I had a strange telephone call

[askyourgran]

from British Gas, asking if we were satisfied with the service from the Gas employee who came to service our gas fire. I knew why they were ringing, but I couldn't bring myself to give the poor lad away.

The man had just left the army, and was obviously still uncomfortable with civvy life. After he had sorted out the gas fire he hunkered down and told us practically his life story, how he had left the army and his wife had left him for someone else. I felt sorry for him but I couldn't really give him any advice. It was obvious that he needed the job. So I told the Gas Board that he was OK. Someone must have complained about him.

What gets me is that this young man must be like hundreds of ex forces personnell, who have to try to fit into 'normal' life again . It seems unfair that they are not given some kind of assistance to get back into civvy life.

[askyourgran]

I never thought it would be so difficult angel, you only really think about the ones who come home that are reported badly injured.

[bobjugs12]

This is my area of expertise at the moment lol.

[askyourgran]

How did you manage bobjugs? this man was desparate to please but obviously not comfortable with what he was doing, although he did a good job. He wanted to talk to someone.

[bobjugs12]

I'm not out yet. I will be heading onto civvy strausse in four months

[bobjugs12]

Yeah, i start my training as an Ambulance Technician next month :)

[askyourgran]

Hope it works out for you Bobj.

[Dris]

Hope all goes well for you Bob :)

Just reading that made me feel really sad as its true what another poster said -we often forget how difficult it must be for someone to re-adjust to civilian life after the atrocities some have probably witnessed and the constant stress of living in fear of your life if you are in a conflict :(

[askyourgran]

I never realised how much it affects their whole life, and how difficult it is for them when they come back to their families agan. We can't imagine what they have been through.

[bobjugs12]

Angel, i'll be near enough on the kids doorstep, so (shifts and ex-wife allowing) i'll be able to see them a hell of a lot more.
Gran, cheers. But I did tell you all of this after my 'initiation'. To be fair, you were asleep so maybe you didn't hear me ;-)
Dris, again thank you.

[askyourgran]

We must have had a bl$$dy good time if I'd fallen asleep bobj.

[bobjugs12]

Don't you remember, I wore you out!!

[Dris]

O rats did I already wish you good luck Bob - memory like a sieve:)

[factor-fiction]

You are clearly a caring person, askyourgran.
I'm not sure British Gas were checking up on this particular employee because someone had complained about him- they probably make a customer service call after all jobs, or at least for a sample of them, regardless of who the employee was who did the service.

[askyourgran]

We have a regular gas check for our boiler etc, and another one for the gas fire, so they've been coming here twice a year for quite a few years now, and it's never happened before. It seems strange that they picked that one time.