So – had my first birthday present/treat last weekend, courtesy of Janine and Ross – a 1/2 day multi-tank driving experience – marvellous!
Tootled off with camera-wielding J down to Winchester area and got behind the controls (no steering wheels, all manoeuvred by metal 'sticks') of a couple of different tanks. I rather liked the Chieftain – which you drove in one straight line with your foot slammed to the floor, trying to get up through the 6 gears before coming to a shuddering stop in a long-suffering, somewhat diesel-y corn field 200 metres away. Quite an impressive gun on it – just a shame you couldn't pay extra to whang off a shot or two..
The other two machines went round a circuit including a mighty fine deep puddle, perfect for hauling yourself out of one two sets of giant tracks. The other tank was an Abbott and the final big piece of machinery was an armoured personnel vehicle – which, quite frankly, looked just like another bloody tank to me, but hey ho.
Also had a nip round on a quad bike circuit in between sessions and finally got into the hopper on the top of a tank while someone else was driving – you get a better view but it's more fun being in the driving seat with just your eyeline above the entry area.
After a spot of shopping and lunch in Winchester we then nipped off to the Pig at Brockenhurst for some spankingly good cocktails and a really, really good dinner. When at the Pig, you just have to order… well, pig. They do it SO well. Check out the 'Incredible Bath Chap' that J ordered – we thought it might have been a typo for 'chop' – but no, it turned out to be half an actual pig's head – complete with a pearly white row of its own little porcine choppers!
That might sound foul but it was 3/4 crackling - the biggest slab of pure porky joy I have ever seen, I reckon. And funnily enough, neither of us had room for pud or cheeseboard after scoffing that lot…
A corking day all round – tanktastic piggery indeed – I do like birthday week/month! S x