Kick In the Marines

Today we all trooped down to the open day at the Royal Marines Museum. Just as we got there four Marines took part in an unarmed combat display where they, although choreographed, properly battered each other in front of a baying crowd.

It was quite strange to watch this with Toddler, but we told her it was all pretend and they all managed to get up and walk about afterwards which helped. The chap on the loud speaker kept calling them tough guys, I was thinking nutters myself.

Shortly after this some marines did a death slide from the top of the museum to the ground in all kinds of nutty positions with only the odd harness now and again. One came off a bit early but got back up with a jump and a wave to the crowd, another tough guy / nutter.

After spot of lunch and a bit of a natter with friends and a bit more Marine fight watching we popped round the museum. In all the times we have visited the cafe and grounds here we have never been in the museum.

I didn't think I would be, but I was impressed with the museum. The medal collection alone is incredible. Toddler got a freaked out by all the mannequins though, but not as freaked out as a recent visitor who had a phobia of them and was found curled up in a ball hiding in a corner. That visitor had to be led out by staff whilst she kept her eyes closed, thankfully Toddler just climbed in the back of the buggy. After watching a few more nutty death slides we headed for home.

I am not really into guns and fighting, not since I was a young boy anyway, when the guns were plastic and my parents would stop the fight before anyone got hurt, but I appreciate the job these chaps do. A job they do well in particularly difficult circumstances. Tough Guys indeed.