CHRISTMAS WITH FS20 IN AFGHANISTAN

Diary Entries

Week 51, 20–26 December 2010

The days leading up to Christmas Eve were fairly quiet. On one of those days, our section and a lorry went out on patrol. It was good fun and a useful opportunity for everyone to put their training into practice. My navigation skills in Afghanistan were a little rusty, but with the help of technology and my memory, we managed to find our way without taking any wrong turns.

We had a pleasant Christmas Eve with the Americans, with good food but not much of a Christmas atmosphere. We carried on working during the day, but just as we were about to sit down for some gingerbread biscuits and mulled wine, we were ordered to move all the bloody stuff from the old B Gate to the new one.

Christmas Day started early. Up at 0230 hours. The platoon headed out along Route Libra and through the surrounding villages. An OK day, good weather. The ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) are quite entertaining. Out of the blue, they fired a burst of shots at some birds on a lake. My platoon commander had to tell them off. On another occasion, they opened fire with a machine gun, but at least they warned us beforehand.

I don't know how much we're actually achieving here. The ANSF charge ahead like bats out of hell, tearing through villages and kicking up clouds of dust.

Boxing Day started just as early. ANSF again. We headed west into a somewhat more troublesome area. We stopped at a checkpoint in the middle of nowhere. We invited them to come out and play, but nobody wanted to join in.

"Anders"