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
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
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
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