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I'm Coming Home!

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It's finally time for my last update from Phoenix!  Here's this week's song of the week ; it's about troops coming home, but seeing as this is one of the longest detachments I have ever done, I think that I can justify using it for my blog! We started off the week with a proper southern-style barbecue at the insistence of our Marine Corps instructors.  Rudy's BBQ Restaurant is Phoenix's number one restaurant (source: TripAdvisor) and it was very nice!  All of the barbecue meat is sold by the half-pound and is served in a basket.  I had mine with a side order of sausage: Pork and pickles in a basket The simulator training went well this week and we ended up reducing the number of training sorties required which enabled us to start working more sociable hours on Wednesday and Thursday.  Previously, we had been starting each morning at 0630 and completing two 4-hour simulator sessions each day.  It was actually quite draining, so we were glad th...
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10 Days and Counting...

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Here is this week's song of the week .  There's a hidden message in there somewhere ;) Monday.  Nothing happened whatsoever.  Well, I went to work and that was about it.  Maps and I met our instructors from  Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort  who will be teaching us the differences between the F-35A and the F-35B.  The F-35A is the Air Force variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and this is the variant which we have been training on since last October.  The F-35B is the Marine Corps variant; the main difference between the two is that the F-35B is the short take-off / vertical landing variant and has a lift system which enables it to hover so it can be deployed aboard an aircraft carrier which does not have a catapult launch system.  After changing the order twice, the UK is currently planning on buying an entire fleet of B models, but the Government refuses to rule out changing the order a third time and buying some A models too.  Ther...
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Light At The End Of The Tunnel

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This week's song of the week has been running through my head again and again since I first heard it playing, so here it is for everyone else to enjoy too! Monday started with another fond farewell at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as Mum and Dad boarded their flight back to Las Vegas before heading home later in the day. And they're off :( I'm always nervous whenever it comes to catching flights as I worry that some new ridiculous rule will be revealed once you've checked and and you're trapped at the airport.  Luckily, everything went according to plan and Mum and Dad safely arrived in Vegas in time to spend the day shopping, eating and still had enough time to learn once again why gambling doesn't pay!  By Monday evening, the internet showed that their flight back to the UK had taken off on time and was crossing the Great Lakes as I curled up in bed for the night. KLAS - EGLL This map shows the great circle route to be flown by the aircraft.  ...
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River Deep - Mountain High

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YESSSSSS!   This week is all about deep rivers and high mountains.  Monday started in The Berkley Hotel in Las Vegas.  I had the day off to celebrate President's Day.  Thanks, Trump. Here's a tour of my crib: Welcome to my bathroom Living area Kitchen / diner / fire escape Massive (lonely) bed Makeup application facility room Bath / shower / art gallery All in all, it was very nice.  But they had a rule book that would make Heinrich Himmler proud.  Firstly, no guns allowed: Wot no guns? Secondly, you aren't even allowed to smoke marijuana on the premises: Bob Marley not welcome After checking out of the hotel, we drove from Las Vegas back to Goodyear via the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and  Kingman  on Route 66. Dad (in Nevada) and me (in Arizona) One small step for man, one entire revolution for the minute hand Family portrait in front of the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial...
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