Cyprus Postings

[PraiseBacon]

Glad I left way back in 91 when the RAF ran Cyprus, the Cyprus Pound was king, the Keo, Spech and Carlsberg were next to nowt. The Kebabs and Mezzes were around £3:00 a shot and the Kokkers was free and under the bar with the Zouvernier served from anything they could put it in. Shopping was easy, take it or leave it and you could buy any car as long as it was Japanese. Happy days and Yamas

^^^^^^ Spot on ^^^^^^^


Cyprus, ’88 – ’91 – what a time to be there!

Living on a pongo base, (Epi), but they mostly left us to do our own thing – the crabs had our own block and bar + weren’t asked to do any of the garrison duties (the pongo’s thought we would mess anything soldierly up anyway – so just ignored us mostly!)

Had to play the game a bit as it was a garrison, eg when you went to see the GSM it was more formal than dropping by the SWO’s office)– but provided you didn’t do anything to **** them off too much they wouldn’t mither you in return.

Own block, own bar no communal duties, limited bull**** if you adapted a little and played the game a little bit – and return we got decent weather, reasonable LOA, more tourists than you could shake a ****ty stick at who were looking for a loving sincere (overnight) relationship with no expectation of ever seeing you again after the week, fantastic kebabs and meze’s (Mahmood’ was one of my favorites’, although the Famagusta Tavern was a real regular haunt), cheap booze (I drank enough ‘spesh’ to float a battleship in the 3 years there!), splendidly dodgy nightclubs in the Limassol tourist strip.

Beaches with end to end topless women (as an aside, a young romper’ette tried to warn me about speeding on the garrison once – it was really hard to take her seriously as all I could think about was how she looked a few hours earlier on the beach – what a fine pair she had !)

I even took in some culture at the evening music events in the Curium amphitheatre

Trips over to Egypt to see the pyramids, and not seeing my cabin on the way back as the bar didn’t close!

Most bananas memory – having to hide naked in a wardrobe in the Aki wraf block when the (wraf) swo suddenly appeared and had a question for the girl who’s room I was in at the time..

For a single guy just turned 20 – it was the best posting ever!....... Can’t believe people don’t want to be there anymore

 

[sausage2]

i wont lie the loa is good dont no y people r moanin bout it and ay nik is wot u make it but is a massive fish bowl but part of the life so u get ust to it we wanna leave due family reasons but cant get compassionate move due to it being a grandparent not parent

What the fcuk does this mean. Write properly cos this is making my eyes bleed. I'll be deleting anymore sh1te like this.

Hope this helps

 

[busby1971]

^^^^^^ Spot on ^^^^^^^


Cyprus, ’88 – ’91 – what a time to be there!

Living on a pongo base, (Epi), but they mostly left us to do our own thing – the crabs had our own block and bar + weren’t asked to do any of the garrison duties (the pongo’s thought we would mess anything soldierly up anyway – so just ignored us mostly!)

Had to play the game a bit as it was a garrison, eg when you went to see the GSM it was more formal than dropping by the SWO’s office)– but provided you didn’t do anything to **** them off too much they wouldn’t mither you in return.

Own block, own bar no communal duties, limited bull**** if you adapted a little and played the game a little bit – and return we got decent weather, reasonable LOA, more tourists than you could shake a ****ty stick at who were looking for a loving sincere (overnight) relationship with no expectation of ever seeing you again after the week, fantastic kebabs and meze’s (Mahmood’ was one of my favorites’, although the Famagusta Tavern was a real regular haunt), cheap booze (I drank enough ‘spesh’ to float a battleship in the 3 years there!), splendidly dodgy nightclubs in the Limassol tourist strip.

Beaches with end to end topless women (as an aside, a young romper’ette tried to warn me about speeding on the garrison once – it was really hard to take her seriously as all I could think about was how she looked a few hours earlier on the beach – what a fine pair she had !)

I even took in some culture at the evening music events in the Curium amphitheatre

Trips over to Egypt to see the pyramids, and not seeing my cabin on the way back as the bar didn’t close!

Most bananas memory – having to hide naked in a wardrobe in the Aki wraf block when the (wraf) swo suddenly appeared and had a question for the girl who’s room I was in at the time..

For a single guy just turned 20 – it was the best posting ever!....... Can’t believe people don’t want to be there anymore

Pom I did 91 to 94 @ Epi and loved it, apart from the quiet winters and big overdraft, no complaints at all.

Then I went back in 00 to 03 what a change, it appears that just getting the job done and living a life isn't on when the Army runs things, you have to add being dicked around left right and centre, still loved it though as I ignored the BS and got on with it.

Block living back in the 90s, the rooms were complete ****e and we only had TV for a few hours a day, but to be honest I probably only spent sleep time in the room, mostly drunk, and else where at all other times, but life styles are different these days.

Never worked at Ay Nik but was ruled by them and it was a big kick in the fun kisser, but that's the Army for you.

 

[PraiseBacon]

Pom I did 91 to 94 @ Epi and loved it, apart from the quiet winters and big overdraft, no complaints at all.

Then I went back in 00 to 03 what a change, it appears that just getting the job done and living a life isn't on when the Army runs things, you have to add being dicked around left right and centre, still loved it though as I ignored the BS and got on with it.

Block living back in the 90s, the rooms were complete ****e and we only had TV for a few hours a day, but to be honest I probably only spent sleep time in the room, mostly drunk, and else where at all other times, but life styles are different these days.

Never worked at Ay Nik but was ruled by them and it was a big kick in the fun kisser, but that's the Army for you.

Not entirely sure I’m with you on this one Busby..

Yes, Epi / Cyprus in the late 80’s / early 90’s was fantastic - even with having to live surrounded by the BS from coming out of the other blue unit on the camp- 12SU ;-)

I guess what I don’t get is what you mean by being dicked round by the army during the second tour – had they introduced inspections? (wait one, scratch that as 12SU did those on the block and one Sgt discip went all anal about them for a while during my time). Was it having to do station duties like guard, or did they bring in morning parades?. But as you point out – the army sponsored BS could be ignored and you still ‘loved it’ – suggesting to me that it was still a good posting.

Yes, the ‘club crab’ block was basic – and assuming people are still in the same block – quite probably still is. Also get that lifestyles change and the youth of today are far more inclined to spend more time in their pits playing wii and browsing the internet rather than getting out and doing something – although those are also the same people who seem to moan about UK camps as well.

What I’m getting at is, yes – Cyprus is not suitable for everyone, it never was – I recall some people getting there and finding the didn’t like heat! – even back in the 80’s and 90’s there were some that short toured. But for me, just because someone isn’t going to make the most of the opportunity, and embrace teh differences, doesn’t make it a bad posting. (if someone wants to stay in their room all the time – stitch with UK postings and leave the fun ones to people who want a life!)

Finally, as I’m in a slightly conciliatory mood – yes, I will accept and agree that Cyprus may no longer be the great posting it was for married people. Lifestyles these days involve far more working spouses and in many case the Forces half of the marriage is not the biggest earner anymore. Although, as I understand it, that is an issue Forces wide, especially when it comes to postings – not a Cyprus specific issue.

To my mind – with the right mindset going in (it is another country and culture, embrace it and don’t expect it to be just like UK) Cyprus is still be one the best postings possible.. (I’d take Akrotori over Saxa Vord every time)

 

[norfolkred1]

'To my mind – I’d take Akrotori over Saxa Vord every time.


You would have to, Saxa shut down years ago

 

[PraiseBacon]

'To my mind – I’d take Akrotori over Saxa Vord every time.


You would have to, Saxa shut down years ago

Bah! Thought it was still a RRH .....

I'd take Cyprus over Lossie then (or any of the remaining far north and cold bases, assuming there are still some!)

Or indeed, over any bases in East Anglia - I'll take sun and kebabs over living surrounded bu six toed inbreds any day... ;-)

 

[norfolkred1]

Bah! Thought it was still a RRH .....

I'd take Cyprus over Lossie then (or any of the remaining far north and cold bases, assuming there are still some!)

Or indeed, over any bases in East Anglia - I'll take sun and kebabs over living surrounded bu six toed inbreds any day... ;-)

Norwich is twinned with Norwich because the locals like it that way and no I'm not local. RAF Norfolk is nearly closed.

 

[PraiseBacon]

Norwich is twinned with Norwich because the locals like it that way and no I'm not local. RAF Norfolk is nearly closed.

Resisting the temptation to dig up all the old swampy jokes! Although, in fairness, did have some great times on dets to RAF Norfolk - it is a shame to see another area with a strong RAF history go to the grunts or left to rot after being shut down though...

Back on topic though - with so little overseas left , I still believe Cyprus is a prime posting (does CBFC, or whatever the equiviant is in new money) still rotate pongo / crab? And when does it go back to blue leadership?

 

[norfolkred1]

Having been out since 2008 and spending the last 9 years in Norfolk I missed most of the Jointry shoite on my Unit only coming across in Cyprus on Op Abroad at Olympus. However, saying that I have relatives in Blue ran by the Brown in the jointry form with very little time for the petty regime of extras and shoite duties. Having done a tour at Ay Nik (87-91) returning over the years as a RAF visitor then as a civvy I have seen the place go down hill rapidly with no soul or morale. Never heard of a Blue running a Jointry Unit never mind a Sea Blue one. I see no way back now the Brown Jobs have got their claws into it. Plenty of RAF Camps has its pet Pongo on Unit.