Dust, dust and more dust

My B-i-L has just completed his first month of the six month tour of Afghanistan, and has seen the best and worst the theatre has to offer.

There have been three vigils while he has been there, a time when the whole base turns out to see of the coffins of the fallen prior to their repatriation, there have been seven such fatalities so far. There is a religious farewell followed by a mates eulogy, then the minutes silence and the salvo of gun fire. Even reading about it, and transcribing it here sends a chill through the blood.

The medical facilities for the wounded sound first rate, and it is often the seriously maimed who survive, but do not get the press and publicity at our end, who face the hardest battle as they struggle to re-establish themselves outside of the force. Thankfully charities like 'Help for Hero's' and others are starting to make a difference as they strive to help both the personnel and places like Headley Hall where the rehabilitation process begins.

On the more positive side of his tour, he seems to have found a batman, in old speak, who is a bit like Radar in Mash, and can acquire a wide and varied selection of items, both military and civilian , all of which make like a little bit more bearable. He also now has access passes to the Swedish and American compounds giving him a wider choice of restaurants to visit....steak and lobster tails in the US base, and the best coffee in the area from the Swedes.

Communication with the outside world seems good, and we regularly exchange e-mails. He has shoe box size parcels which arrive periodically with malt loaf and maltesers being amongst his requested treats. He also has something called an e-bluey, but I think I will save the explanation of that for another blog entry.