Members try to entice the carnival girls to join the group.

As we traveled down to Portsmouth the day before the event, little did we realize what was about to hit us. Upon reaching  the docks we experienced the Navy's red tape, which left us a bit  bemused. But once the display was set up we headed to the Royal Marines Museum which kept us quite for a while before heading to the camp site. Due to the time we lost at the docks we had to cancel a visit to the submarine museum and wandered over to Sabre Sales which turned out to be 500 yards from the campsite. We had set aside 1 hour for this visit but spent the best part of three hours and we still did not see every thing. It was the most comprehensive shop for surplus we had ever seen, Forget Beltring, for uniforms and kit Sabre Sales  was all off Beltring rolled into one. We left very happy bunnies and a lot poorer I can tell you.

Members firing the SA-80 Simulator

Our visit earlier in the day to the Royal Marines museum  allowed us to have breakfast (We had been up since 4am),  see another one of the Landing Craft used in the Falklands and experience an SA-80 simulator as used by the army to train recruits in how to handle the recoil of the weapon without firing a live round.  Needless to say I dropped 3 rounds and ended up with a score of 97 out of 100 whilst the other two members scored 100 each. 

The Friday brought with it the sun, and the crowds. This event turned out to be the busiest we have ever attended. It never stopped. Saturday saw more people and the temperature soared. Thankfully Sunday turned out to be less busy but even hotter with little wind to cool us. Due to the heat and long display times, up to 8  hours was spent each day dealing with the public by the time we came too Sunday we were fading fast. Another day would have seen us too exhausted to participate. It was the  biggest and hardest event we had ever done but lessons learned from previous events and how to deal with the heat were not forgotten, but still we learnt a few more. Even though it was an enjoyable event it was hard work, but the help form a core group of dedicated members meant we managed it... only just.

Paul's turn on the firing line late Saturday Afternoon was a more sedate affair.

The maroon  thing behind the tent is a Waffle stand, it teased us with its smells, with several members succumbing to temptation....  I don't want to see or smell another waffle again... EVER!

The guys just could not let the girls walk pass unmolested.