Monday Business

Business as usual. I didn't join the patrol in the morning, but updated my situation awareness by reading the mail in the PO's inbox instead. After lunch I cleaned my weapons and prepared weekly the Suomi-report, which must be ready by noon on Tuesday. I also finished sorting the PO's paper folders, which had been sadly neglected by my predecessor(s). Then I paid our guard commander 495 dollars for the new equipment vests for the guards. We had agreed on the price of 405 dollars for the vests and 45 for the gasoline to Mazar-e Sharif. I even made a point out of urging the man to try to make a good deal for us, as we were buying a total of 9 equipment vests! But no, the sum on the receipt was 495 and not 450. It almost made me lose my temper, but fortunately I kept my calm, and by doing so saved my face. After all, it's not my money, it's the Swedish taxpayers'. But one thing is certain: the locals try to trick us at every opportunity they get. I've seen enough examples already to draw this conclusion. In the evening I felt like I was coming down with a cold.