Two nights before Christmas, we met up with some of Hannah's friends for last drinks before the holiday period. She asked me to dress up for her. Luckily for her, I wasn't self-conscious, happily wearing my half lovats with my green beret. At the first pub we visited, meeting all her friends, they all remembered me and I certainly made an even better impression second time around. And anyone who noticed me knew the meaning of the green beret. Found more than one pint offered to me, which I appreciated. Ended up chatting to a couple of guys serving in the army, sharing stories from our training.

Like usual, the...