Originally Posted by mummybear

Originally Posted by somersetlady

Im just sitting here thinking of what I can send my son in a shoe box. Any ideas? :D The things he would like are things he can not have at this stage.

lol yep I have been racking my brains on this one too :D

So far I have thought of...
1. Blister prevention kits such as blister sticks, zinc oxide tape and loads of plasters!!
2. Toiletries - I'm suspecting they will use quite a significant amount of these
3.Pack of cards - with a note attached to forbid them to be used for gambling :D (and a reminder that he did promise me his first weeks salary!!!....yeah yeah sure he will!!)
4. Some soft bean balls .... (apparantly the lads in his room decided to use an apple to throw around their room which subsequently exploded everywhere prior to an inspection) :D
5. A pack of sweets for each of the lads in his room...hopefully they will be able to eat them before they get confiscated!!
6. Photographs
7. Stamps .... as a subtle reminder that I like receiving letters also

Anyone else with any other ideas?

A collection of pens, blue,black and red, i seemed to go through hundreds,oh and envelopes already addressed to yourself :D makes it easier as a reminder to whom he has to write to (also addressed to grandparents,siblings etc)

Originally Posted by somersetlady

Thank you Dickie for that also. It makes a real difference if there is somone who can explain everything. As for the lack of trainers & the right sized boots, I just hope it doesnt keep him behind. I cant imagine what it must be like to have to find boots etc for 800 lads or lasses! Rather then than me lol.... Im just sitting here thinking of what I can send my son in a shoe box. Any ideas? :D The things he would like are things he can not have at this stage.

A vibrator or bib with mummies little soldier on this will make him and more so his mates laugh so much they will forget their worries, or a porn mag with love from mum, I promise you will both laugh about it for years.

Originally Posted by mummybear

Originally Posted by somersetlady

Im just sitting here thinking of what I can send my son in a shoe box. Any ideas? :D The things he would like are things he can not have at this stage.

lol yep I have been racking my brains on this one too :D

So far I have thought of...
1. Blister prevention kits such as blister sticks, zinc oxide tape and loads of plasters!!
2. Toiletries - I'm suspecting they will use quite a significant amount of these
3.Pack of cards - with a note attached to forbid them to be used for gambling :D (and a reminder that he did promise me his first weeks salary!!!....yeah yeah sure he will!!)
4. Some soft bean balls .... (apparantly the lads in his room decided to use an apple to throw around their room which subsequently exploded everywhere prior to an inspection) :D
5. A pack of sweets for each of the lads in his room...hopefully they will be able to eat them before they get confiscated!!
6. Photographs
7. Stamps .... as a subtle reminder that I like receiving letters also

Anyone else with any other ideas?

Good on you Mummybear

Spare bootlaces
Don't forget notepad and envelopes to go with the stamps
Has he got a small flask
Wet-wipes
Blue tac for the photos
maybe a small board game
A nice bottle of single malt for thr D/S

[quote="JP47"][quote="mummybear"]

Originally Posted by somersetlady

Im just sitting here thinking of what I can send my son in a shoe box. Any ideas? :D The things he would like are things he can not have at this stage.

lol yep I have been racking my brains on this one too :D

So far I have thought of...
1. Blister prevention kits such as blister sticks, [b][u]zinc oxide tape [/u

Hi mummy... What is Zinc oxide tape & what do you do with it??

Zinc Oxide tape is a roll of tape that can be used like a second layer of skin. They can use it on areas where either blisters have formed, or are forming, and it will help to protect the area. Apparantly its used quite extensively in the forces :D

Its not expensive and can be be bought at places like Boots or your local chemists.

:D Oh thanks for that mummy. I will get some tomorrow. I have also been looking into kit insurance, which we were told about by a soldier coming home from afgan on a train. He said it is a must & gave us the name & web address. So Im waiting until he gets paid lol & then sorting it out. Better to be safe than sorry. It also covers ipods etc & up £500 in money or on cards. Looks really good. :D

Originally Posted by cooper555

Originally Posted by OldRedCap

This is all wonderful stuff but it is, understandably, a bit gushy and OTT. Many '000s have done what these just so wonderful children have done and come out the other end quite OK. Yes - they might be tired but they had chances to get fit before they went. Yes - some get kit before others but wtf does that matter.

Maybe somewhere nice and fluffy Messrs Good and Bad. On their own somewhere so we are not troubled having to read about them processing through love socks and freckles.

*OUCH* - ORC - he certainly tried to upset us "OTT" parents, did not achieve it though! :P

I feel he was either failed by his own parents, failed as a parent himself or childless because he certainly would not come in here and post what he did if he was proud concerned parent.

Perhaps it could be a bit of jealously, envy, regret etc on his behalf or he is just damn well heartless.

Anyway, I don't care if some of my posts have sounded a bit "gushy" I could shout it from every roof top how proud I am off my son. :D

I will continue to "gush", support, encourage and most importantly LOVE my son - something ORC could do with a bit of by the sounds of it! :P

I think he's just failed - full stop

My son mentioned two days ago that a few blisters had formed on the balls of his feet and on his heel since he started wearing the boots.

I was telling my Mother-in-Law and she advised me on the following.

Buy a bottle of Surgical Spirit and send it up to him. (hopefully he can get hold of a bowl)
Mix Surgical Spirit with warm water and soak feet for as long as possible. Do this for several days on the run if possible. She guaranteed me it will harden up his feet.
Rub a bar of wet unscented soap inside the heel of the boots, leave it overnight, also to make sure boots are tightened as tight possible when wearing to stop the rubbing.

I will also be sending him up some lip balm/cream (non glossy :P ) as he said his lips were sore. I doubt if it's weather related, more like all the biting of the lips he has done over the past week.

Originally Posted by somersetlady

I have also been looking into kit insurance, which we were told about by a soldier coming home from afgan on a train. He said it is a must & gave us the name & web address. So Im waiting until he gets paid lol & then sorting it out. Better to be safe than sorry. It also covers ipods etc & up £500 in money or on cards. Looks really good. :D

Watch out for some of the 'sales' pitches you'll get from some companies during phase 1 and 2 - I'd suggest getting hold of a copy of Soldier magazine and get a few quotes from the several companies who specialise in forces insurance before signing up

Or have a dig through the finance forum on ARRSE, theres loads of info there.