@drezha
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Thanks Steve and Chris, just want to get the MRI and CT scans done and see the results. I’m prepared for whatever the results are, I am up to facing whatever happens. In view of your keen cadet stuff Chris, I reckon you would have made a good “crab”!
I wanted to join the RAF from Technical School at 15 as a Boy Entrant, but my school then (1960) had a policy of making parents pay for each term missed if I left a year early. In the end I wound up in the Army Air Corps at 20, after training. AAC then referred to by the RAF as TWA, or “Teeny Weeny Airways” – from the Gutersloh and Wildenrath jet pilots who came to our Gliding Club. I asked a Lightning pilot why they loved gliding when they flew a Mach 2 jet – “You don’t fly those things, you just hang on, aim them and hope they don’t flame out! Without an engine, they fall out of the sky!” Gliding was second only to downhill skiing, for me. Para drops 3rd. Gliding was peaceful once I mastered Solo, downhill was just exhilerating, Para drops good for the adrenalin junky I was then. I generally find that anyone who wants to work in an aircraft environment, had an experience when they were young. Mine was being taken to Airshows by dad at a very young age, and taken for a flight in a DH Dragon Rapide biplane at 8 yo, from Squires Gate Blackpool, around the Isle of Man and back. What was yours? 
Probably what got me started was a visit to the Fleet Air Arm museum with my Grandad. At the time, they had (and possibly still do), the prototype Concorde. Used to be able to hear that occasionally going for it’s sonic boom as we were near the Devon coast – probably occasionally a bit early for it as it isn’t supposed to sonic boom over land but if the weather was right, you’d hear it. We also used to live near to RAF (now RMB) Chivenor so that was handy. I joining the Air Training Corps after I left Scouts and loved it. Stayed with it as long as I could – made Cadet Flight Sergeant within a couple of years.
Tried to join the RAF after college as a WSO, was recommended I go to Uni and get some experience, a degree and come back. Didn’t really try and then left cadets. Rejoined cadets about 3 years ago, and then spent last year going for my commission with the regulars, but got rejected for medical reasons. Passed the same tests to get a commission in what was then the RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training) branch, but my commission was changed to a Cadet Forces Commission at the start of December and I’m now an RAFAC (RAF Air Cadet) Officer. More in keeping with my role and means I’m not quite bound by the same rules and regulations as the full commission (i.e. they can’t call me to war!) However, I still get to wear the light blue suit!
Got a week off in January, spending the week at RAFC Cranwell, on my Officers Initial Course. A 34 week course for new recruits, condensed in to a week(!) for cadet officers! In fairness, we skip all the bits like shooting, fitness and drill – having been taught drill already prior to going and then shooting is a personal preference, in comparison to actually being in the Regs. Though we also have a lot more to do on duty of care and child protection, which the regs don’t have to do, as they aren’t looking after kids. Sure some parents see us as a cheap babysitting opportunity for their kids.
"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett