NAMES NOT NUMBERS!!! Goodbye friend

Today was a day of remembrance for my fallen friends parents as on this day a year ago my friend Martin Kinggett's parents received the Elizebeth cross  a commemorative emblem given to the recognised next of kin members of the British armed forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.

Martin and i met back in 2007 on base at Catterick, although we only speant a short while training togeather he was one of my closest friends, never a dull moment and you always had the gaurentee knowing he had  your 6 no matter what, even when your on night watch if you were lucky enough to be posted with him you'l find yourself struggling to stay quiet deu to his jokes and sense of humor.both of us were still ajusting to the fact we were no longer known by our regualar names but by our service numbers a number which is drilled into you so much its impossiable to forget, even when at a bar when a friend asks for your number its hard remembering that they mean your phone not the other! We speant ages in the barracks talking about what life was going to be like once we got out and whilst we were in, the places we would get to go and see the people we might meet and where we might end up one day. I'll tell you now neither of us thought we would be K.I.A and even when we did speak of such a incident we said bet we would be saving somebody or the world.    We joind for our friends, family and us.

"Brave as a lion and selfless until the end" The second of three British servicemen killed in Afghanistan in as many days has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Rifleman Martin Kinggett from A Company 4 Rifles. The 19-year-old was shot dead on patrol thursday 25th February 2010 in Sangin, Helmand Province, while providing covering fire so an injured colleague could be evacuated. His family described the teenager, from Dagenham, in Essex, as "a loving son, brother, grandson, uncle and boyfriend". Their tribute continued: "He will be missed by many, many people who know him and loved him. He gave his life doing what he loved, he always wanted to be a soldier. He will always be our hero." Rfn Kinggett first joined the army in 2007 before leaving and re-enlisting in 2009 His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Jones said he had found "his calling" in Afghanistan He said: "His strength of character and values proved a rock to those around him. His brother Riflemen drew strength and comfort from his confidence. He was fearless as the lead man in his section, clearing the ground for those that followed. Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth MP said: "Rifleman Kinggett's dedication and loyalty is proven by the fact that he died while providing covering fire to allow an injured comrade to be taken to safety. My deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this time."     My friend gave his life  for anouther, when i think about what i have given up for a friend all that comes to mind was when i lost the hilux trying to recover D'arcys car, i know its not close at all in comparision but having lived with trained with and known such a great person and to hear that he gave it all for the person standing next to him is just wow! its a feeling i feel can only be shared amoung ex and current service man. When we first started training belive me nobody was friends at all, everybody wants to try and stand out. be better then the rest, eventualy after you captin  and sgt have gotten rid of the straglers your left with this tight nit group a brotherhood of friends closer then any other people i gaurentee youll ever meet and ready to dive infront for a friend with a smile on their face. its the feeling of such proudness he paid the ultimate price for a friend.     When i got my discharge and i was standing at the old gates leading off base back into civi street my sergeant said to me "Jacques you lucky bastard, dont be sad to be going, you see many of these lads might not be comming back and the ones that do won't be the same, you have a opotunity now to live your life anyway you want without being told run duck dive fire, yes sir no sir and all that shit, just get out their and live your life the way you want and not the way these men will be orderd, you have the oppotunity now go do somthing with it"   Martin you were a great friend, soldier, you gave it all , i miss you man

"I don't know by me writing this will my views on us and back then  change, maybe i should be even more greatfull for the discharge or maybe i should of found anouther way to make it back to you guys...."

I once read a quote somewhere that i could imagine sergeant saying to me at the gates in his thick scottish accent "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"

RIP friend RIP

30024053 KINGGETT

TJ 30023956

Rad day for a Roady

Who lives sees much Who travels sees more

The day after Cal's 22nd was off to a intresting hazey start, you know that weird jelly leg feeling you get when you wake up still a bit wasted from the night before..... yeah haha. Anyway the text came through from Loz and her cousin about going for a drive down the coast from Torquay to Lorne, looking around my room now i probably should of stayed behind and cleaned my room up but the oppotunity for a trip ha ! like im going to turn that down.

so we set off me, Cal , loz and Michelle set off up the coast, we got off the highway and turnd down a dusty dirt road to check a beach just out of town, the sea was a prity rad blue not  quite as blue as lake Tekapo but still close. Cal found a intresting pice of kelp and as the photo below will show holding a pice of kelp like a dick is funny in any language haha.

We left our sunny cove and headed back up the highway to Lorne, lunch was EPIC if you ever find yourself in Lorne check out Cafe Chaos!!!  Lorne is a prity chill town kind of like a tiny Omaha right on the beach, sooo nice, we checked out the beach and the playground with a spot of planking here and there.

After the fun and games of Lorne we left to check out a bit more of the coast before heading home via Bells beach, was awsome to see some roo's just chilling off the side of the road.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference

Planking,birthdays,movie pre screenings...... epic day

Since comming to this epic little town of Torquay i have found myself quite a unique rad crew to hang with, this morning started like any other thursday or weekend morning.  Waking up to find a friend standing in my doorway yelling TJ keen for some bacon and eggs !!! F___king stoked!!! Tim decided that we would drive to his place hang out with Wilson the boxer and have a quick feed before heading into town.

Todays tasks consisted of

1. CAL'S 22ND BIRTHDAY ... basicly one of the most epic character i have ever come across on my travels.
2. PLANKING, basicly some poor guy fell off a 4story building whilst trying to lie perfectly still on a balcony rail and take a photo of it. This tragic stunt has launched the media into hyping this new fun activity of planking so today we decided to give it ago around Torquay and see how far we get.
3. DC/Quiksilver HANGOVER TWO PRESCREENING .... EPIC!!!

sooo before we knew it we were back in Torquay waiting for Cal to come so we could kick start his birthday with a good ol planking session around town haha

 

 I was lucky enough to go with DC and Quiksilver to a pre-screening of the film THE HANGOVER 2!!!!!!!!! it was epic  the film won't drop in movie theaters for anouther week or so, we were some of the lucky few in the world to get to see this epic movie! i won't give anything away other then the fact that you will be shocked it goes wayyyyyyyy further then what the first HANGOVER film ever did !! pushing the boundries yet again as to what can come from a very very f--ked up night out on the town.

It was great to see Calpal enjoying his birthday with his friends, i think  one of the down sides to traveling is that now and then you sort of pause for a moment and wonder what spending your birthday or some kind of special event or moment with your family would be like insted of with these friends and people you meet along the way, not thats its a bad thing but sometimes just a little slice of home goes along way, but then again the days speant talking of future and past travels with friends offten lead to sharing stories and forming future plans of adventure and mischife. I have only missed a few birthdays and christmas's without friends and family near and the last one sucked hard!!  but Cal semed to have had a blast and at the end of the day if its your birthday what more could you ask for then just having a good time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIEND

"happiness  can only truly be experienced  when shared with others" 

Like most travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.

winter begins

Winter is just around the corner, i'm stoked to be heading back home to NZ for anouther epic season!! might not be back in Wanaka but i can't wait to see what  Queenstown and winter has instore for me this season. Hopefuly no broken backs or gnarly car crashes a repeat from last year would deffiently be a huge down buzz. Also excited to go house hunting and finaly sort out a new home base maybe even for a few years to come! but knowing how quickly my plans change it does make me wonder how long my new home will be home....

"not all who wonder are lost"