Out with the Swedes

Before breakfast we had a group picture taken on the sundeck. This was the last opportunity for it, as from now on someone of the permanent crew of the Provincial Office will always be on leave. At 0930 the guys from PRT staff arrived and we started our backbrief. It was shorter than I expected, so I did get a chance to go out with the Swedes to the firing range after all. (That is what I had planned all along, but the staff wanted to have the backbrief when the CO is still here, instead of on Friday, as it was originally planned. Everything seems to change on very, very short notice around here. Perhaps it's just as well.)

The life firing excercise area that we use is only about 20 minutes away. The police must of course be notified and we must guard the area ourselves. Unfortunately, we spotted sheep and some shepherds only 1625 metres behind the target area (we checked the distance with a laser range-finder) so the Swedes' original plan to shoot with all weapons had to be altered (what was it that I just said?) They practised with some of their non-lethal and training ammunition instead, and did some drills without live ammunition. I stood guard, observed the training ground and took many pictures of the incredibly beautiful landscape.


The Swedes prepare the life-fire exercise


The interpreter came along in case we meet any locals


I stood guard and watched the area


Ring Road 5 could be seen in the distance

We took the long way back, driving through the city instead of on the main road. My phone rang: It was the staff letting me know that the air-conditoning repair guy would come some time tomorrow or the day after that. Probably. People were still dressed-up and looking happy, but there were less people out in the streets. When we arrived at the safe-house, I took some more pictures of the poor stray dogs sleeping outside our gate. They always sleep in the daytime, and start barking after dark. The guards must be feeding them.


The bigger dog, a male, is sometimes sleeping in the middle of the street


This one is much smaller. She looks a little bit like Villa!

Some children (boys, always boys) came up to us talking and laughing. One of them lifted up his shirt and pulled out a real-size, black toy pistol from his trousers. Another boy took out a silver-coloured pistol. I immeatedly sent one of the guards to fetch one of our IP's (interpreters), and had him explain to the kids that they should never play with weapons in front of soldiers. We might not know the difference.

The days are so busy that I find it hard to get some time to myself - to write this, to do some physical excersice and to rest. That is not likely to change in the near future as the CO goes on leave and I'll be in charge. On top it all, I'm DO (Duty Officer) for the first time today, which means even less sleep. Or, it just might change, just like everything else down here.