Balls and kilts

Summer balls that is.
I'd invited a couple of friends up to come to the camp summer ball the other weekend, and I think they enjoyed it.
The dogs are (left to right) Rosie, Rossie and Puddles (nee Rolly).
There were people in frocks, uniforms, kilts and dinner jackets, the shortest skirts were being worn by the men.

As with most balls at the mess there was also a selection of entertainments...Tom, a pilot, on a monkey bike.

Tasha and myself on the bikes.
Dodgems, with the station commander homes in on Tasha.Bungee running, BIG powerful elastic bands round your waist and try to reach the end before being pulled back onto you arse. Great fun.Mechanical bull with Tasha about to fall off, and...

Chris looking the part - McBrokeback Mountain anyone?

And the best, pudgel stick fighting!!! Chris and myself about to spar. Contender ready!

Longest day

After hearing about Stonehenge on the radio I realised that I have kept the vigil for the sunrise on the solstice. Not by choice so much as it's my job.
Mind you, the sun only really dips below the horizon this far north, it doesn't really get dark until late August. Not the full insomnia 24 hour daylight but certainly not proper night.
There's quite a few bits of this job that seem to hark back to more interesting times. There's a gate guardian (a mostly decommissioned aircraft – in this case a GR4 bomber) near the front gate that either says "THIS IS WHAT WE DO!!!!!" or that sits there, holding back the evil spirits (and reporters).
Reminds me of the Snow Ball at uni one year. Happened to be on the winter solstice and it was a beach party so people were dressed in their summer clothes and were stomping around to heavy drums with small flame throwers going off in the background. Drums, fire and summer clothes to bring back the sun. Nice.
Tomorrow we dress up in our finery (kiltage!) and dance (drink and eat) until the sun comes up, possibly making merry and "cavorting like the Greeks of old - you know the ones I mean!"
I'll try to get some photos for you all, but not sure about the bungee running and laser tag. It's the Mess ball, in case you were wondering.