keyhole kate Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 What a day of mixed emotions YD got better than predicted and expected A Level results which she and we are delighted with Whilst DS leaves tonight for a Ten week deployment to Afghanistan we are of course very very proud of him and indeed all our children. It has been a strange day none the less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Oh Keyhole Kate, what a tough day for you!! Many congratulations for your Daughter, and love and best wishes to your son....let's hope those 10 weeks fly by...I'm sure it will feel like an eternity for you...but they will pass...xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 You should be very proud of them both . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Well done to your daughter, is she going for work or university, lots in the papers about the choices young people are making this year. Good luck to your son in Afghanistan. It's a nasty day, saying goodbye, it's a tough place. Best wishes, he will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 You should be very proud of them both . Just what I was going to say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 well done to both of them and you for doing a good job and godwilling to keep him safe Ali x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 well done both of them my nephew is in Afghanistan at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Well done to both of them you are justifably proud of them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Well done to them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Sorry, slightly off topic. (Hi, is it your son's first deployment? If so, if I can tell you anything useful I would be happy to. For example, if you're sending care parcels, they sometimes used to be raided by mice before my son got them, so we would pack them in bin liners with that very thick brown tape, it uses up some weight allowance but at least what they get hasn't been nibbled. Socks, books & magazines are always wanted. I once forgot and packed a spray can, and the parcel got sent back to me to take the offending article out. The poor postwoman was so sorry because she'd had to bring it back, I couldn't stop her apologising, it was my silly fault.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 Sorry, slightly off topic. (Hi, is it your son's first deployment? If so, if I can tell you anything useful I would be happy to. For example, if you're sending care parcels, they sometimes used to be raided by mice before my son got them, so we would pack them in bin liners with that very thick brown tape, it uses up some weight allowance but at least what they get hasn't been nibbled. Socks, books & magazines are always wanted. I once forgot and packed a spray can, and the parcel got sent back to me to take the offending article out. The poor postwoman was so sorry because she'd had to bring it back, I couldn't stop her apologising, it was my silly fault.) Hi Patsylabrador Yes 1st deployment any advice or tips would be very welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Congratulations to your Daughter and hats off to your Son, I am sure you are very proud of them both, sounds like you've done a flippin' good job!!! Re PL's post, I always send "goodie boxes" to the guys in Afghan with Operation Shoe Box at Christmas, I spend AGES choosing what to put in them (the list of "possibles" seems a bit odd to me) but I hope there's something in them that the guys (and girls) might like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Hi, re care parcels, you'd be surprised what the soldiers crave. ES was in a small PB close to Taleban compound so just basics were exciting to get. They had no chef or catering so families sent things like paxo stuffing. The spice mixes were great for livening up rations & you are popular if you send Tabasco. I sent out one of those toasters for campfires and they somehow made flatbreads to cook in it. Estonian soldiers are good at that apparently. I found the satellite phone difficult, it would fade out several times during conversations, we kind of gave up and just used e-blueys. They are brill, if you don't know about them I will find the link. Also, single soldiers tend to barter their phone minutes with married dads which I think is reasonable. If it's ok with everyone I'll just post things that might be useful to you on this thread. It's all based on ES's letters when he was there. BTW if anyone likes reading military books, 'Dead Men Risen' by Tony Harnden is about snipers at PB Shamal Storrai where ES was, although the following year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 My sister is there at the moment. She really likes to receive savoury as well as sweet nibbles - nuts, raisins, pepperami, ginger all of those sorts of things go down well. We also send cakes and bakes and have discovered that Ginger cake, Grasmere Gingerbread and Fruit cake all travel well. They take about 2 weeks to get there but always go down well. As she is based in one of the main bases there she can get pretty much anything on the base, but still appreciates stuff from home. Facilities vary so much depending on where they are based! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 You must be feeling a mixture of pride in both your children and fear for your son. I hope the time flies by before he is back with you safely. My son joined the army last year and he's still in training with another year to go. I'm hoping he never gets deployed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Thank you everyone I think it just takes time to get your head around he has a wife and baby so far worse for them than me. He managed to email us from Cyprus en route but nothing since I understand they have limited phone time I expect him to use his time to ring his wife she can filter news to us. He explained eblueyes and gave he gave me all the neccessary info and I will set this up tomorrow he loves biscuits,cakes sweets he's a big kid really Any tips or experience you can pass on is welcomed Many Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Awww Lynn, have a couple of hugs from me. One for DD - well done!! One for DS - good luck!! Have one yourself for being such a great mum xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 I seem to remeber before there is a way to send care packages even if you havent got a relative over there, I would be interested if anyone has any info thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 I'm quite sure that it's BeckyBoo who knows a lot about care packages for troops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Awww Lynn, have a couple of hugs from me. One for DD - well done!! One for DS - good luck!! Have one yourself for being such a great mum xxxx Aw thanks Clootie we got a call from him today after all sorts of problems dodgy aircraft missed slots etc he has finaly arrived said it was hotter than hell but his accom has air con and he has sniffed out pizza hut honestly I don't know why I was worrying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Pizza Hut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
