These photos take me back to my military days at the Military Academy in Brno. I spent my time preparing Czech officers from all over the country for the dreaded STANAC 3 English communications exam - a NATO qualification which the Czechs insisted in making extraordinarily difficult. It was also a university, and a military school (see the kids above who saw me as a source of free beer). Such a hard working and disciplined lot they were – I couldn’t imagine English kids getting up at 6.30 at the weekend of their own accord!!
That was a good time in my life. I had some wild nights out with my officer students. Their families living the other side of the country, they were up for a good time. In class they were masters of taking the piss out of each other, incredible English skills, and a humorous bunch.
