Message from Connor

I have a message from Connor who rang last night to organise arrangements for me to attend his Passing In Parade on 15th October. 

He said I'm to tell everyone that 8 Platoon (Connor's platoon) beat 7 Platoon (Jack's platoon) in a sports competition and that even though 7 Platoon won the odd challenge, 8 Platoon scooped the overall winners title in the end. 

Given that Connor didn't even participate in the event I'm not sure of the relevance of this little nugget of information, but in any case he was extremely delighted with the result and I think it's probably more of a dig at his friend Jack than anything else! Sorry about that Jack :-) 

Still smiling despite the setback

Connor sounds much better this evening.  He was given three sets of dressings for his nose but has dispensed with these already even though they were supposed to last three weeks! 

He's rather bored at the moment as he's still not allowed to participate in many of the activities.  Tomorrow, the regiment are going paintballing and wall climbing and, of course, Connor's not allowed to join in.  He got himself really excited today when he was told he could go with his regiment to PT (physical training), but his hopes were dashed as he was told that yes he could go, no he couldn't join in, and yes he could sit and watch!  As many of you know, Connor's not one to sit around doing nothing and is finding it extremely frustrating. 

He is in very good spirits though and is determined to carry on regardless, despite the teasing he's receiving from senior ranks who are trying to convince him that his injuries and the fact he still has no boots are omens that he's not cut out for the armed forces.  They seem impressed by the fact that he's coming out of it smiling though. 

I feel much happier having spoken to him tonight.  He sounds far less nasally than he did at the beginning of the week, the pain he was in has subsided, he's very positive and is looking forward to the Passing In Parade on 15th October after which he comes home on leave.  I, for one, will be really pleased to see him.  Twenty days and counting...

Little Trooper!

The nose is fixed, at last!  It was quite gruelling by all accounts as Connor is resistant to local anaesthetic and so, unfortunately, felt quite a lot of the procedure.  I barely slept a wink all night, worrying about him but, as John pointed out, had anything untoward occurred during the operation or during the night, someone would've been in touch.  That's hardly been a comfort to me throughtout today as I've waited and waited to receive a text or a brief telephone call but I needn't have worried - my poor disfigured soldier was out all night on manouevres!  Yes, despite advice to the contrary, Connor decided to join the rest of his regiment on a night-time exercise.  You've got to hand it to him, when he puts his mind to something there's no stopping him!

Pre-op info

There's some things a Mum is better off not knowing.  I've just had a step-by-step account of the procedure for Connor's nose-job tomorrow and I have to say I now feel thoroughly sick!  He tells me, although I'm not sure whether to believe him or not, that they will be carrying out the operation under local anaesthetic!  The last time he had local anaesthetic he was immune to it and felt everything!  According to Connor, they're unable to do a general because they are working on an airway, but I'm no surgeon so can only take his word for it.  So, tomorrow, 9.45am, local anaesthetic, installation of a metal rod in each passageway, hoovering out of debris followed by resetting!  It doesn't sound at all pleasant to me.  Connor, of course, thinks it's highly hilarious!  His exact words were "...it's funny.  It'll just hurt for a bit and then it'll be done, it's nothing to worry about."  That's Connor for you! 

No fun for the injured soldier

I've received a text message from Connor this morning telling me how bored he is as everyone else has gone paintballing and quad-biking and he's not allowed to join in because of his injury.  Even worse, he has to sit and watch them all having fun!  Just as well really, given how accident prone he is.  Had he been able to participate we may have been looking at something worse than just a broken nose!  Let's hope he won't get discharged before he even qualifies.  I asked about how disfigured his nose is.  He reports that it's very wonky and he can't breathe through it too well.  His hospital appointment is on Monday so as soon as I have further information I will pass it on. 

Never rains but it pours!

It seems that Connor's nose is so badly damaged that the army medics are unable to fix it.  An appointment will be made for him to visit a specialist in York next week sometime! Other than this minor setback, he's back on rifle activities and reports that everything's going well for him.  It's a good job that he's a tough cookie and can take it all in his stride. Me on the other hand, well, I've found it difficult to sleep at all this week worrying about him.  Kieran found it highly amusing that I was upset that Connor couldn't have painkillers.  He bluntly reminded me that wars can't be paused every time a soldier is injured just for the sake of administering paracetomol.  Point taken!

Update on the nose breakage

Apparently the tissue is so badly damaged that they are currently unable to make an assessment of how best to fix it so we're having to wait another couple of days before they can make a decision.  Will post back here when I have further information, but in the meantime, the message from Connor is that he's okay.

Broken nose!

Connor's broken his nose!  He was made to ring me and let me know it's nothing to worry about.  Nothing to worry about!!  Easy for them to say.  He was out on a rifle exercise when he set off running and the recruit behind him trod on the back of his heel.  Connor hit the ground face down, rifle and all, and his nose has completely snapped.  He was keen to tell me about the amount of blood that he lost and said he's not permitted to take any painkillers, something to do with not being allowed to have drugs in his system or something.  I'm not sure that can be right, poor thing must be in agony.  The medic had requested that he remain in the medical centre overnight but, of course, he preferred to return to his mates in the barracks.  He'll be having an assessment at 10.30 tomorrow morning to assess the course of action for repairing the break.  They'd prefer to fix it without operating if they can but they won't know until the swelling has subsided. So much for the paintballing and quad-biking at the weekend.  I don't imagine he'll be participating in any of that.  He's relieved from all duties, including drill, but is allowed to iron!  Ha ha, perhaps I should send him my week's worth to keep him busy :-)

The boot issue resolved.

Finally got to the bottom of the issue with the boots!  For those of you who don't know, Connor used to play quite a bit of hockey.  As a consequence of his injuries, his feet have become wider than the standard issue army boot which means he now has to have boots and trainers made especially for him.  He's had to have his feet filmed whilst on a treadmill at walking, marching and running speed to capture the way his feet move in each situation, so that his boots and trainers can be made to fit perfectly!  I think he feels quite a celebrity as he's the only one that they've had to do this for (typical!).

It's been a physically busy week with frequent drill sessions and swimming tests and he's looking forward to the weekend when they're paintballing and quad-biking.  Connor tells me that for the first six weeks at least, the evenings and weekends remain as structured as the weekdays, so there's lots of activities for them to do.  It certainly doesn't sound as though he has much free time, if any, as he chuckled to himself when I mentioned free time!

Earlier in these blogs, I mentioned that Connor had gone to the college with two of his friends from school so I asked him if they'd seen much of each other.  Apparently, Jack is on the floor below him in a different platoon and so they haven't seen each other hardly at all.  His other friend, whose name I don't know, is in the same platoon as Connor but in a different section and so they see each other a little more often but still rarely.

He says he's definitely made the right decision in going to the college and is enjoying himself and although at least half a dozen recruits have pulled out in the first couple of weeks, he doesn't feel too homesick and is happy to just get on with it.  It was great to speak to him.  He sounds very confident, relaxed and happy and I'm really very proud of him.

Sneaky phone call

Connor made a sneaky (unauthorised) phone call home last night in response to a text that I'd sent asking how he was getting on.  I'd only sent a text because I thought it would be pretty inocuous and that he could respond as and when he was able.  The signal was pretty awful and I could barely hear him although I heard enough to realise that there is some problem with his boots - he has to have them made specially so he doesn't have any yet and doesn't know when they'll arrive.  This seemed to be quite a concern for him for some reason but I couldn't really get to the bottom of it because the line was crackling and breaking up as he was trying to talk to me.  He said he'll be in touch again when he's allowed another phone call.

First contact from Connor

Connor rang briefly last night.  Apparently, they're allowed an hour to phone home, although I'm not sure how frequently.  He's settled in fine but has had trouble sleeping - new bed, new pillow, and he's sharing with eleven other guys.

They'd been in the lecture theatre all day learning about military law and health and safety, which just isn't his thing at all.  He likes to be active and I imagine that would've been hard going for him. 

The most exciting thing he reported was that he'd just got all soaped up in the shower and an officer came in, shouting at the men to be outside, lined up within 30 seconds or whatever, so poor Connor ended up outside with only his towel wrapped round him.  Of course, this was clearly the highlight of his day!  Certainly sounds like he's having fun anyway.

Goodbye and Good Luck!

Well, today's the day.  My baby has flown the nest and is on his way to his new life at the Army Training College.  I wish that I'd been able to take him there but his Dad really wanted to do it and as it happens it's probably for the best because I would only have been upset and then he'd have been embarrassed and so on.  He's not allowed any contact with home now for the next six weeks after which time he comes home on leave for a week.  It should coincide roughly with half-term week.  It's not so bad for him really as he's going with two other local lads who he went to school with.  They've also gone into the fusiliers so at least he shouldn't feel too lonely.