Afghanistan or Bust 2007

When I was in Afghanistan in December 2007 I took a few notes of my experiences as well as recording what I needed for the various articles and messages home for the local soldiers who were serving out there on their six-month tour of duty.

They were collected together in what I call The Afghan Diaries and I have recently stumbled across them again and have decided to serialise them – someone did suggest that I should publish them back in the day but I never got around to it.

It is strange to realise that this was actually from almost 15 years ago as it seems like only yesterday. And we start with the days leading upto to my setting off on the trip of a lifetime which I have to admit ticked off an item on my bucket list. And anything in bold is my additional thoughts looking back on that time.

Friday, December 14, 2007:

Visa

IT was one simple piece of paper which almost brought the whole trip to a halt – my visa – but luckily it arrived at the very last minute.

I lost count of the number of times I had to call the Afghanistan Embassy to see how the application was progressing and I seemed to be lost in a tangle of red tape.

In fairness the staff were very helpful and I can’t tell you how relieved I was when the postman rang the buzzer this morning with the much anticipated package in his hand.

Apparently it takes four days to rubber stamp your passport but by Wednesday, when it should have arrived, there was no news. By Thursday it was processed and I was literally begging the guy in the consulate to make sure he posted it otherwise the whole trip was off.

Three weeks seemed plenty time to plan the trip but every day turned up a new obstacle or thing which needed to be arranged. But the lack of a passport, which was left to the mercy of the Royal Mail, seemed to be the final straw.

By the time you read this I should hopefully be at the start of my great adventure and as far as I have ever been from home. It will definitely be an unusual Christmas and one which I will always remember.

As an aside that evening was the works Xmas party at the Royal Hotel in Scarborough and needless to say there were lots of jokes at my expense about appearing in ransom/beheading videos being posted online which hardly settled my nerves.

After my return I did see the health and safety assessment report, which was prepared ahead of the trip, and it was a few inches thick. But having said that the additional premium on the insurance was only a few hundred quid so that was lower than I would have unexpected.

Looking back it might have made sense to send me for some hostile environment training ahead of my trip but it was all arranged rather quickly. I only got the chance because the guy who was supposed to go, who worked for the Yorkshire Post, had broken his leg as I recall.