Hello from the sandbox

By: Tpr Bill “GRIMY” Geernaert, T32B Gunner
10 July 2009

 

As the harvesting season has come to an end, things have started to pick up. QRF is responding to a lot of calls and the boys are busy on the tanks to keep them in tiptop shape. We have received the mounting bra for the Leopard 2A6M and they appear to be working well, with Sgt Steve Connauton giving them a test drive. Since the rollers are the first tank out, the crews are feeling a lot safer. It also gives us a chance to give a well deserved R&R for the tired C2s. We are really feeling the pinch from being short a troop, especially with manning run up,OPs as well as QRF. We are still keeping our spirits high because we are over half way done. Canada Day was a bit different, being away from family and friends, but we still had some good laughs. We decorated the tanks in flags and dressed up in some Canada Day fashion wear. Tpr James Lajoie even showed up on Newsnet wearing a very festive tie. To top it all off we received some much deserved packages from home. The Ladies of Regiment worked hard to send us some care packages to remind that we are still a part of the Regt and our families back home are still thinking about us. We would like to expand our thanks to the Taste of Home initiative and the Ladies of the Regiment for the packages, they arrived in perfect time for Canada Day.

 

The weather is still hot and everyone is getting darker or pinker as the days roll on. When we first got here, the Arghandahb River was starting to wash out the causeway. But with the warmer weather, the river is about bone dry. The young Afghan children, though, are still finding watering holes for a quick mid day dip to beat the heat. I am pretty sure that there are more than a few guys here looking forward to that -25 to -50 degree winter in Alberta. Although -25 would be a welcome change, I can’t wait to see that beautiful porcelain throne rather then the blue rocket saunas and being able to eat whatever you like. That being said, we have the best cooks in the BG on the FOB and the food here is quite good. We still have ration days but they are offset by Tp BBQs. Luckily, it’s only BBQ days that we cook for ourselves, otherwise we could be in trouble, but we would lose weight! We are still trying to figure out the best method for cooking the potatoes, but we think we close. Maybe we’ll be able to impress our girlfriends or wives when we get back. Maybe.