Hiya,
This is my last note from Herrick - I am counting the days, almost into my last week. Look forward to catching up with folks on my return. Will e-mail to say I am home and start working out dates.
Take care
Amanda x
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Easter Sunday 24th April - Camp Bastion
Herrick 10
Well I have less than 5 weeks to go now and I think I have gotten over the midpoint blues although am well and truly ready to come home.
I have just returned from a very long weekend in Cyprus and in fact everyone here is saying that I am on a Mediterranean Tour of Duty (I will have a pink stripe on my medal ribbon, flamingos are the logo for RAF Akrotiri) and in fairness I have just totalled up I have spent 14 nights on my way out of & out of Afghanistan in the last 12 weeks. Mind you my suntan doesn’t look like I have had all that time in the “sun”... “on the beach”. But all I can say is that I don’t do the off duty and I don’t break the aircraft!!! Don’t think I will get a Strat flight for a while. It wasn’t all sea and sand though, the house we stay in is in the middle of a building site and they start at 7am, the Red Arrows are in Cyprus practicing and they start early and the weather is still overcast at times! but sunbathing did occur and some relaxation but I don’t need to visit Cyprus for a long while.
This week coming starting (22 April ) I am down to do the Helicopter transfer to BOST hospital which means proper structured days in early and finished early leaving evenings free to go running.... yes I said running. A few of us have started to run in the evenings when it’s much cooler and it is almost enjoyable. I think the location helps + company. It is really surreal as you run past a scene from M.A.S.H with all the helos on the pad and fire cover + the Battlefield Ambulances (BFAs). The busy period is beginning unfortunately as the weather is getting better. You do feel like you are on tour then.
I have also been dog walking again and seem to have struck up a friendship with “Dave” a small black spaniel with a very cheeky character. The new handlers are in and have settled with their animals so we have been able to go again to help them out walking the dogs. They have now set up a plunge pool for the dogs and they love it and can’t wait to get back after their walk and dive straight in. It does mean we come away smelling of wet dog as we have to aid them out of the pool. Have also walked Dec.
One of the Medics I work with is friends with a Naval medic out on the ground (i.e. out patrolling the villages & towns etc.) she was talking to us the other day. She is shorter than me but carries a Bergen of 45kg (>90lbs) of her kit + medical kit and goes out patrolling with the lads, she was out with 2 Para as their medic. I have to take my hat off to these people the courage they show in the face of such physical and mental stress, she was very interesting to talk to. We don’t really ever moan about the amount of kit we have to carry but it really pales into insignificance when you compare it to these medics.
Have been to Easter Service which was really nice, the padre is in his MTP (the uniform we are in) and just puts his religious neck clothes on and the hymns are accompanied on the I player. The church is lovely just one of the accommodation tents. The sermon was really interesting, it was the 2 Para Padre, he had written an article for the Church Times on Resurrection and he read that out to us. In the time that 2 Para have been out here they have lost a man for every month they have been here but the work they have done they feel has meant those deaths have not been in vain. It was good to hear as sometimes I do wonder. Whilst on tour 2 Para have resurrected a small Afghan village from a deserted and derelict place heavily IEDed by the Taliban to a thriving community where kids are playing in the streets again.
Then it could only happen in Afghanistan as we left church and saying goodbye to the padre someone walks by on his way back from the shower in just his towel....nice body!!!. No flying today as no patients to transfer so have taken the opportunity to clean my weapon exciting life I lead am about to finish work as well and go sunbathing... yes I am on tour I know it doesn’t always sound like it but I am out here. I bet Emma will still be browner than me as each time I ring she is either on the beach or on the way to the beach or working at Macdonalds.
Can’t believe she is going to be 17 on the 29th April... seventeen!!.
Well will send this one as not much to say, things aren’t new anymore but I am not moaning as if I am quiet and at all bored then our lads & lassies are safe.
Love from
Amanda xxx
Well I have less than 5 weeks to go now and I think I have gotten over the midpoint blues although am well and truly ready to come home.
I have just returned from a very long weekend in Cyprus and in fact everyone here is saying that I am on a Mediterranean Tour of Duty (I will have a pink stripe on my medal ribbon, flamingos are the logo for RAF Akrotiri) and in fairness I have just totalled up I have spent 14 nights on my way out of & out of Afghanistan in the last 12 weeks. Mind you my suntan doesn’t look like I have had all that time in the “sun”... “on the beach”. But all I can say is that I don’t do the off duty and I don’t break the aircraft!!! Don’t think I will get a Strat flight for a while. It wasn’t all sea and sand though, the house we stay in is in the middle of a building site and they start at 7am, the Red Arrows are in Cyprus practicing and they start early and the weather is still overcast at times! but sunbathing did occur and some relaxation but I don’t need to visit Cyprus for a long while.
This week coming starting (22 April ) I am down to do the Helicopter transfer to BOST hospital which means proper structured days in early and finished early leaving evenings free to go running.... yes I said running. A few of us have started to run in the evenings when it’s much cooler and it is almost enjoyable. I think the location helps + company. It is really surreal as you run past a scene from M.A.S.H with all the helos on the pad and fire cover + the Battlefield Ambulances (BFAs). The busy period is beginning unfortunately as the weather is getting better. You do feel like you are on tour then.
I have also been dog walking again and seem to have struck up a friendship with “Dave” a small black spaniel with a very cheeky character. The new handlers are in and have settled with their animals so we have been able to go again to help them out walking the dogs. They have now set up a plunge pool for the dogs and they love it and can’t wait to get back after their walk and dive straight in. It does mean we come away smelling of wet dog as we have to aid them out of the pool. Have also walked Dec.
One of the Medics I work with is friends with a Naval medic out on the ground (i.e. out patrolling the villages & towns etc.) she was talking to us the other day. She is shorter than me but carries a Bergen of 45kg (>90lbs) of her kit + medical kit and goes out patrolling with the lads, she was out with 2 Para as their medic. I have to take my hat off to these people the courage they show in the face of such physical and mental stress, she was very interesting to talk to. We don’t really ever moan about the amount of kit we have to carry but it really pales into insignificance when you compare it to these medics.
Have been to Easter Service which was really nice, the padre is in his MTP (the uniform we are in) and just puts his religious neck clothes on and the hymns are accompanied on the I player. The church is lovely just one of the accommodation tents. The sermon was really interesting, it was the 2 Para Padre, he had written an article for the Church Times on Resurrection and he read that out to us. In the time that 2 Para have been out here they have lost a man for every month they have been here but the work they have done they feel has meant those deaths have not been in vain. It was good to hear as sometimes I do wonder. Whilst on tour 2 Para have resurrected a small Afghan village from a deserted and derelict place heavily IEDed by the Taliban to a thriving community where kids are playing in the streets again.
Then it could only happen in Afghanistan as we left church and saying goodbye to the padre someone walks by on his way back from the shower in just his towel....nice body!!!. No flying today as no patients to transfer so have taken the opportunity to clean my weapon exciting life I lead am about to finish work as well and go sunbathing... yes I am on tour I know it doesn’t always sound like it but I am out here. I bet Emma will still be browner than me as each time I ring she is either on the beach or on the way to the beach or working at Macdonalds.
Can’t believe she is going to be 17 on the 29th April... seventeen!!.
Well will send this one as not much to say, things aren’t new anymore but I am not moaning as if I am quiet and at all bored then our lads & lassies are safe.
Love from
Amanda xxx
Thursday, 14 April 2011
13th April - Camp Bastion
Hiya
This one will be very short cos thankfully not much has been occuring, well I guess that's not strictly true it's just that nothing new has happened it is the same old business. I have been in theatre 11 weeks tomorrow and I have done most things now. So its very much routine now and there isn't an awful lot to do out here bar the gym and work. The coffee shops are running out of tea and coffee on a regular basis, everywhere is really busy as the "Rip" is occuring where the next Herrick begins we are going from 13 to 14 and the Royal Navy are taking over so there are almost 2 people for every job in theatre just now.
I have been on the rota to to the Strat flights for the last 2 weeks and am on the Cyprus Strat again at the weekend. So I am into work late each day, 1pm ish and work through till the last flight in the night. Sometimes get pinged for the Tactical flights if the the Thumpers are at the wrong time for the Kandahar team to pick up the patients.
I did go dog walking again this morning as the new handlers have now settled in with their dogs and we can go along again.I walked "Dave" a gorgeous black spaniel. They have a plunge pool set up for them now its warm for them to enjoy after their walk, I was quite jealous this morning as Dave jumped in. I was then going to do a Aeromed move with our American equivalents but the flight was brought forward and they had been unable to contact me. So I will try again another day just to do something different.
I am due to do an Admin week next week so am looking forward to that as it will be something new, a chance to write the Signals and Patient Movement Requests (PMR). The hopefully I will get to do the BOST moves again on the helicopters then I guess I will have to go to Kandahar again then it will be time to come home almost yeh!!!!.
Right I am off to the Post Office to post Emma's birthday present so it arrives in time and then go and sit in the sun....in uniform so just improving the Squaddie suntan!!.
Take care, thanks for all your letters and emails it's great to receive news from home.
Amanda xxxx
This one will be very short cos thankfully not much has been occuring, well I guess that's not strictly true it's just that nothing new has happened it is the same old business. I have been in theatre 11 weeks tomorrow and I have done most things now. So its very much routine now and there isn't an awful lot to do out here bar the gym and work. The coffee shops are running out of tea and coffee on a regular basis, everywhere is really busy as the "Rip" is occuring where the next Herrick begins we are going from 13 to 14 and the Royal Navy are taking over so there are almost 2 people for every job in theatre just now.
I have been on the rota to to the Strat flights for the last 2 weeks and am on the Cyprus Strat again at the weekend. So I am into work late each day, 1pm ish and work through till the last flight in the night. Sometimes get pinged for the Tactical flights if the the Thumpers are at the wrong time for the Kandahar team to pick up the patients.
I did go dog walking again this morning as the new handlers have now settled in with their dogs and we can go along again.I walked "Dave" a gorgeous black spaniel. They have a plunge pool set up for them now its warm for them to enjoy after their walk, I was quite jealous this morning as Dave jumped in. I was then going to do a Aeromed move with our American equivalents but the flight was brought forward and they had been unable to contact me. So I will try again another day just to do something different.
I am due to do an Admin week next week so am looking forward to that as it will be something new, a chance to write the Signals and Patient Movement Requests (PMR). The hopefully I will get to do the BOST moves again on the helicopters then I guess I will have to go to Kandahar again then it will be time to come home almost yeh!!!!.
Right I am off to the Post Office to post Emma's birthday present so it arrives in time and then go and sit in the sun....in uniform so just improving the Squaddie suntan!!.
Take care, thanks for all your letters and emails it's great to receive news from home.
Amanda xxxx
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
16th March - Cyprus
Hiya
Hope this finds you all well, I am still ok...almost half way through my tour.
Amanda xx
Herrick 7 or perhaps it should be Cyprus 1.
There are aspects of our job that are very “privileged” I think we get time out of theatre. Last week I spent most of the week in Cyprus as I did two Strat flights. The two patients lifts were big, a mixture of battlefield injuries and background injury & illness that occurs so the second one I was an extra nurse to cover the dependency of the patients.
So last week I had 3 baths, wore civvy clothes...sandals...absolute bliss it’s the small things you miss! On my working days I was up for well over 24 hours so when we arrived in Cyprus the time was our own. We stay in transit accommodation at RAF Akrotiri. It’s basic but clean and cosy, it was still nippy at the beginning of the week (they had heavy snow as far south as Episkopi on the Sat before we got there) but was warming up towards the end of the week when I returned. We have adjoining rooms with a shared bathroom. There are washing facilities and a kitchen.
So have been sightseeing in Cyprus, all over the island are historical excavations even on base so we stopped at those, Cyprus is looking greener than I have ever seen it, it’s beautiful I found myself just stopping and staring enjoying the view. The colour of the stone with the green grass and the spring flowers in all colours. The silence was also golden we arrived at dawn and as the sun came up and the silence NO aircraft noise was amazing. We also spent time on the beach at various times during the day. My camera has broken so I bought a disposable one which is on the way to mum and David to develop so anyone local will be able to see those photos and the broken camera with SD is on the way to Emma so people will be able to see all the photos to date if they call in on Emma. She will put a few on facebook for me as well. We went east to Larnaka at some points you could have been in Switzerland it was so green and with the Troodos Mountains and then backinto Limmasol. We also went the other way along the coast to Aphrodite’s Birthplace....supposed to meet the man of my dreams yesterday according to two separate magazines and I touched Aphrodite’s rock...all I can say is it didn’t work rubbish!!. We also went up into the mountains, Nicole and I found the house of our dreams with fantastic views (Maybe that was my dream fulfilled that week?). Visited a family winery and tasted the wine lovely then on further up to visit a monastery at Omnodos beautiful. Mooched in the village as well bought some handmade lace. We ate a variety of food everything you can’t get in Afghnistan!. Greek one night and had an Indian takeaway with wine from the winery it was great. We also found St Nicholas Monastery for the cats. It was great to see cats hanging out in their own environment; it was amusing for half an hour or so just spotting them in their various sleeping spots. Went to the Flea Market and found a lady doing 5 min manicures so had a quick rescue of my cuticles excellent for the image moral! Still have to suss out the soft water out here and my “fuzzy” hair. We finished on Sunday on the beach talking to people we had met and I ended up hand delivering parcels to her husband in Kandahar 2 days later. It’s a small world.
So as I say I am in Kandahar for the TAC week, living out of a bag again. Well not quite true I have unpacked into my room complete with wardrobe and TV, actually having had the opportunity to watch a bit of TV here for one evening my choice I don’t need it!!! It has been nice to catch up with the news but in truth I did that by reading a discarded copy of the Economist on the Tri Star Sunday. You realise how much the news is repeated on the TV and radio. Kandahar has changed there are much fewer Brits here and many more civilians. I guess I am not at home anymore and there are smaller numbers of us... 3 to be precise instead of 14. I did get up and do my fitness test yesterday yeh, I qualify for my Bounty now. I hate doing the test and this week was probably the only opportunity to do it before the end of March so I really pleased when Sega said she was getting up to do it so I tagged along without any chance to fret about it. The bleep test really just fills me with despair. But it’s done down for 6 months.
Have got back to Afghanistan and the temperature has just gone up so much its 34’c during the day and 14’c at night. We were baking just taking a slow stroll around yesterday but sat in the shade at Tim Horton’s with a doughnut and coffee who can moan...I won’t. Squaddie suntan on the way. (that is face, neck and forearms only).
I think that’s all my news for now. Take care
Lots of love Amanda xx
Hope this finds you all well, I am still ok...almost half way through my tour.
Amanda xx
Herrick 7 or perhaps it should be Cyprus 1.
There are aspects of our job that are very “privileged” I think we get time out of theatre. Last week I spent most of the week in Cyprus as I did two Strat flights. The two patients lifts were big, a mixture of battlefield injuries and background injury & illness that occurs so the second one I was an extra nurse to cover the dependency of the patients.
So last week I had 3 baths, wore civvy clothes...sandals...absolute bliss it’s the small things you miss! On my working days I was up for well over 24 hours so when we arrived in Cyprus the time was our own. We stay in transit accommodation at RAF Akrotiri. It’s basic but clean and cosy, it was still nippy at the beginning of the week (they had heavy snow as far south as Episkopi on the Sat before we got there) but was warming up towards the end of the week when I returned. We have adjoining rooms with a shared bathroom. There are washing facilities and a kitchen.
So have been sightseeing in Cyprus, all over the island are historical excavations even on base so we stopped at those, Cyprus is looking greener than I have ever seen it, it’s beautiful I found myself just stopping and staring enjoying the view. The colour of the stone with the green grass and the spring flowers in all colours. The silence was also golden we arrived at dawn and as the sun came up and the silence NO aircraft noise was amazing. We also spent time on the beach at various times during the day. My camera has broken so I bought a disposable one which is on the way to mum and David to develop so anyone local will be able to see those photos and the broken camera with SD is on the way to Emma so people will be able to see all the photos to date if they call in on Emma. She will put a few on facebook for me as well. We went east to Larnaka at some points you could have been in Switzerland it was so green and with the Troodos Mountains and then backinto Limmasol. We also went the other way along the coast to Aphrodite’s Birthplace....supposed to meet the man of my dreams yesterday according to two separate magazines and I touched Aphrodite’s rock...all I can say is it didn’t work rubbish!!. We also went up into the mountains, Nicole and I found the house of our dreams with fantastic views (Maybe that was my dream fulfilled that week?). Visited a family winery and tasted the wine lovely then on further up to visit a monastery at Omnodos beautiful. Mooched in the village as well bought some handmade lace. We ate a variety of food everything you can’t get in Afghnistan!. Greek one night and had an Indian takeaway with wine from the winery it was great. We also found St Nicholas Monastery for the cats. It was great to see cats hanging out in their own environment; it was amusing for half an hour or so just spotting them in their various sleeping spots. Went to the Flea Market and found a lady doing 5 min manicures so had a quick rescue of my cuticles excellent for the image moral! Still have to suss out the soft water out here and my “fuzzy” hair. We finished on Sunday on the beach talking to people we had met and I ended up hand delivering parcels to her husband in Kandahar 2 days later. It’s a small world.
So as I say I am in Kandahar for the TAC week, living out of a bag again. Well not quite true I have unpacked into my room complete with wardrobe and TV, actually having had the opportunity to watch a bit of TV here for one evening my choice I don’t need it!!! It has been nice to catch up with the news but in truth I did that by reading a discarded copy of the Economist on the Tri Star Sunday. You realise how much the news is repeated on the TV and radio. Kandahar has changed there are much fewer Brits here and many more civilians. I guess I am not at home anymore and there are smaller numbers of us... 3 to be precise instead of 14. I did get up and do my fitness test yesterday yeh, I qualify for my Bounty now. I hate doing the test and this week was probably the only opportunity to do it before the end of March so I really pleased when Sega said she was getting up to do it so I tagged along without any chance to fret about it. The bleep test really just fills me with despair. But it’s done down for 6 months.
Have got back to Afghanistan and the temperature has just gone up so much its 34’c during the day and 14’c at night. We were baking just taking a slow stroll around yesterday but sat in the shade at Tim Horton’s with a doughnut and coffee who can moan...I won’t. Squaddie suntan on the way. (that is face, neck and forearms only).
I think that’s all my news for now. Take care
Lots of love Amanda xx
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
2nd March - Camp Bastion
Hiya
Hope this finds you all well, i am surviving the experience!!..
Amanda xx
Herrick 6
Hiya it’s a while since I put “fingers to keyboard” mainly as nothing much has occurred, good in many ways. We have been busy setting up the new ASU (Air Staging Unit) but there are Political agendas going on way above my pay scale so that has to be sorted.
The weather was really nice until recently so it was actually nice to be working outside, even if it was opening ISOs and unpacking them and packing them again with the things we aren’t going to use. Working with the Army is proving to be an interesting challenge as I said but I think I am getting them sussed now. Just in time for the Navy to take over next month. Soon I will be able to say coming home next month! I have 12 weeks to go today or less that 90 days. Stu and I are going to have 80 days to go celebration. No its ok am really liking it more than I am loathing it.
Had a really interesting brief the other day letting us know what is going on in our little area of the world really in depth so I can’t of course repeat any of it but it means we have an understanding of what is happening to the people we are meeting and treating. I am really impressed with them and their courage. Also had another interesting lecture on Child Protection issues etc, there is a 275 per 1000 child death rate here in Afghanistan one of the highest in the world if not the highest compared to our 6 per 1000 in the UK. Life expectancy is early 40s worth good health up to 34ish so lots of problems in their latter lives. So different to us.
Really sad with the recent death as I could have met the person, it puts a different perspective on things; we are mixing with the lads out on the ground as they come in for down time. We had recently been down to walk the dogs and had a cuppa with the handlers beforehand. Every day there is the opportunity to go to the kennels and take one of the dogs out for a walk, they are adorable...I took Casper out a gorgeous golden lab. It’s a great way to spend some down time. A normal thing to do.
We are all up here now so we have been out and about familiarising ourselves with Bastion and have to get used to driving around at night. I have found it relatively easy as have been driving for a while and have a decent sense of direction.......no comments!!!!. I was out on my own last night to collect the incoming team, due in just after 11 but due to thunderstorms the flight finally came in after midnight. So it was after 2 before I went to bed. It was great fun liaising with the Movers and driving right up to the Hercules while it was still running it’s all very efficent the loading and unloading.
We have had tremendous storms recently so the roads are atrocious at Bastion now...should have done an off road driving course really but its all good fun.
Have been flying as well. Have been back down to KDH and because of weather had an enforced overnight stay...of course muggins here didn’t pack anything cos we were supposed to just “nipping” down and back. So Sarah and I had a Hobo day, searching through the Welfare stuff sorting out a toothbrush and shower gel etc and wearing the same clothes for a day and night!!. It was nice though we slept in our old beds again, so comfy!!. As it had been a long night we had the whole of the next day off to mooch in KDH so we treated ourselves to a late lunch at Mama Mia’s on the Boardwalk including a non alcoholic Becks. Then it was back up to BSN that following night.
Am back on the BOST flights again so out to Lashkar Gah and today we went right out into the green zone as the Merlin had work to do before returning us to BSN. The country is beautiful saw wild camels, the Helmand River is quite swollen at the moment. The flights are an amazing experience.
When we came back from KDH the other day I asked if there was space on the flight deck (up in the cock pit) so Stu and I spent the flight up there another experience to chalk up. The stars were amazing and we were able to use the night vision goggles as well. The crew were really informative.
What else, have been watching movies recently “Sherlock Holmes” and am part way through Mrs and Mrs Smith. Hope to be on a Strat flight soon although thankfully there haven’t been many battlefield injuries we are still getting all the background injuries/illnesses that occur. Am off to bed now , with the background noise of rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Home will be so quiet, don’t think HMS Sultan can keep up the same level of noise.
Dad’s flag flew on the 27th, loads of aircraft activity and a tremendous thunderstorm marked the occasion. Both things he would have loved.
Well take care, thank you for all the communications much appreciated
Amanda xx
Hope this finds you all well, i am surviving the experience!!..
Amanda xx
Herrick 6
Hiya it’s a while since I put “fingers to keyboard” mainly as nothing much has occurred, good in many ways. We have been busy setting up the new ASU (Air Staging Unit) but there are Political agendas going on way above my pay scale so that has to be sorted.
The weather was really nice until recently so it was actually nice to be working outside, even if it was opening ISOs and unpacking them and packing them again with the things we aren’t going to use. Working with the Army is proving to be an interesting challenge as I said but I think I am getting them sussed now. Just in time for the Navy to take over next month. Soon I will be able to say coming home next month! I have 12 weeks to go today or less that 90 days. Stu and I are going to have 80 days to go celebration. No its ok am really liking it more than I am loathing it.
Had a really interesting brief the other day letting us know what is going on in our little area of the world really in depth so I can’t of course repeat any of it but it means we have an understanding of what is happening to the people we are meeting and treating. I am really impressed with them and their courage. Also had another interesting lecture on Child Protection issues etc, there is a 275 per 1000 child death rate here in Afghanistan one of the highest in the world if not the highest compared to our 6 per 1000 in the UK. Life expectancy is early 40s worth good health up to 34ish so lots of problems in their latter lives. So different to us.
Really sad with the recent death as I could have met the person, it puts a different perspective on things; we are mixing with the lads out on the ground as they come in for down time. We had recently been down to walk the dogs and had a cuppa with the handlers beforehand. Every day there is the opportunity to go to the kennels and take one of the dogs out for a walk, they are adorable...I took Casper out a gorgeous golden lab. It’s a great way to spend some down time. A normal thing to do.
We are all up here now so we have been out and about familiarising ourselves with Bastion and have to get used to driving around at night. I have found it relatively easy as have been driving for a while and have a decent sense of direction.......no comments!!!!. I was out on my own last night to collect the incoming team, due in just after 11 but due to thunderstorms the flight finally came in after midnight. So it was after 2 before I went to bed. It was great fun liaising with the Movers and driving right up to the Hercules while it was still running it’s all very efficent the loading and unloading.
We have had tremendous storms recently so the roads are atrocious at Bastion now...should have done an off road driving course really but its all good fun.
Have been flying as well. Have been back down to KDH and because of weather had an enforced overnight stay...of course muggins here didn’t pack anything cos we were supposed to just “nipping” down and back. So Sarah and I had a Hobo day, searching through the Welfare stuff sorting out a toothbrush and shower gel etc and wearing the same clothes for a day and night!!. It was nice though we slept in our old beds again, so comfy!!. As it had been a long night we had the whole of the next day off to mooch in KDH so we treated ourselves to a late lunch at Mama Mia’s on the Boardwalk including a non alcoholic Becks. Then it was back up to BSN that following night.
Am back on the BOST flights again so out to Lashkar Gah and today we went right out into the green zone as the Merlin had work to do before returning us to BSN. The country is beautiful saw wild camels, the Helmand River is quite swollen at the moment. The flights are an amazing experience.
When we came back from KDH the other day I asked if there was space on the flight deck (up in the cock pit) so Stu and I spent the flight up there another experience to chalk up. The stars were amazing and we were able to use the night vision goggles as well. The crew were really informative.
What else, have been watching movies recently “Sherlock Holmes” and am part way through Mrs and Mrs Smith. Hope to be on a Strat flight soon although thankfully there haven’t been many battlefield injuries we are still getting all the background injuries/illnesses that occur. Am off to bed now , with the background noise of rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Home will be so quiet, don’t think HMS Sultan can keep up the same level of noise.
Dad’s flag flew on the 27th, loads of aircraft activity and a tremendous thunderstorm marked the occasion. Both things he would have loved.
Well take care, thank you for all the communications much appreciated
Amanda xx
Friday, 18 February 2011
18th February - Camp Bastion
Herrick 5
Hiya am writing this by torchlight as everyone is asleep because we had a late move last night. I am stood down till lunch time.
Well, I am settled into Camp Bastion, it is quite different to Kandahar. It’s huge, very square as it is set out on the American Grid system, very flat so you can see for miles, the mountains are much further away but it is a bigger range here and there is still snow on the top of these ones. I really need to find a map to locate Bastion, and then to name all the mountain ranges to know exactly where I am. The mountains are beautiful the colours change with the time of day. Bastion could also be renamed ISO City, everything is kept in an ISO there are rows and rows of them. (ISO containers that you see stacked up on the ships). One of the lads that died in the fire was a Stevedore down at Marchwood.
We attended the Vigil for 5 soldiers who went home recently, the whole camp parades for a ceremony. It’s very moving. Commanding Officers say a few words then friends have a chance to speak, it allows you to know the individuals. I am going to go and look at the Memorial with everyone’s name on it. There are so many different corps out here it was impossible to name them all. Living with the Army is very interesting they do things very differently to us in the RAF. We have a simple rank structure.... not the Army, you have Warrant Officer but you call him Staff cos he is the Regimental Sergeant Major not Sir, or you could call him Sir. We are in a strange position at the moment because the 6 Aeromed nurses/medics that have moved up here are under the direct control of a WO2 (who doesn’t consider himself the same as our RAF WO) and his chain of command not our own AECO or AELO as we are part of the moving party. We have arrived on mass and the Army keep seeing us as their asset and want to task us off to do things even though we are assuming Aeromed duties immediately. It will all sort itself out on the 1st of March when the move might be complete!!! and we come under our own command structure again. So Russ or Mark any help with the Army rank structure would be appreciated and how they work together in the Logistics!.
I have settled into my tent, have a rug on the floor and everything. Bedding is being sorted (thank you) and under bed storage has been provided. The cot beds are ok getting used to them and starting to sleep properly. My space is about 8ft x 8ft.
I cannot log onto Face book at the moment hence any pictures I just need the time and inclination to sit down and read the book and change the settings. Emma is sending out an SD card hopefully and ii will send pictures home. Talking of pictures would people send me 6x4 photos of themselves to brighten up my “room” I have a brilliant frame but it only hold 6x4.
Work wise, I had really good helicopter flight the other day down to Kandahar. Flew at 50ft all the way because of the nature of the lads injuries we didn’t want any altitude complications. The view was amazing as you can imagine. It’s a beautiful country, saw people in their compounds, working in fields, saw a camel train it was brilliant. Hard to believe that we are at “war” here. Couldn’t take pictures on the way as caring for patients but did so on the way back but we flew at the usual “safe” altitude 3000ft. That tactical ascent is something to experience. We cleared Kandahar at 50ft and for while then all of a sudden we went up directly up!!!!!! I know I let an expletive out!. Better than any Amusement Park ride...50 to 3000ft in seconds. Then the Loadie (Air Loadmaster) took pictures for us and offered in-flight catering Pringles this time!. It was about 1 and half hours there and back.
I am off to Herat at some point. I am going to do the job with Abby who I was in 2nd Poulner Brownies with all those years ago. It’s a small world. She is a Paediatric Doctor out here with the TA. I knew she was here and so was looking out for her.
There are loads of times that I just stop and think wow, or Oh my god I can’t believe I am doing this, watching this, being here. I might hate it sometimes but on the whole I am starting to enjoy the experience it is so far outside anything I have ever done.
They have 3 flag poles by the Role 3 and people can fly a flag for an occasion or in memory of someone so on the 27th Feb (the nearest date I could get) there will be a Union Jack flying over the Role 3 in memory of my Dad. Then you keep the flag.
While we had some free time yesterday we went to visit our American counterparts in the CASAF, they have a really good set up and the Lieutenant who showed us around made us very welcome so we are going to their BBQ at the end of the month and can go and work with them to see how they do their moves. It was really interesting. They have a traditional School bus converted with Stretcher fits to move their patients to the aircraft, so much easy than having a convoy of BFAs ( Battlefield Ambulance) and a minibus with the walkers.
I think that all for now, just time for a small glossary as some people have asked and I don’t always explain.
C130 Hercules Thumper = English one, Fever = American one.
KDH = Kandahar BSN = Bastion
Can’t think of others let me know.
Take care and thank you for all the mail it’s really appreciated.
Amanda.
Hiya am writing this by torchlight as everyone is asleep because we had a late move last night. I am stood down till lunch time.
Well, I am settled into Camp Bastion, it is quite different to Kandahar. It’s huge, very square as it is set out on the American Grid system, very flat so you can see for miles, the mountains are much further away but it is a bigger range here and there is still snow on the top of these ones. I really need to find a map to locate Bastion, and then to name all the mountain ranges to know exactly where I am. The mountains are beautiful the colours change with the time of day. Bastion could also be renamed ISO City, everything is kept in an ISO there are rows and rows of them. (ISO containers that you see stacked up on the ships). One of the lads that died in the fire was a Stevedore down at Marchwood.
We attended the Vigil for 5 soldiers who went home recently, the whole camp parades for a ceremony. It’s very moving. Commanding Officers say a few words then friends have a chance to speak, it allows you to know the individuals. I am going to go and look at the Memorial with everyone’s name on it. There are so many different corps out here it was impossible to name them all. Living with the Army is very interesting they do things very differently to us in the RAF. We have a simple rank structure.... not the Army, you have Warrant Officer but you call him Staff cos he is the Regimental Sergeant Major not Sir, or you could call him Sir. We are in a strange position at the moment because the 6 Aeromed nurses/medics that have moved up here are under the direct control of a WO2 (who doesn’t consider himself the same as our RAF WO) and his chain of command not our own AECO or AELO as we are part of the moving party. We have arrived on mass and the Army keep seeing us as their asset and want to task us off to do things even though we are assuming Aeromed duties immediately. It will all sort itself out on the 1st of March when the move might be complete!!! and we come under our own command structure again. So Russ or Mark any help with the Army rank structure would be appreciated and how they work together in the Logistics!.
I have settled into my tent, have a rug on the floor and everything. Bedding is being sorted (thank you) and under bed storage has been provided. The cot beds are ok getting used to them and starting to sleep properly. My space is about 8ft x 8ft.
I cannot log onto Face book at the moment hence any pictures I just need the time and inclination to sit down and read the book and change the settings. Emma is sending out an SD card hopefully and ii will send pictures home. Talking of pictures would people send me 6x4 photos of themselves to brighten up my “room” I have a brilliant frame but it only hold 6x4.
Work wise, I had really good helicopter flight the other day down to Kandahar. Flew at 50ft all the way because of the nature of the lads injuries we didn’t want any altitude complications. The view was amazing as you can imagine. It’s a beautiful country, saw people in their compounds, working in fields, saw a camel train it was brilliant. Hard to believe that we are at “war” here. Couldn’t take pictures on the way as caring for patients but did so on the way back but we flew at the usual “safe” altitude 3000ft. That tactical ascent is something to experience. We cleared Kandahar at 50ft and for while then all of a sudden we went up directly up!!!!!! I know I let an expletive out!. Better than any Amusement Park ride...50 to 3000ft in seconds. Then the Loadie (Air Loadmaster) took pictures for us and offered in-flight catering Pringles this time!. It was about 1 and half hours there and back.
I am off to Herat at some point. I am going to do the job with Abby who I was in 2nd Poulner Brownies with all those years ago. It’s a small world. She is a Paediatric Doctor out here with the TA. I knew she was here and so was looking out for her.
There are loads of times that I just stop and think wow, or Oh my god I can’t believe I am doing this, watching this, being here. I might hate it sometimes but on the whole I am starting to enjoy the experience it is so far outside anything I have ever done.
They have 3 flag poles by the Role 3 and people can fly a flag for an occasion or in memory of someone so on the 27th Feb (the nearest date I could get) there will be a Union Jack flying over the Role 3 in memory of my Dad. Then you keep the flag.
While we had some free time yesterday we went to visit our American counterparts in the CASAF, they have a really good set up and the Lieutenant who showed us around made us very welcome so we are going to their BBQ at the end of the month and can go and work with them to see how they do their moves. It was really interesting. They have a traditional School bus converted with Stretcher fits to move their patients to the aircraft, so much easy than having a convoy of BFAs ( Battlefield Ambulance) and a minibus with the walkers.
I think that all for now, just time for a small glossary as some people have asked and I don’t always explain.
C130 Hercules Thumper = English one, Fever = American one.
KDH = Kandahar BSN = Bastion
Can’t think of others let me know.
Take care and thank you for all the mail it’s really appreciated.
Amanda.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Sun 13th Feb - Camp Bastion
Hiya as I send this I am lying on my bed in a tent online... its quite amazing really. Not sure if I finished the letter but want to get something sent.
Amanda xxx
Herrick 4
Hiya things have moved on since I sat to write this letter but I will leave the info in....... and continue with current news at the bottom. **
The weather has improved again, it is actually warm enough to sit outside again and yesterday there was a guy sunbathing in his speedos by the blocks. On the other hand I needed my softie (padded warm weather jacket) on last night whilst waiting for the Tri-Star to arrive.
There was an American repatriation ceremony last night, very moving to watch. The airfield taxiway comes to a complete halt while the coffin is ceremonially loaded onto the C17. There are some 50 people on parade, representatives from all Nations present at KAF we can volunteer to represent the UK. I would if I was staying longer at KAF. The Tri-Star got down but passengers weren’t allowed to exit the plane till the ceremony was complete. So we sat out on the pan watching the proceedings then shifted the CCAST team. My first time driving the minibus on the airfield. It was the “Newbies” in control last night but it all went ok. Got to bed just after 4am after the last move. Starting to feel like I know the job. Decided to go to bed when I got in this morning had planned to play badminton at 1pm but were informed at 12 that we needed to be at work for the visit of the Group Captain so am right out of kilter now as only had a few hours of disturbed sleep. They test all the alarms mid morning and that takes about 5 mins of sirens wailing!!. Then they came to fix the door hinge!!.
The Group Captain was very pleasant, on a fact finding mission asking how the troops are getting on the ground.
Before I left KDH I did a tac flight from Bastion (BSN) to KDH that was good it is the job I came out to do. 3 of us came up to take 10 patients back on a Hercules, 7 on stretchers so a fair size move. A mixture of local Nationals and our lads.
I am now based up at Camp Bastion, just going through the “logging in” procedures. Sarah and I after a few hours sleep were on the Firing Range this morning to zero our weapons.(We are well and truly into the wet season both camps have been heavily flooded...Desert..... sand No, yellow mud yes!) So as we were facing the prospect of firing 20 rounds in the prone position the skies darken and we get a full scale thunderstorm .Luckily its very explosive (the tent shelters almost blew away) but all over in a few moments and then the sun did come out and virtually dry up all the rain, so laying down wasn’t so bad after all. Also we got to use the American range that wasn’t as flooded as ours. After that we have just been doing admin, now back in the Pod setting up home.
The accommodation here at Bastion is VERY different to that at Kandahar (KDH, KAF), its permanent tenting that sleeps 8-10 per pod. There is a central corridor and the bathrooms and sleeping areas come off of that. We are on camp beds again, no duvets issued you have to “obtain” them + bedding or use your sleeping bag. We hope to get some up from the KDH rooms that had been bought by individuals. We each have an area approx 6’ x 8’. That we can hang covers up to create more private areas. We are issued a hanging wardrobe. So nowhere to unpack everything so need to organise bag and Bergen accordingly. They are permanently dark as well virtually no natural light gets in. On the plus side they are warm and cosy which is good as the weather has turned very cold and wet. The wet season is apparently late and lasting longer than usual. The bathrooms are ok all metal and the toilets and showers are all raised up 2 steps on a platform.
Most things are tents here apart from the Role 3 hospital that is hard standing. There are 3 pod dining rooms, the food seems ok.
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