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
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