kitchen just here. Took a couple tries with some of them and some orders were backlogged but I scraped through. What I also endeavoured to happen was that people’s orders go out in the correct order.
But turns out, instead of me being told openly, they waited for the Corporal to turn up and ratted me out straight to Viv. She had a field day with it as I knew she would. If I was Stevo she would have said something and left it; no I take that back, she would have done everything she could to shelter him. With me, she proper tries to break me emotionally with it. At first she says “Take on what’s been said, take it on the chin and learn from it”... but then she makes a dramatic big deal out of it and doesn’t let it lie. Gets on the phone to the main kitchen, sees the Sergeant and tells him a bunch of lies. Asks me shit like “When things go wrong, do you not feel bad about it?” proper trying to break me but I reply “Not when I know I’m right”. She then also goes on about “There’s three potential complaints there” and I state “No there isn’t, there’s just one complaint”. The food didn’t go out in shit state, it went out according to the orders that were placed in order, and one guy in his own warped fussy opinion believed he waited a long time for it. If it’s cooked to order, you wait for your food, shit bust. Not only do I think Viv is incompetent and insecure in her rank, favouritism of Stevo [which I don’t care for, what I care for is] vendetta against me, now I can add she’s a liar for embellishing the truth to make me look like shit. I have no doubt she will continue to voice such criticisms behind my back, but don’t worry, I’ll be slagging her off too. To her face and otherwise.
Alex tried to run me down as well. Passing on a message [apparently], stating that if I’m idle or doing nothing to go through the fridges and clean them or whatever. Then adding “I don’t think she’s happy with you” “I don’t care really, it’s my last day” “that’s not the point Sean, you’re in the Officer’s Mess” “You don’t have the authority to lecture me and you didn’t let me finish” “Well I’m just passing on a message” “Then why are you still talking if this isn’t the message?”. I let him give his advice before because it wasn’t in a lecturing tone, but I think I let off the false impression I was going to let him take charge of me. Something I’m glad to have corrected now.
Despite having lunch ready well in advance, some things being cooked while others prepped for last minute cooking, I sat down for a total of 15 minutes despite being on my feet for 7.5 hours. Last 30 minutes was me cleaning down the kitchen, spending 10 minutes to eat and then leaving for the main kitchen. Viv told me to see the Sergeant at 1400 and that he was expecting me. Most of the morning I was contemplating whether I should ditch it or not. If the roster had changed against my favour I would have fucked off right then and there, I managed to see it when he wasn’t around and resorted to sticking around. At first I couldn’t find him and was almost ready to go. I was where I needed to be at the right time, he wasn’t, not my fault. But then he does turn up.
Long story short is that he repeats Viv’s embellished false facts about the morning as well as some added bullshit on my attitude. Apparently she stated then when asked how I felt about some comments I remarked that it was “funny” and when asked for my opinion I simply stated that it was taken out of context. Truth is I find Viv’s lack of ability funny. I had to be careful because despite the fact that Viv is lying, people would believe her over me because of rank. I also know that randomly slagging people off, however truthful my words may be, would not help my image. I resorted to saying very little more than “I understand” because I understood more than what was being said, not because “I understand I need to change my approach” which I kinda do... but not in the way they think. Already being out of the mess and being blamed by assholes already helped my mood, I was still pleased with that. Anything left was just a last-chance attempt to shit on me. I would have contested what was transpiring if it was serious but it was just a verbal bollucking so no need to say anything.
As soon as the ‘ordeal’ was over I was out of camp in my car driving home. Another thing that got me through the day. I did have to stop on the way home to have a nap because I just didn’t have it in me for a non-stop trip for four hours on the lack of sleep I had. Also stopped again later for fuel, I like to arrive with a tank nearly full so I always start a journey [next journey in every case] with plenty of fuel.

I bitch about that which I’m passionate about enough to exercise concern
And don’t give a shit about things that don’t concern me

Perry back, ugh
Nothing much to do for evening meal as Stevo was handling it, supposedly. Again, doing way too much prep now because he’s gunna be here for it. I was on his case all day. Partly because it’s fun, partly because it’s my way of getting back at him, but mostly because he deserves it or I wouldn’t have the heart to be a dick to him. “Sean, like I told you before. I don’t give a fuck” I know Stevo. Selfish Inconsiderate Prick, but that don’t mean I’m ever gunna lay off you lying dumbass. He thinks he’s the dogs bollucks, but as soon as something goes wrong he’ll blame literally anyone but himself to save face.
[Not sure if mentioned yesterday but he has an early knock off he didn’t deserve, plus there was still work to do]. Today he managed to weasel out of work for a long time by going on some Regimental picture thing or whatever. When he comes back he doesn’t even get straight back into work, just dawdles like he always does for a bit. But I finally got something in my favour which evens out the ‘equal treatment’ a bit. Today I was allowed to fuck off and do my workout during working hours AND most surprisingly of all I was then knocked off early when Stevo came back. Not because of Viv of course, because of the Lance-Jack I think is redeeming himself a bit from past clashes with me [Johno].
Now that Thursday’s over with, Friday is my last day in the mess. Fuck yeah. Also planning to go home so won’t tolerate much shit either.

Tired now. That 7am PT yesterday has totally fucked me up and I just feel run down all the time. The Crankiness helps me stay on Stevo’s case all the time.

when my shift starts at 11am? And remedials are when I’m failing tests, recovering from injury or downgraded. Remedials are literally one big waste of time for me for an hour. At least I still managed to chin it off and do my own thing. Got it out of the way in the morning for a change.

Alex: Changed the menu, overstepping his authority. Got bollucked by Herbie for it. Tried to lecture me on turnovers and I hint I’m not gunna allow it. However, gave me an early knock off. Everyone has his or her faults. While Alex has his, he’s tolerable.
Stevo: Will do shit loads of Prep if it’s his neck on the line and will end up with wasted food as a result. But he doesn’t care for this because he doesn’t pay for the wasted food. But when he’s prepping for others, he’ll do the bare minimum and try to weasel his way to leave at the earliest opportunity. Then he’ll claim he’s got my back and such, he’s so selfish and ignorant I think he’s delusional to this himself. Also think’s he’s winding me up when I just use it as fodder to verbally beat him down every chance I get. He doesn’t learn but it helps me vent.
Herbie: repeating myself a bit but he knows what he’s doing 100% and is friendly. Which makes him very respectable/approachable.



Stevo disappear then sit on ass early knock off

“When was the last time you went home?”
“Three weeks ago”
“Woah, how does your missus cope?”
“I give her something to remember me by”

Work was so fucking dull. Everything done by 3pm but service isn’t until late...

Me, face for the kitchen [out front serving meatball baguettes. I had one for lunch and pretty good]. Not smiling, I’m not qualified for customer service. Though did turn out to be the easier option than in the kitchen.
Stevo late, finally pulled up by Herbie. Stevo so shit because Viv lets him get away with it. Late by 10 minutes, chilling for an extra 5.
I came in, read the evening meal menu and got to work.
Only prep Stevo does in morning is get out some Cauliflower [that’s frozen] from a packet and make Jelly for the fruit trifles... and then starts ticking things off as if they’re done. I only consider something prepared and ‘done’ if cooking it is then the last thing that needs to happen before service.
Stevo also likes to do his own thing. Making 5 sponges from fresh mix when there’s packet mix [shit, but needs using up or it goes to waste and that’s money, especially also as there’s two separate packets open] AND only 2 people booked in for it. He already has additional trifles left over [in the making, not done until just before service the mong], so if we get people who walk in without booking something we offer them trifle. It’s their choice then to take it or leave it. Duh!
Alex, slag off kitchen despite chicken/ham custard pie filling he served.
Johno’s okayish, but real messy.
Herbie someone I would work hard for as he’s on the ball and knows how to deal with situations in he right manner.

“If you’re too soft on someone, you can actually be doing them more harm then good”. Because they then think failure is acceptable.
“Stevo, I was in ten minutes before you this morning and thirty minutes before you this afternoon. Stop cutting up onions that we don’t need and do some wedges that we do need; or explain to the officers why you didn’t do wedges”

It’s the first day of the week, things have already gone wrong. At least this is my last week in this shithole. Last I checked the roster on Friday before leaving the kitchen for the weekend. So today I was expecting to come in at 6am with Viv on earlies [ugh, annoying]. Weird at it is, the roster over the weekend was totally backwards.
Me on lates, weekend off, on earlies Monday.
Stevo on earlies, working weekend, lates on Monday.
Viv had changed the weekend without the corresponding Friday and Monday shifts. Dumb but I can live with it.
I also expected the salad fridge to be empty as it turned out it was. Because Stevo working the weekend wouldn’t bother to do prep for earlies as is the norm. But I told myself if the salad prep wasn’t done then I’d need help or lunch would not be ready one 100% on the deadline. This point becomes redundant later.
But I came in on earlies as normal... Bank Holiday Monday. I knew it was a bank holiday, what no one bothered to inform me was that the Monday would be treated like a weekend because of this. So I come in 6am and had breakfast ready to go for 7am when the only meal in the morning today was Brunch cooked to order at 10am. Oh yeah, was I pissed. I found out from the Steward who came in 8am instead of 6:30 am like the norm [though not blaming him, he wasn’t at fault]. I had to surmise, alone, by reading little notes left about Monday morning this by myself after I came into work and then have it confirmed by a co-worker instead of my chain of command.
Because of this, I took advantage of an easy day to its fullest.
Viv also claims that such notices were around on Friday before I left. No they fucking weren’t because I CHECKED Friday BEFORE I left. I don’t know who she’s trying to convince, me or herself. Lying bitch.
Also, Stevo lied saying he didn’t know about it when he would have and [if he was a team player] could have informed me of the change because he lives in the same block.
How do I know these two are full of shit? Well, I know simply because it’s them, but the Steward backed up my suspicions by informing me the time she wrote such notices on the board which was Sunday of all days when I wasn’t even in work to see it for myself. Lying dumbass, the pair of them.
Viv doesn’t like me because I tell the truth like it is. “Where’s the salad prep I saw you doing?” “I only did it for the order, it’s cooked to order” “You didn’t think of doing more?” “Well it’s usually done on the weekend” “You’re cocky, aren’t you?” haha, burned you good bitch. I didn’t reply after that, I didn’t need to.
Took her for a run after work, I was hesitant after she stood me up the one day but I needed to have a run after work anyway. I wouldn’t bother if I tried later and I needed to get all my shit sorted ASAP because of a bad night’s sleep last night that needed correcting. I wasn’t tired because I was exhausted, I felt like I was gunna drop down and start snoring... despite this I pushed on and had a good workout.
Went to bed straight after and slept for a total of fifteen hours [lates the following day]. Starting 6am one day 11am another and who knows what else on special occasions, then people wonder why my body clock is fucked and have no energy all the time. At least that allowed me to recover for Tuesday.