Everyone has a thing about a man in uniform... It's simple. Big strong man, big manly uniform... YUM! But there's a lot more going on than you realise when you get involved with a Squaddie.
Before I go too far, SWAG stands for Soldiers Wife and Girlfriend. Like a Football WAG... but better!
It was last July when I first met my Squaddie. I was in a club with my girlies and all of a sudden my best friend ran off to a group of guys. Turns out she went to primary school with one of them and they were all in the army now based at the local barracks. Long story short, I ended up kissing my Squaddie before he ruined it all with the phrase "Just for sex.. I don't want anything more."
Now girls, and guys, I'm no relationship therapy expert... but I'm pretty sure that is one of the worst lines you could ever say to a girl the first time you meet! In spite of that, after a few more unplanned meetings (usually in the same club) I was worn down by the Squaddie charm! And so far, touch wood, it's been going really well! Nearly 18 months together… 17 months tomorrow to be precise!
When we first met, he did mention he was due to go to Afghanistan the following March, but being the pessimist, I didn't expect to still be with him, let alone madly in love with him, by the following March. I'd planned to spend Christmas & New Year with my Dad in Sydney the year that we met. I was going for 4 weeks, but after being with my Squaddie for 3 or 4 months then, we'd both grown quite attached and didn't like the thought of being away from eachother for so long. So.. about a week before I flew out, the Squaddie booked his ticket to join me in Sydney!
We had an amazing few weeks together, including Christmas day when I woke up to a little stocking at the end of my bed and a card staring me in the face. Releasing the inner child in me, I jumped up and down squealing like a pig, begging to open my christmas present that "Santa" had bought me. I opened my present, turns out it was one that he didn't want me to open in front of my dad... if you catch my drift! And then my card...
We'd been going out for about 4 months at this point, the longest I'd ever really been with anybody. I knew I was in love with him, but I had no idea when was a "sensible" time to say it! I didn't want to scare him off! I'd decided while we were in Sydney, if he didn't say it to me first by New Years Eve. I'd tell him I love him at 12am... then if he didn't return my love, I could blame it on the booze! The way our relationship was, we took the mickey out of each other a lot. So I thought, if he said "I love you" first, I'd return my love with "aww... I love spending time with you too!!"
Anyway, back to Christmas morning. I've opened my naughty present and onto the card. I think you can tell what's coming next...! I read through the card and all of a sudden I get to "it's taken me way too long to say this, but I've been waiting for the right moment..." At this point, I'm thinking... 'right... so 4 months is NOT too soon to say "I love you"!' Then I read down, and there it was. Those 3 little words. So with my funny plan in mind... I lost my cool ENTIRELY and burst into tears before squeaking out "I love you too."
Not my finest moment, but I think it was the effect Squaddie was going for!
Another few months went past, treated to Butlins for Valentine's Day... Blackpool the next weekend. (Only the finest for this SWAG!) and all of a sudden it was 2 weeks before he was due to go to Afghanistan. At this point my emotions are all over the place. I was scared, sad, anxious, happy to still be with him... everything rolled into one! All of a sudden, he gets a phonecall. He's not going to Afghan in two weeks time...he's going that friday! So I just break down into tears, not knowing what to do, but desperately trying to stop to be strong for him.
This is the first tip about being a SWAG. Don't ever forget the Army controls your partner, at any point he can be called away, be forced to change his plans or sent to a war zone 10 days early...!
