General Chat

I'd like to take my hat off to Kerry, Chris and Kian! You're doing an amazing job, struggling fiancially and being parents!!! Total respect to you all, If people like you are benefitting from my taxes then I'm glad to pay them! love becx

I'm sure it didn't matter as long as he's healthy. Die Hard going off and were off to bed now. Up for school in morning. Lovely talking to you. Hope I'll catch you again soon. Goodnight love. Oh, and night to Chris too! xxx

Thans Bec. We don`t struggle but we wound if I didn`t get help!!! Others don`t agree!!

Night Stelly.Lovely chatting to you!!! xxxx

Kerry, I don't know why you decided to take my point so personally, but YES I did have the *** to join and YES like yourself have been in the RAF, before you. I stated an opinion thats all- don't email or take it so personally with comments! :))

but if I want a career in the Forces I don't get pregnant at what 20/22? THAT was an attack on me

Just expect more than 6 months- after all as a tax payer I paid for your training?????? Then 6 months maternity??? Don't mean to sound harsh- just when people shout about immigrants? What have we here??? AND THAT

??? And an opinion sorry for that-- not you personally just how can any of the forces expect women to sign up for 22 years?? Its obvious? womens attitudes change? I signed for 12 years and had a guts full after 6! Just saying must be different for women, especially after they have kids, but also saying you shouldn't go into the Forces if all you want is a husband and family life? Thats NOT what you signed on for??

I know I didn`t sign on for a family life and in the beginning we sign on for 9 years. Things happen mike though, little suprises come along...why can`t you accept that happens to forces women who planned on careers?

Women really can't win can they. We have children and quit our careers and we get slated for not being commited to our careers or we can have both career and children and we are criticised for not doing what is best for our kids. Some men have no clue. It is a womens right to have children, they should not be criticised for this decision or the decision to give up work. Incidently many men now give up work to look after thier children are they short changing the tax payer or is it just women.

Thanks Victoria for seeing it my way.He doesn`t. I`m damned if I stay at work and I`m damned if I leave the forces. The forces don`t give two hoots about their personell so why should I care about maternity leave for 6months and actually Mike, it was longer than that as my maternity leave was meant to start in October but got signed off in August!!!

Kerry, You're missing my point- I agree with you entirely- you sign for a career and the Powers that be must know at some point you are going to start a family- what I'm saying is either they cater for women in the Services or actually in MY opinion women shouldn't be allowed in under the age of 30! OK lol -- running now and hiding, but all I'm saying is it's obvious that women will start families--- but can you run an army(or Raf) on how many people are pregnant? How many will be here for the next Gulf War?? Victoria-- I think BIG difference in career and Armed Services where you get called on to die?

Who knows Mike. They won`t be able to do that though as they will be discriminating!!! My work already do it and make comments, horrible comments and try to pass it off as banter. They think because I`m a woman I can`t do the job. Ok so I can`t lift as much but I can still do the job as god as the men and better than some of them! Women will have babies no matter what! Employers will probably be worried about hiring women of childbearing age but what can they do? Hire them and eventually have to pay maternity leave or not hire them and risk being taken to a tribunal??

I think you should run Mike!!!! I think that you are assuming that women under 30 all think that they are baby machines, not sexual beings! I also feel that you contradict youreslf from one message to the next, complete with apologies et al!!! Would you take the same opinion if all male servicemen had to refrain from unprotected sex until they were 30??? I think not!! Karen

A career is a career what about women fire fighters, police officers they are all in harms way also. And i would have thought women over thirty would be a bigger problem with pregnancy now a days, considering many wait until this point or later to start a family, some as late as their 40's.

well pointed out Karen. You seem to me..sexist! Like women shouldn`t have careers in the forces. You say you expect more than 6months!! whats that meant to mean?

Victoria your right, ALOT of women at work that have had children or are pregnant are all over 30!!!

Exactly Kerry! Thats what I've been trying to say all along- they take you in and know damn well at some point you'll struggle? My argument has been (sorry) that women who want a career in the Forces do so out of a passion and they are damned good! BUT not those who join and then 6 months later start shouting discrimination etc etc because they're expecting? I know I've put this wrong- just trying to make a comparison and Kerry it's NOT personal at all- far from it I sympathise with you and wish you well- family above all? Little Karen and Victoria- you're missing my point- it doesn't matter how old you are in Fire etc just in Armed Forces?

Sorry if you misunderstood me Kerry, my relpy was for Mike! I am in full support of you Kerry, it seems Mike is the sexist one! Karen

Ultimately... you're doing the most important job in the world Kerry... you're rearing the future generation... the future adults who will fight for us in the future wars, the doctors who will aid us in our old age, the inventors who will advance us further technologically...REGARDLESS of what job you're in you deserve 100% support! Becx