How to get to phase 2 with all of the kit????

mrsdarbs

I don't understand why you can't just drive him down - seems by far the easiest option!? Leave your hubby at home if he doesn't want to go - I would if it was my son! lol

I also wouldn't trust DHL with hubby's kit as someone said before they will probably lose it etc!

If you really can't drive him down - then he will have to 'man up' and cope - I know my hubby's had to do plenty of journeys with kit through plenty of stations etc - just something they have to get used to unfortunately.

Hope you find a simple solution.

alibongo42

PasturesNew wrote: »

Do most people we send off to war carry an iron and get a lift with their mum everywhere?

No, a lot of them eventually get wives, so the mums are relieved of their duties

ICATQ

I had to travel across country getting three trains and then a bus to get from one Unit to another with all my kit as they thought it was easier to give us a warrant than put on MT. Its not that difficult. If he cant cope with that then...

mhoc

Just catching up with this thread.

OH got a sat nav with my nectar points :cool: and got over his morbid fear of driving south of Birmingham. We drove down the night before sons passing out and stayed at a travel lodge, strange motorways were fine but we were more than greatful for the sat nav guiding us around Surrey.

After we brought son home - kit was bulging with his kit - doubt wether he would have managed it on the train. He was home for 4 weeks before setting off on phase 2.

He had to be at the base for phase 2 on a Sunday afternoon but there was only one train that would get him there too late. So we got a very good late deal for hotel rooms overnight in Southampton, had a "family bonding" weekend and took him to his base early on Sunday morning. Did the right thing because of all of the kit he had and also we got him there very early and we were allowed to drive onto base to his accomadation block to unload the car. As we left everyone else seemed to be doing the same, parents bringing sons and car loads of kit

So 2 days later, after we'd thought we'd got rid of him for 24 weeks we got a phone call that he was getting leave for Easter :eek: So I worked out via trainline.com the return price and times of trains and routes for coming home last Friday (as he has a young persons rail pass) He ignored this and instead used a different rail company to book his ticket, going via Waterloo and across London to Euston and costing an extra £30 :mad:

He goes back down in May, not so much luggage this time but again on a Sunday and the train times are even worse - 4 changes, bus in the middle and taxis either end. But we are not around that Sunday so he is going to have to do it himself - the other alternative involves 7 changes of train plus taxis at either end.

But its probally a very good things that we are not around that weekend, apart from the mixed emotions of sadness that he is going again and relief becuse he is driving us bonkers, never had him at home for this ammount of leave before since high school.

But OH loves the sat nav and tries to find any excuse now to go places and use it so we might have ended up driving son back down again, not good for instilling independence in them

ldonald101

I can't believe this is an issue. Comming from a Phase 1 unit this attitude epitomises what is wrong with the current breed of recruit, probably a secondary of the parents.
My advice is: strap a pair on princess and get yourself to Phase 2, the fact that you (your parent) is whinging about it certainly does not bode well for your future (I predict) short career if you adopt the same attitude.

mhoc

Most of the problems are to do with the inadequate and unintergrated transport systems we have in this country in particular travelling on Sundays.

However much balls you do or do not have if trains/buses are not operating for the service you want on a Sunday you cant force an operating company to run trains specifically for you.

He also rang the guardhouse for phase 2 on several occassions asking if it was possible to arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday and the answer was no. Arriving on Saturday would have solved most of the problems.

ldonald101

mhoc wrote: »

Most of the problems are to do with the inadequate and unintergrated transport systems we have in this country in particular travelling on Sundays.

However much balls you do or do not have if trains/buses are not operating for the service you want on a Sunday you cant force an operating company to run trains specifically for you.

He also rang the guardhouse for phase 2 on several occassions asking if it was possible to arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday and the answer was no. Arriving on Saturday would have solved most of the problems.

Understood however, adapt and overcome, something he will need to learn. There are certain special military courses that will not even give you directions on how to get there or what to bring. The rationale of this is, if you don't know then the course is not for you in the 1st place. Ok he will be slightly inconvenienced, he'd better get used to that should he decide to make a career out of this. Another tip, If he turns up on the Saturday they are obliged to accomodate him, they can't turn him away. This is what transit accom is for.

Alias_Omega

mhoc wrote: »

He also rang the guardhouse for phase 2 on several occassions asking if it was possible to arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday and the answer was no. Arriving on Saturday would have solved most of the problems.

Pre-arranged it would not have been a problem. The accomodation office works mon-fri on most bases, which mean that the keys for he accomodation are held in the main guard room from friday midday for collection.

He could of arrived at the guard room, and taken on transit accomodation. If no accomodation was available, i would of proceeded to get them to sign me a JPA F95 allowing myself to book a hotel through CHBS (or whatever they are called these days). Permitting me travel too and from the accomodation/hotel via a local taxi firm. Keeping all receipts using them for any further references during the JPA claim.

With no doubt upon mentioning of this, the keys would of been issued within a flash. I suspect there was an ex-serving member off staff at the main gate issuing keys and passes with the idea of "its always been done like this"..

davilown

mhoc wrote: »

Son is on leave and getting ready for phase 2 in April.

To me the simpliest way of doing it is for us (parents) to drive him down to Phase 2 and for us to then to stay over in Southampton on Sunday night and then come home. To me this is simple enough, we have Sat nav and we have done most of the trip before so the road is not unfamiliar.

MY OH does not see it this way.

If son was to go on the train there is only one train on a a Sunday Morning and this gets into Cosham about 13.45 - he has to be at Southwick Park at 14.00 so he would need to let them know he was going to be late. The joining instructions say is £10 in the taxi so I think it must be quite a way from Cosham station to Southwick Park.

Southwick is about 3.5 miles away.

On the train he will have with him two huge army body bags with all of his kit, a huge suit carrier (or 2) his ruck sack, boots and shoes, iron and goodness knows how much other stuff. His kit filled the car when we collected him from phase 1. So when he gets into Southampton central on Sunday morning he will need to get all of this stuff off the train and across to the other platfrom and again off the train at Cosham.

Or I suppose its possible to actually come down the day before, the Saturday when there will be less time pressure (but still only one direct train from here to Southampton, otherwise you end up with 2 changes, changing at Wolverhampton as well)

My OH has suggested though to try sending the big body bags down via DHL. Son has made a few enquires about this and some one has said they would need to go to the nearest army carears office to be checked over before DHL collected them. I cant figure out the DHL website, seems to need the exact dimensions of the bags, weights etc - looks very complicated and expensive.

Any suggestions?

Drive him - a lot easier for everyone in the long run, except your OH. Some nice B&Bs around the area Wickham is a nice place to stay for the two of you.

Southwick is about 3.5 miles away, taxis are just charging a lot because it's to a military base/camp.

Mind you, assuming he's going to be an MP, I'd let him walk

davilown

samm1551 wrote: »

Is there a National Express Coach he could go on? I come from Southampton way, and know there is a depot not too far from Cosham. Failing that as his Mum I would drive him, but I'm a soft touch and would want to see him off.

No, would be a lot longer and difficult.