Yeah a group came back early (2 of those guys delivered wood to me today). I will have to talk to the Captain tomorrow he is in contact with the 40 Sq so he can let people like me know. The fact that I haven't heard from Nigel is a good sign and that another guy hasn't been on FB for a couple of days might mean they have left.

Fluer by any chance does he know if the plane as left Darwin to go to Brunei to pick them up??

Only reason I have a programme as because it is OSC and they have the yearly programme break down of what they are doing and then each term they have a term one that has daily info.

I think the best thing I have done is not tell Andrew when daddy is coming home. He knows daddy is home soon, just not when.

I am not the only one that is annoyed, the staff are really annoyed as they now have to try and find the 4 days they have lost as they need to do that work for commissioning.

Becks, I completely hear you -- both of my brothers are in the military as well, so I know what it's like to be counting on them being around at certain times! Last November 07 we booked our family trip to the US for June 08, and in May 08 we found out my youngest brother was being deployed to the Middle East. He left just a week before we arrived. Gutting.

Even worse is that the US military isn't allowed to tell you when their troops are going over or coming back -- you don't find out until afterward. So it's all a bit of a mystery about when my youngest brother will return from the desert!

Big hugs, and yes, being a military family has its definite down sides.

I know I can't wait to go, it is sunny here today, but OMG the wind of the mountain is so so so cold.

Andrew is really missing him, and his behaviour is starting to show now.

How blimmen annoying Becks! Must be frustrating for you to have the plans change like that at the drop of a hat.  Hope you get to see him before your trip away!

Right were do I begin.

Nigel left NZ on the 8th of September for Jungle training in Brunei. 3 weeks over there of fun for them (and it was). Last week I was reading the term plan and it said they were back Thursday. So last Tuesday i ring OCS (that is what he comes under), and the woman there said oh no they are back Sunday. Sweet I could handle that just a couple extra days no biggie. Wednesday night I was on FB and one of the guys is with was on and we eere IMing each other about what was going on. Nigel rang me that night and said yeah Sunday - something happened to the plane.

Friday Nigel calls me and says it looks like Monday now, ok only one more day thats fine.

Saturday I get a call from on of the Captain's at OCS to tell me they aren't back till Wednesday , then I wasn't happy.

Nigel rang yesterday to say what the Captain had said. They are all totally bored $hitless over there as they can't do anything.

Today I was at the gym and doing my workout and the gym office lady came over to me when I was running and said to come and see her when I had finished up. I went down and saw her after I had finished and told me to look at the note on the whiteboard "OCS not back till Thursday Evening - cancel all PT". I am fuming I asked when did she find out and she had only just found out thats why she told me to come and see her.

So I drive over to OCS and talk to the Captain I had been speaking to and he told me best case they are back Thursday night were in Waiouru (that is if the plane can get to them), and that they won't have this weekend off now . I am not happy this weekend was his time with the boys as it is Fathers Day on Sunday.

Now I know the plans of the Army can just change at the drop of the hat (I knew this and understand this), but this time it isn't their fault it is the Airforce fault. It is their $hitty plane that hasn't been upgraded in 40 odd years that has held everything up.

So it seems like we aren't going to actually see Nigel for well over 6 weeks now (the 4 he has already been gone for and the 3 we are away for).

One good thing out of the visit was that I got to see the RSM I met down in Palmy who didn't believe I lived in Waiouru , and he is organising some guys to bring me some (a heap - a unimog worth of) fire wood as I am very close to running out.

So hopefully 1 week late we might actually get to see Nigel - maybe fingers crossed.