Tourettes Tom

As I have previously explained, Bev and I were the PMs in Batu Puteh throughout the entire expedition, but during Phase 2 we were joined by a third - one Mr Thomas Stewart.

It doesn't take a genious to work out how Tom got his nickname - TT (aka. Tourettes Tom). Never have I heard the word 'fuck' (sorry Mum) in so many sentences. We ended up having to ban him from radio comms as the guy who monitored all Raleigh conversations in Singapore was threatening to take Raleigh off the air as a result. Worldwide!

I first met Tom at the Staff Development weekend. By this stage we'd all been put through our paces on assessment, we'd got through it without having a mental breakdown, been accepted as staff and invited to yet another scout camp to meet the full staff team and learn some soft skills. Life coaching, a bit about dealing with difficult 'youths', managing conflict, that sorta thing.

Oh, and the pub of course, our first proper team bonding session. The weekend was taken by Nathan (sexy Nathan). Almost the first thing he said to us as a group after welcoming us was 'Guys, all I ask of you is tonight when you go to the pub, don't get rat-faced and bowl back at silly o'clock in the morning waking everyone up.'

Chorus of 'No, Nathan........................ NO, 'course not'.

The following morning was a bit awkward as we all surfaced with large headaches after only a few hours sleep. My last memory was sitting on Bev's shoulders, holding Kev's hand singing 'I've... HAD........... THE TIME OF MY LI-I-IIIIFE'. Then, as a team, we re-enacted that scene from Dirty Dancing - I got to do the leap :).

I considered trying to explain it away as a 'trust' game (they were big on them at Raleigh), but basically it was drunken idiocy. No getting around it. Sorry Nathan.

Anyway, TT. I can't say he made a huge impression on me at that weekend, I'll be honest. Nice enough but I thought he was trying a bit too hard. During staff induction in KK I still never really spent much time with Tom and therefore when it was announced he would join me and Bev as a third PM for Phase 2, I think I had my reservations.

I just wasn't sure we had clicked. Bev and I had established a way of working and already forged a very close bond. Would a third person be able to add to that in any way or would it be awkward?

On Day 1 of Phase 2 it was instantly very clear to me that Tom was raring to go, and willing to put 120% of his heart, soul and energy into, well - everything. I reminded myself of Rory's words, 'If someone challenges you, or you are not sure about them, go right on up to them and engage'. Following this maxim I fiddled proceedings so that I got to work with Tom and we threw ourselves into pathway laying.

It was seriously back-breaking work..... Bev and I were already used to grafting like animals, but to Tom it was all a bit new. Therefore I was enormously impressed at how he pushed himself, totally willing to go above and beyond for Alpha 2.

Possibly he was trying to prove himself and slot into our way of life, but actually I just think that's how Tom is. And as I got to know him - we laughed more and more. And more. And as a result I felt deeply in love with Tom. Just friend-love, Tom was soon to be a-fianced (proposal plans were already afoot for post Raleigh travelling), but I fell hard and fast.

He made such a big impression with the participants too, and once again, I don't think he was necessarily trying to connect with them, it just came naturally. His endless swearing immediately gained the respect of the boys (and the girls who flirted with the boys) and every single evening round the dinner table he had the entire team wetting themselves with laughter. I had to try and stop myself trying to monopolise his time, I just wanted to sit next to him as much as possible, because he made me feel so happy.

Tom had had a rough ride in stages of his life, one afternoon we shared our stories and both of us have gone through stuff which has shaped the people we are today. We are both pretty trusting, and I think that's one reason why we both seemed to bond with the participants so deeply, because we both put ourselves out there, don't try to be someone we're not, and as a result they 'got' us.

Tom threw himself into every moment of Alpha 2. He never once stopped thinking of the team, making effort with even the most trying of parps. One, in particular, who shall remain nameless - I've never seen somebody bend over quite so far backwards to try and engage this young kid to try and get him to salvage something from his time in Batu Puteh.

Us PMs all refused to believe that there is not a soul on earth who could visit this village and not come away having fallen in love. So when we came up against a pesky young 'un who refused to work, came up with every trick in the book not to get involved, and his only excuse was that the project wasn't 'community' enough - well, it was frustrating to say the least. We did not understand. Turned out that 'not community enough' can be translated as 'I'm a lazy arse'.

Tom did not stop trying once though to get through to this perplexing parp. And the way he went about it was so sweet and so funny, it was hard not to laugh out loud inappropriately - but Tom mate, I have to tell you it was pure magic watching you go about it.

One day sticks very clearly in my mind. As a treat for the hard working team, Bev, Tom and I had arranged with Rosli that instead of our normal lunch at the Eco Lodge we would herd the whole team onto the jetty and a boat would drag us out into the middle of the beautiful Tungog lake. Mescot and Raleigh, all together. Them with their tasty curry and rice, us with our peanut butter and crackers ;)

Lots of excitement from Alpha 2...... they ate, they laughed, they took in the stunning scenery and thanked their stars above for being sent to this awesome place. All apart from one, Participant X who had his permanently pained expression firmly pasted on. Still determined, Tom quizzed him on what might be wrong. He named all of his supposed ailments, asking him what was up. He spoke about how amazing the lake was, cleverly insinuating there should be no reason on earth to not be joining in the fun with the group.

Parp X knew he was being rumbled, and had no real excuses left to throw out there, I forget what he came up with in the end, but Tom caught my eye and we just dissolved into giggles.

I could relate. Once upon a time, I WAS that stroppy kid. As a teenager I believe that I lead my parents through hell at one point, probably ruining some lovely family holidays, just because I couldn't get a grip, bloody well stop being so miserable and join in. I'm sure I used 'ailment' excuses as to my apparent continuous dark mood. Having Parp X on my team made me want to ring my parents and apologise for all the times I'd been that way. Not quite to the same extent I don't think, but nevertheless, moody biaaatch, I was.

As Tom and I laughed until we were in pain at the sheer ridiculousness of Parp X refusing to enjoy such a treat, TT upped the ante by singing the theme tune to the Hovis advert - you now the one, 'Doooo do doooooo, do dooo doooooo, doo do do-do doooooooooooo............' where the poor little kid is soldiering up the hill with his heavy bike. And the tune stuck, and it was hard not to convulse when Tom would gently hum it under his breath if Parp X was being particularly 'woe is me' about things.

It is testament to Tom's patience and thoughtless nature though that he tried to make things better for this lad right up until the end. We were in agreement that neither of us wanted him to go away and regret not throwing himself into things and having a ball like everyone else did.

Another of my favourite TT moments was when he lost his sandal. It was an expensive rafting Merrell sandal. One of the deeply unattractive ones that tend to get associated with lesbians. We all had to have them, they were on the 'essential' kit list (I'm not sure I wore mine once, Raleigh, take heed). Tom wore his a lot though, he loved them. And during a particularly vigorous bout of trying to get the blessed jetty out of the mud and back in the water, Tom was suddenly down a Merrell. Man he was annoyed. Expletives left, right and centre. Eventually he made his peace with it and continued to get on with life. Occasionally muttering about how there was a lucky monkey somewhere down stream, modelling a (very expensive) sandal.

But lo! What miracle occurred just a week later! The sandal was found! Fossilised in mud, but sure enough, the Merrell lived! Dear God I have never seen such unabashed, pure and total joy over the finding of a shoe. He told everyone in the village, he shouted it from the treetops. The monkeys knew, most of Sabah knew.

As a result, the River God of Shoes took Lois' left welly the next Day.

'He Who Must Be Appeased', I guess.

How guilty do you feel Tom?

Tourettes Tom, it was an absolute honour having you in Alpha 2. I particularly love the way you shout like a girl when you poor cold water over your head - ah special jetty-washing moments :)

If you read this I hope you will not take offence at the fact I had my reservations about you at the off-set. You know now how I feel about you, and I treasure your friendship as I treasure my green stripey Celtic Rosli-socks. Now you KNOW what that means :)

Have I told you lately that I love you?