I’ve been travelling around quite a lot lately, my bearer enjoying her new car, and having lots of ‘business miles’ to travel.  Eventually we stopped for long enough to take some pictures, chat to some lovely people, and report back on what we’ve been doing.

My bearer was doing a bit of work at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, and the lovely people in the CIS Wing allowed her to take pictures of me in the new Training Classrooms which they have started to use recently (as featured in ‘The Soldier’ magazine last December).

First I had to sit waiting patiently whilst she spent ages talking in another building.  She said it was about work, but all I could see was a box of springs.  Apparently they are very important.  Then the ‘planning’  was all sorted and we took a stroll to the CIS wing.

The Yeoman of Signals and her Sergeant made us most welcome, and took us to the new C3 Training Rooms where I took control of the field telephone before doing some map reading practice.  Apparently the young officer cadets need a lot of that!  I also tried a radio headset, but it was a little difficult to fit on my ears.  The joystick is used to control characters  during the simulation training, apparently!  After a quick look at some operating procedures, I was shown some pictures taken from the Virtual Battlefield that the cadets use for training.  The buildings and terrains look very big to a small bear, but the cadets have been enjoying learning to do their job in a realistic way.

Then I went to the store, which really is for storing things!  There was a lot of kit in there, and I counted all those radios.

After posing with the ‘Model  FOB’ boys in the foyer it was time to head for the NAAFI (everyone calls it the NAAFI even though it’s a COSTA now) for a brew before heading home.

Many thanks to the lovely people in the CIS Wing at Sandhurst for letting me and my bearer look around their fabulous training rooms.  They’ve had a lot of VIP visitors in the last few months, and it was good of them to make time for me.

Ed … thanks from us too.  It’s nice to have a look behind the scenes.

Until then, I was lucky enough to accompany my friends, Ernie O Kirkalea, Booful and my bearers on a wee holiday. Now not just a holiday, this was to South East Asia. Happy days! So I had to make a call to our leader, The BMG, to get my desert camouflage uniform sent down to me. This trip was a great way to recharge old Burra’s batteries after my Black Ops mission, which you will hear about soon enough. But it was a cool Mission.

So with our bags packed, we jumped on to a train to head for Gatwick Airport. Ernie and I had to take turns keeping an eye on young Booful ( Boofs), he had never been on a train before, let alone a plane! So we started our long journey, (pic 1). Planes Trains and Automobiles spring to mind, but the good news was we were travel in the plane and not inside the suit cases. Ernie told me that’s always the case, but me being no stranger to travelling in a box, was damn happy to be travelling topside.

Topside … crikey this trip was getting better by the minute! We spent the night in a hotel at Gatwick, then when we checked in for the flight, and they stuck a First Class tag on the 3 of us!! It seems that Ernie is smarter than the average bear, and often travels this way. We were then taking through fast track security, and into the lounge and given a glass of Champers!(pic 2) Poor Boofs was to scared so he stayed in the bag, but Ernie and I were milking it, and we even had some fun with the staff in the lounge! So far so good, Hic, funny things these bubbles!

It was a long flight to Kuala Lumpur, we had to change planes in Dubai and had to wait a few hours there in the lounge. More Champers, Hic Hic.

We touched down in KL, picked up our bags and headed to another terminal to get the next flight to Langkawi. Wow, when you step out of the airport, boy oh boy its hot – and humid! Glad I bought my Desert uniform! On to a real old bus now for the 20 minute trip to the other terminal, and then we checked in for the one hour flight. Hmm, no champers this time, it’s the Asian equivalent of Sleazy jet! But about 50 times better!

Some 22 hours after departing Blighty  touch down! Paradise Yahhhhhh (pic 3)

Phew, were we glad to be heading to the hotel! We got checked in and after unpacking, a quick brew. Ernie and I hit the beach!(pic 4) Boy it was hot but it felt good to be on holidays and at the beach! Burra could get used to this!!

After a good old game of Tug o’ War on the beach, we decided it was time for a swim! Ernie had never swum before, so I laid some words of wisdom on him, on how to tackle the waves and swim in general. Imagine how I felt after going through all this with my buddy, then seeing this! (pic 5) Fish made of Jelly indeed!! Hummph.

Plan B then, off to infinity and beyond, ahh hang that’s wrong – it’s an infinity pool. But never the less, Ernie had taken to swimming like a bear eating honey (pic 6+7). Burra as you can see just floats on, years of training paid off. Yeahh

So, after some down time and a good swim, we put some sun screen on and hit the sun loungers, closely followed by a couple of cold beers (pic8) Thought for the day? Happy days, I was enjoying our wee bit of R&R. After all that Champers and a couple of cold beers we hit the sack, or there was no way we would make dinner. My bearers were one step ahead of us, mind you they had about 3 more beers too!!

We hit the town for dinner, a short cab ride from the hotel, and we found ourselves at a small marina, with a few restaurants. There was Malay food, Indian food, even Italian food: in the end we went for some Chinese food, and guess what? Yep a couple more beers, Hic (pic9) Boy I’m going to need to hit the gym after all these beers! My head feels funny, need some sleeeeeeeeeeep.

The next day we were off exploring the island, little Boofs wanted to stay at the hotel as he was struggling with the jet lag, but we talked him out of that! So CSgt Burra and Ernie jumped into the back pack and onto Asia’s favoured form of transport. No, not Elephants, a scooter!

We headed off into the sun, being on the scooter was like being blow dried. Boss, it was hot! Great if you’re with a woman but bad if you’re in the jungle! We headed to a cultural village, where you get to learn how the islanders and Malaysians live, and their beliefs. Like most Asian cultures they worship Elephants and Tigers, they have many models of Tigers there, we even sat on one! (Pic 10)

Ok, Ok, so its not a real one, but there are less that 500 left in Asia now, which is a real real shame. So when we walked past a sign saying live Tiger inside Hmm I thought, best take a look at that. Well it seems this guy rescued a tiger from KL from some guys who were going to eat it! He kept the cub and they now have it in a section of the park attached to his coffee shop! (Pic 11) It is real, they use the cub (well it’s hardly a cub now) to raise awareness of how endangered these animals are now. Its strange to see a tiger living like this, but on the other hand she’s not in a cooking pot or on a wall as a trophy or even used to makes some kinds of old style medicine. With so few left they are trying to get her into a breeding program, so in one way I guess its kind of lucky?

Well, after a hard day sightseeing our bearers decided it was time to hit the beach! It seems they didn’t have much else planned, sightseeing in the morning, beach time in the afternoon. Ha you will be getting no complaints on that rationale from this bear (Pic 12) Closely followed with a cold beer watching the sun set, another favourite of our bearers, mine too! Woo hoo! (Pic 13)

The next day was much the same: we were off sightseeing and just taking it real easy, just like they do in the west country! So when our bearers took us to a cable car, that turns out to be one of the biggest cable cars in the world. I thought gulp! But me being of a certain military background, thought “OK chaps, we can do this!” Its only 700 meters above sea level, double gulp (pic 14) It’s one of the highest points on the island and gives you a 360 degree view of the island, along with a sky platform. Lucky for Ernie, The Humans didn’t have heads for that sort height!

So we headed instead to an even higher part of the island which boasted better views, and could be reached by road! Phew, now your talking I thought. So we jumped back on the trusty scooter (Pic 15) Not the correct position of the bearers crash helmet, hmmmm. But you always have to have your camera to hand to snap the local wild life (Pic 16). This fella was just sat there in the tree next to the where we were, lucky for him he was a friendly.

The road we were on just kept going up and up round to the left then right, then left again then funny enough right again. It reminded me of marching in my sleep. But this is what we saw when we got to the top (pic 17). Now it was high on the mountain, in fact it reminded me of Bloefeld’s hideout in the old James Bond films. But as you can see it was a long way to the top and quite away down too (pic 18).

The guys there welcomed us and took us to the restaurant on the top floor of what is one of the oldest and highest hotels on the island. (pic 19) Boss we didn’t open that bottle, Hic, honest, just look at Boofs. The view was great as you can see, (pic 20). On the plus side I didn’t have to ride in a cable car that to be fair looked safe enough but I prefer me little legs on Terrafirma.

So we started the long winding drive back down the mountain. It was thirsty work riding down, and we had heard about a really good place to get fruit drinks, (pic 21)

BMG Fruits. You been doing some moonlighting Boss? Living it up, selling fruit near the beach?? Nah, for sure you’re too busy, I know Boss. But it did bring a smile to my little face, Bear Minder General Fruits, ha ha, If you need someone to take care of it for you just let me know, Boss.

Well after that bit of excitement we hit the beach, (pic 22) it was so peaceful there it was just what we all needed, after the last OP, and the one that was coming up. I got back into an old hobby of mine, Bird watching (pic 23) there were some great specimens there to be seen, some of them with feathers too.(pic 24 – 26).

We had 12 days in Langkawi each one with great memories, and some great stories and snaps too. But there are just too many to mention, but most days ended with a beer at the pool, but on the odd occasion my bearers would treat us to cocktails! Now how cool is that (pic 27). We would always spend the end of the day watching the best sunsets I have ever seen.

The last day was one of the best sunsets, Ernie and I sat in our normal places by the pool, (pic 28) It was a great evening, if a little sad as we would be leaving in the morning.

But Ernie had been telling me about the next part of the trip, he tells me this is work? Some holiday this is!

Here’s where the story is going to get interesting, and CSgt S. Burra gets in front of the camera, and visits The Doctor who practices at number 46! (pic 29)

CSgt Burra signing off for now …

Today I met my old mate, Sgt. Slingsby, who’s been staying with Shopgirl.  Of course we met at a pub, The Royal Oak, Milborne St. Andrew, where the hosts Andy and Sarah had kindly allowed us to hold a fundraiser for ‘Holidays for Heroes’.  The ladies soon rounded up their helpers (Thanks Hilary, Dave and Janet), had the banner rigged, the tables set out, and the first brews on (thanks Matt!).

There was a steady stream of customers for the books, jewellery, bring & buy, raffle and tombola.  And unsurprisingly people wanted second helpings of cake.  Hilary was quick off the mark, and was soon selling ‘seconds’ for 50p a slice.  We’re trying to recruit her for Weymouth!

It was a good-natured, friendly morning, with a lot of banter.  We finished and counted up in time for a cider and a pub lunch, having raised £215.  We’ll definitely do that again.  Slingsby went off with Shopgirl, and I’m home at Brat Towers with my feet up, looking forward to another outing this week, and a trip to the Far North of England for Easter.

(Oh, and I’m not mentioning the location of the leftover lemon drizzle cake ….)

After the hard work of baking, tasting and testing, we had a quick lunch of crumpets (ooerr) and  a short trip to the Tank Museum, Bovington, where they were running their Tiger Tank, the only working one in the world today.

I was quite excited to be allowed a turn in a mini-tank (thank you to www.tankheroes.co.uk) but that was just the start.  We arrived just as a series of tanks started to show their paces in the arena.  Not before my Bearer had approached a group of young men to have their photo taken with me.  They were all very obliging, and loved the idea of what ‘Holidays for Heroes’ does.  After seeing a range of tanks, from Matildas to a T34, going through their paces, and learning that some tanks had the same engine as the Spitfire, the Tiger appeared.  It’s a truly awesome sight.

After a quick run into the shop for more camera batteries, and a photo with the staff who remembered me from previous visits, we went through to see the Tiger up close.  On the way, I caught up with the lovely Malcy of Malcyart, another supporter of ours, and posed in a Hamilcar Glider, just to remember my esteemed colleague.

I was very lucky to be allowed to climb on the Tiger (ignoring a couple of rude comments about AAC being flyboys!).  After a great afternoon out, we returned home to chocolate cake and planning the coffee morning.   Many thanks to the lovely people at the Tank Museum for their hard work in putting on such a fabulous event, and for their particular hospitality to a small Bear.

When we arrived I was confronted with several different aircraft and had no idea where to start. My bearer told me when we got there that we were meeting up with an ex Vulcan pilot who was going to give us a tour of the cockpit of XH537, but I thought I would have a look inside before he arrived. I hadn’t realised how cramped a Vulcan cockpit was,  even for a very small bear!.

After my tour I got to look inside a few other aircraft, including a Canberra cockpit, De Havilland Vampire, Sepcat Jaguar, Hawker Hunter, North American Harvard, Piston Provost, Gloster Meteor and a Wessex Helicopter.

Once I’d finished looking at the aircraft I thought I would take a look at a ‘Yellow Bus’ I had difficulty having a drive as I only have little legs! .  The aviation museum let me have a look at a few of the other exhibits as well, including a perfectly Bear-sized Northrop Radioplane MQM-36 “Shelduck”.  However, as it’s basically a gunnery target, I think I’ll give that a miss!

After a long and hot afternoon we headed home for a well deserved cup of tea. While we were in the car on the way home, my bearer mentioned to me that I need to prepare myself as I have been offered a back seat ride in a Buccaneer on a taxi run in July … can’t wait!

I would really like to thank the staff at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum for letting me ‘play’ with their exhibits.

I have been super busy.  When I arrived it was mid rehearsals for Daniel’s little brother Joshua, who was in the RAF Brize Norton Panto and I was invited along to not only do a spot of fund raising but also to be part of the rehearsals and meet the team and the crew etc.  We had a blast, we did “Dick Whittington and his Cat” and I went to every rehearsal and every dress rehearsal and every show !  I was exhausted at the end of it – but at least I got to lay in after rehearsals and shows finishing at midnight, poor Joshy had to get up and go to school !   If you look at the photos of the panto you will see one of me with the whole cast, I was actually on stage for the last show!  and there is one of me and Joshy and the rats and one of me and Joshy.  He was a legend and helped raise money – we did really well.

I have also been to school with Josh and we sold more wrist-bands and raised more money…we are great team…  I had a great day, check me out look at the map and trying to help Josh and his friend with their geography !  Hey I also got a photo of my new mates!  We then had music and I got to play the tambourine!  Not actually sure I was too good at that but it was loads of fun.  Then we had French!  yeh right…….I will have to take Joshys’ word that he had got the answer right!  Come on boss, it isn’t beer so how the heck would I know!  And anyway they don’t speak French in Nepal so there!

Oh, my favourite time had come, I got to drive Jan’s new car to work with Dave….how ace do I look sat in Jan’s BMW Z4…can we keep it boss?

I spent loads of time with Dave on camp and did loads of different stuff.  The RAF are a weird bunch you know!  Look at Dave’s desk…who has a desk that tidy!  Its just not right.  After the important morning work was done, you know drinking coffee and chatting and generally bumming around, I got to drive a refuelling wagon and got to refuel a C-17….OMG that is just so cool.  However, not as cool as hijacking all the aircraft on the pan, kicking the pilots out of their seats and getting a photo !  Hey boss, the photo of me with the headset on was genuine: that aircraft was actually about to take off, but Brize Tower wouldn’t give ME permission to go!  can’t see why not…..no fun at all.  Then on the way back from trying to fly a Tristar and not being allowed to, Dave and I bumped into Jason, Dave’s mate, who was trying to fix the engine on a C-17…..I just had to get up there and show him where the problem was and sort it out myself!  What would they do without me here at Brize?

I have had some great time with Josh and his friends.  I have been on bike rides with Joshy and Briony and as you can see I got told off by Evan (the little boy Jan child-minds for).  I was only climbing up the curtains in practice for Everest and he SO told me off for being naughty ! Does he not realise I am a SGT…..

Oh what a day 18 March was!  We went to Cadbury World – chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate FREEEEEE…  We went round all the exhibitions and I had my photo taken with the Aztec man and the Spanish soldier and then Jan, Dave and Joshy lost me….well not exactly lost me!  Dave guessed where I was…..Sorry boss, but I was completely knackered and needed a combat nap and there just happened to be a hammock just there!  So snooze time it was…just got caught though…oops…ha ha

We then went and sat outside in the sunshine and ate a massive cup of liquid warm chocolate !  YUMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYY.  Jan and I got a tad sick of chocolate at this point, as there is only so much free chocolate you can eat!  Oh, and I insisted on having my photo taken on the original Cadbury Train,  just because I wanted to….

Finally, I met Dan and the boys at the Boarding House at Bedford School!  Crikey, its worse than being with the Army boys, but I have had a fab time.  We had a bit of a party, and as you can see I was dancing with the boys having a blast – not sure why I have got someone’s tongue in my ear…I will plead the Fifth Amendment on that one!  I was going to go rowing, but Dan had his drama exams so his missed rowing this week.  I actually went to Dan’s GCSE drama practical exam and I helped with the sound and lighting system!  He has got to get an A* now – I helped, what more could they need.

The last photo is a rare photo and you should treasure it!  Jan is still collapsed on the floor, I believe on oxygen…. The photo is of Dan holding me with two of his friends just about to go in for the GCSE Drama Practical Exam.  Dan in a photo!  Rare, really super rare!

Boss, I have had a ball.  These are just some of the things I have been up and just a few of the photos.  Well … tomorrow is 23 March and this is it:  Dan, Morgan and the rest of the guys (and of course ME) are heading off on our three week adventure to Mt. Everest.  We are leaving at 1500hrs from school.  I am super excited and hopefully we will get some amazing photos.

So that’s it for now, I am gonna sign off and I will say….speak to you in three weeks….. be good, don’t spend too much time on your iPad3, and do some work….I am gonna have a blast, these boys are amazing fun !

Now these brave boys served in many campaigns from the Boer War, Gallipoli, the Middle East, Asia, Italy, and even Spain. But one of the facts that maybe most people don’t know about, is the famous battle of Alexandria back in 1801.

The Regiment, under the overall command of General Sir Ralph Abercromby (no not the fashion chappie!!), faced the French army, which stood in the way of them and Alexandria. Our boys were in a defensive position, which if they were beaten could see the British Flank turned and the battle lost!

Just before dawn, the French headed straight to the right of our glorious lads, there was a huge coming together of forces, more and more French infantry came and kept coming, but our chaps were under huge pressure to hold them back. Our boys were then joined by 42nd infantry as the French pushed on through, coming dangerously close to breaking our ranks. We were flanked on both sides, and some of the French broke through and tried to and charge from behind. We had no reserves left! and the C.O. Col. Paget was so seriously wounded,that Lt. Col. Chambers had to take command, and take the mule by the balls (so to speak). He gave the order “Rear Rank, 28!!!” The guys acted on the never heard order, with such discipline that when the French cavalry attacked they met the full force of the 28th, with devastating force, and they forced the French to withdraw with huge casualties, and helped win the battle of Alexandria.

The 28th, now known as the Glorious Glosters, are the only regiment to wear what is now known as the BACK BADGE, where Soldiers, brothers, and friends fight a… nd not only protect their country but their Regiment, which all our armed forces do, but they are the only ones to wear the Back Badge. “Back Badge Day” is celebrated on the 21st March. The regiment has had its name changed many times, but has always kept the Back Badge, the last change being in 2005 when they were yet again amalgamated. They were merged with the Light Infantry, the Royal Devonshire Dorset Regiment, to form The 1st Battalion, The Rifles.

So that’s the history lesson out of the way, the reason one CSgt Burra and Ernie O’Kirkalea were in the fine Glosters Museum was to track down the medals of William Taylor, (Pic 1 bottom row 3rd from the left) a musician from Sheffield, who found himself in the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment back in 1914, and he was Alison’s Grandfather. So I was off to find out everything I could about not only a member of Ernie and Alison’s family, but a brave man from the First World War, with a regiment with such a huge history.

William joined the army in 1914, and worked his way up to Sergeant, he had an illustrious career with the Glosters during WW1. By the time he was discharged he had obtained the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1917, which he was awarded for conspicuous Gallantry and Devotion to duty. He had been outstanding in obtaining valuable information whilst on patrols and showed incredible courage and ability while in the field. He was in fact sent home form France with frost bite!

He was also awarded the Military Medal while serving for the Glosters, attached to the 3rd Trench Mortar Battery in 1918 in Fresnoy, for conspicuous Gallantry and Initiative.  Whilst in charge of two Stokes Mortars, he captured two hostile machine guns and twenty five prisoners. He also was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Long Service and Good Conduct medal. All in all William was a very well decorated veteran, and was discharged at his own request after 18 years. Now call me old fashioned but a DCM and MM are fine medals for any service personnel to win, I was so looking forward to this trip and catching up on some history of one of HM’s Greatest Regiments.

We arrived at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire museum (Pic 2), paid our entry fee, lucky enough for us Burra bears get free entry! As you enter we were giving a warm welcome from two chaps who gave us a brief explanation of the early Glosters, (Pic 3) These guys may look like dummies but they talked and moved, just like real people!! Ernie and I were very impressed and felt like we were back in 1694. As were entered the museum we were transported back in time, to the early days like the battle of Salamanca in 1812 with Marmots army from Portugal, (Pic 4).

As you go through the years of The Glosters you are taken on a journey through time from campaigns from the West Indies 1761.the Americas 1775, then to the battle of Alexandria and the BACK BADGE (Pic 5), now that is some history, each regiment’s badge has a story, but the back badge is pretty special, it’s a bit like my Black Watch badge and hackle.

Now I love a good museum, but if I tell you guys too much about it, you won’t go and visit it will you?? So I’ll try to make it brief. But as you can see, it’s well worth a visit … they even have news paper clippings from WW2, Boss! (Pic 6). They have some great exhibits! too many to mention but (Pics 7,8,9,10) give you an idea. Now, Boss, because Ive been away for so long I didn’t want you thinking I had forgot how to keep my kit together (Pic 11).

Until I went to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire museum I didn’t know too much about the battle of Imjin River, but boy that was some tough stuff for the guys planning strategies (Pic 12) and worse for the poor lads who were taken prisoners (Pic13) The guys were outnumbered and in terrible conditions they held out for over 3 days, before being forced to retreat. But their efforts were enough to stop the Chinese, and the hill they defended has become known as Gloster Hill. Csgt Burra and Ernie O’ Kirkalea paid our respects to the heroes (Pic 14 and 15)

The Glosters play a huge part in protecting the British Isles and her interests, from way back in the 17th Century, until the present day, from D Day (Pic 16) to Afghanistan (Pic 17). There is a room with which shows the Regiment’s most prized items, such as flags from battles that were carried with pride, to items of tradition from the years the Glosters have help protect us (Pic 18).

William Taylor served us well, and I am lucky enough to be billeted with his granddaughter, Alison. She lives in Henbury, Bristol. Which as you can see from (Pic 19) if you look to my left, the Glosters have service men and women from far and near.

From the past to the present. The West Country isn’t just famous for the Wurzels and cider, they have men and women to protect us. Picture 20 shows all of William Taylors medals,  can you imagine what he and many others went through? I’m sure many of you can. CSgt Burra salutes all our Service people, all of our heroes, I was proud to have William’s medals with me if only for a few minutes (Pic 21) Alison and her family left William’s medals to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum for us all to see, along with so many other families (Pic 22). There are so many medals from so many years of service to us and our country, again we should never forget our Heroes, we can sleep easy thanks to them!

The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, like all our military museums are great places to visit, and we should visit these places to show respect, remember sacrifices made, and to show respect and our support for our Heroes. Oh yeah and of course to climb on the tanks, play with machine guns, sit on the lions (sorry, Sphinx) (pic 23 to 25), most of all have some fun … but never never forget people like William Taylor and many many others. Pic 26

CSgt Burra has some news for all you Moto GP fans and one Top Secret file too … but to find out about that you will have to keep reading!

Anyway – My travelling box was opened and I found myself in a hallway filled with bags, it looked as though someone was going somewhere in fairly short order.

“You’re late!” I heard a booming voice say, “don’t have time to talk to you now, so you will have to come to Rome with us and we’ll talk on the way!” I found myself stuffed in a rucksack and was loaded into a car. It took me half an hour or so to work my head and arms out of the top of the bag, and I found myself at a familiar place – the BA check in desks at Gatwick airport. My temporary Bearer seems to know how to treat a bear, we were at the CLUB desks, so I knew I was in for a nice trip – hopefully I’d get a seat of my own on board……. We whizzed through the fast track check in and everyone was admiring me until I was shoved through the scanner in the rucksack…. Still that was only a minute or so, and before I knew it, me and the Bearers were ensconced in the Galleries lounge (no hanging around the shops for this Bearer) and had drinks and nibbles to help us relax ahead of our flight.

We got so relaxed that the bearers had to run for the gate, and were the last people to board the plane – still – the advantage of being a Club passenger is that they might wait for you for a wee while longer than if you were in steerage. YAY! The bearers had seats 2D and 2F so that meant a whole seat just for me. The stewardess came round and gave out drinks and I was given a bottle of champagne (yuck! First gin and tonic, now champers – weren’t they told I drink beer??) The bearers were given afternoon tea and I was hoping for some honey, but they only seemed to have jam…. Still I supposed I could last until breakfast.

Senior Bearer was sitting by the window and told us that there was SNOW on the ground as we came in to land…. And when we got out to where our driver was waiting, it was actually snowing. I thought Rome was supposed to be warm at this time of year- obviously not!

It took us an hour or so to get to our hotel (those Italians are MAD drivers!) and it was a case a quick wash and brush up before heading up to the roof top restaurant for dinner. Still no honey – but at least I was given a glass of Italian beer to drink this time while the bearers got stuck into steak and seafood, then it was back to our room for an early night as there was a big route march planned for Sunday.

Junior Bearer shared her bed with me and it was so comfortable that I slept in and missed breakfast, but junior Bearer (a good sort – an Army cadet!), was kind enough to bring me some honey for iron rations. We went downstairs to reception while senior Bearer asked for directions… from the length of time she took she was planning a route march for us so junior Bearer and I examined the ruins underneath the hotel while we waited. Anyway -  it was a glorious sunny day outside – so we started our 10k yomp from the Termini station to Vatican City via most of the sites of Rome. We managed to go past the Colosseum (where we met a fellow charity worker getting her photo taken – she was an elephant working for Make a Wish!) the Arch of Maximus and the Circus Maximus where they had held chariot races in Roman times…. Senior Bearer resisted the ruins on Palatine Hill as she wanted to get to the Vatican today!

Half way through our yomp we crossed the River Tiber and walked the rest of the way to St Peter’s along the river. We found a nice little restaurant and decided that it was lunchtime…. Bearers settled for pizza and ravioli while I had another beer and my honey. Their lunch smelt great!

Then – it was the last uphill stretch to St Peter’s Square, or Piazza San Pietro as they say in Rome! What a spectacular sight: the basilisk in the middle and the window where the Pope appears on special days, and the whole vista across the square to the Basilica. We wandered around a bit – avoiding the ice and the snowman by the basilisk and found the end of the queue to get in the Basilica. It wasn’t a long queue for us – but we knew that it could have been MUCH busier as they had dozens of scanners set up. We walked around marvelling at the amazing interior and looking at things like the last resting place of the last Pope (John Paul II) and the statue of the Pieta. Senior Bearer asked a guide how to get to the Sistine Chapel only to find it was closed for the day……. Anyway… after our 10k march we decided we had done enough walking for one day, and made a decision to go back to the hotel on the Metro and headed off to the nearest station.

This was a great discovery as we found out that it only cost 1 euro per trip or 5 euro for a 24 hour unlimited ticket and there was a station right beside our hotel. Senior Bearer and I retired to our room for a quick snifter while junior bearer went out to recce places to go for dinner. We went to a Chinese restaurant as we’d eaten Italian at lunch, and then retired to the rooftop bar for a nightcap!

Day 2 I managed to make breakfast, and had a laugh at the seagulls being the only things brave enough to use the swimming pool – well – it WAS surrounded by a couple of inches of snow! Day 2 was another attempt to see the Sistine Chapel (still closed and a mahoosive queue today!) followed by some shopping and lunch then a stop to climb the Spanish Steps before a cuppa and a cream scone at an English teashop! Back to the hotel for dinner a nightcap and bed!

Day 3 was another lovely day, but it was also time to head back to England, but before we went we made the statutory visit to the Trevi Fountain where we threw our coins in to ensure our return to Rome in the future. Junior bearer dragged her mum round the shopping streets for photos outside the designer stores before we went back to the hotel where our driver was waiting to take us back to the airport. A quick check in – then  – off to the lounge to await our flight home.

Another nice flight in my bear sized seat , and before I knew it we were back at Gatwick and I rode home in the front seat on Junior Bearer’s lap this time!

Watch this space for my trip to the “You Can Make it Show” at  Farnborough – coming soon!

To be honest, it was a very well put together evening with a boxing club from Devizes with lads of all ages, I was looking forward to a well disciplined evening, with some can rattling going down!

We arrived and set up our table and poster in the small bar! Result!!  Of course no bar in Bristol would serve anything but that Cider stuff (Pic1), but we didn’t need any Dutch courage, there was enough testosterone flying around in there without it. We then went down and meet up with our old friend Dennis, I could see young Ernie had his eye on Dennis’ rather splendid dickey bow: watch it Den he’ll have that away, I thought to meself! (Pic2).

Dennis explained what was going to happen that evening and that he would introduce me in the ring, so the punters would know all about holidays4heroes (Pic3), he would then introduce the two clubs and the boxers for that night’s bouts (Pic4). The Bristol lads were of course in red, and the opposition were in blue, it was to be a great night of entertainment. There was going to be an interval after all the fights but before the main event of the big guns coming out to fight, this is when Hols4H and yours truly would spring into action, Dennis had arranged for some ladies’ to take me and the cans around purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Burra’s a ladies’ man, oh yeah! (Pic5+6). Sorry about me Tam o’ Shanter, Sir, but I was a wee bit hot under the collar so to speak, you know what I’m saying, Boss.

So Ernie and I sat Ring Side for the bouts, and exciting stuff it was too, took me back to the stories I’d heard about Hereford! For the boxing not the ladies! When the interval arrived it was Bristol in the lead, so our man in Brizzle, Dennis was a happy chappy. Then it was time for the CSgt to rub some shoulders and shake the money tree from the good people in the house.

One of the first people I meet was a Mammoth of a man, I’m not saying he was big, but he looked bigger than Texas! A man Mountain, and guess what not only was he an Ex-boxer but he sparred with a legend, no no no not Ali, one of the ones not quite as good as him, yep Tyson!! Cool eh?  But the best part was, he knew all about Hols4H and the work of The Magnificent Seven + 1, and had met you chaps in Jersey. So not only was he famous as a boxer, a movie star (Sherlock Holmes, to name one) but he knew all about us! Wicked, as he whipped up the crowd, and put some strange looking paper stuff in me can! A big big thank you to Big Joe Egan, a true gentleman that even Tyson couldn’t put down, and a friend of Hols4H. (Pic7) Taken with a wide angle lens … he he.

So off I went with those lovely ladies (what a night for a wee bear!) going around to each table having a wee chat about Hols4H, and getting some readies out of those lovely people. I met some great folk that night, all of whom were very generous, they’re real good in the Deep South. I met two former Lord Mayors from Bristol who had turned up to support Riverside Youth Centre / Broad Plain Boxing club who share the same premises. They were even happy enough to have a picture with me and Ernie ,who was also helping out (Think we might have to enlist him soon, Sir) (Pic8), they too delved deep into their pockets, many thanks to them.

The next table found two lovely ladies from across the bridge, who had also come over to support Dennis, and sample a couple of bottles of the good stuff too, well done girls! They also were happy to hear about and help Hols4H.(pic9), sorry ladies there was no way I was going across that Severn Bridge. It seems they thought the donation got them us for a week!!!! Noooooooooooooooooo!

The temperature in there was getting higher as people waited for the main bout, you should have seen their faces when they found out it was a boxing match, and not me and Ernie in the ring wrestling with the ring girls!

But the bell rang seconds out, boom boom, thud thud, it was a great fight with both guys giving their best round after round,(Pic 10+11).These guys were heavyweights and there was no holding back from either guy, but in the end the fight was stopped due to a technicality, and Broad Plain Boxing club had lost their first fight of the night. But what a night it was! There was food and drink, good clean boxing by kids who without clubs like Broad Plain could be up to who knows what, so well done to Dennis and everyone involved in putting events like this together, and letting yours truly come along, I felt like a proper celebrity. So the last but not least picture is (pic12) Ernie, Csgt Burra and Dennis Stinchcombe MBE MA, and yes he always looks that jolly, and no Ernie never did get his hands on that bow tie!

Many thanks to Dennis and all the people at Riverside Youth Project / Broad Plain Youth Club. You all do a fantastic job, keep up the good work, never give up … He Who Dares Wins.  And I have no idea what the colour of the boat-house is, before you ask!!

[Ed: ... and our thanks to the Bearer of Ernie and CSgt Burra of their efforts on behalf of Hols4H.    And, of course, "Thank You" to those who gave the Bears a hug, and contributed to the work we do.  Without folks like you, the World would definitely be a worse place.  God Bless you all.]

After a very comfortable flight with Lufthansa down to Milan (bags off the plane and connection met in under 8 minutes, beat that BA/Heathrow!)  it was time to visit my lodgings for the week.

The sunny and slightly sleepy town of Castellanza. It is located about 30 minutes away from by Milan by train, which our local guide told us may or may not be running depending if the Italians can be bothered.  It was what my bearer would describe a picturesque Italian town, where much like the rest of Italy you weren’t sure what was open and what was closed despite what the signs on the doors said.  However they did do cracking Pizza and very cheap beer!

So after a quick train ride into the centre of Milan we were presented by the majestic Il Domo Du Milano.  Apparently it took six centuries to build and is absolutely stunning from the outside.  A scale model of it was also chucked at the former Italian prime minister a few years ago.  After the obligatory “bear in front of building” shot we headed into the shopping centre next door and did a little bit of browsing.  Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton.  All of which the Bearer wouldn’t even let me look at.  He did take me to the Ferrari shop though, and just bought himself something. The cheap swine!

The next stop was La Scala. The most famous opera house in Italy, although my bearer couldn’t really notice it.  Compared to what we had just seen it looked like a bit of a smallish job.  I met some bloke called Leonardo – apparently he invented things and stuff, but he didn’t seem to move much .

And that pretty much summed up my trip to Milan and the surrounding area, apart from the inevitable photos of street scenes and the wonderful architecture.  It was time for my bearer to bring me back to the UK, and time to get a decent cup of tea.

Until the next time, or fino alla volta successiva  as they say in Milan (according to Google Translate!).