The normal Dining-In Night rounded off the day. Ian Craig arrived with the main course but felt constrained to leave early to return a moment later ostentatiously clutching a packet of cigarettes. After several speeches of varying length and quality we repaired to the ante room where Dez did his fire-eating trick for us nearly frying the Station Commander who was playing the Bass for Nobby and his Noisemakers at the time (he also had blisters next morning).

On Saturday morning we had Aircraft Recce by Drac followed by a talk from the Customs Officer. Graham rather spoilt the effect gained by our ring of fresh open faces by assuring him that we looked on smuggling as a healthy game and a challenge.

John Barwell went to see the Doc about his aforementioned toe and came back pale and was muttering about amputation and anaesthetics. He went off to hospital after collecting his baggage in a cardboard box from the bar.

On Saturday night the social set went to Episkopi in a hired car, an alleged Morris. They were well organised by 'Dysentery' McCallum who has done a lot of useful spade work up there. There was a small gathering in the bar after which Ray Offord proved you can swing from a fan.

Sunday was a quiet day of swimming and/or recuperating. Ian and Moose were conspicuous by their absence this weekend. They were up at Kyrenia where they taught the inmates of the Harbour Club to play 'Peanuts' and also met the local constabulary, but that is a long story.

Monday 12th May - Sunday 18th May

The week started off on Monday with very few aircraft available to fly and an air-firing programme had to be abandoned, this was perhaps a good thing as the towing flight at Nicosia were unable to provide any banners. The main reason for our miserable condition was the spate of cracked ailerons, mainplanes and windscreens., the cracks in the ailerons were considered to be the result of the air-to-ground. The windscreen problem developed quickly when Don Brimms flying one of the few serviceable aircraft had one shatter; a restriction of 25,000 ft was imposed as the Boss thought the temperature changes may be the cause, however opinion was somewhat divided on that matter. The beach in the afternoon gave everyone the opportunity to Get Away From It All.

A similar sorry state of unserviceability prevailed on Tuesday. But it was obvious all that was going to be altered when the Hunter Representative, a sort of brass-bound travelling salesman, arrived carrying a large case. The only break to the day was provided by the Ground Training programme ……

Ch 2 - Nicosia/Akrotiri 16

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