Day 16 Week 3

Did you know you can be located anywhere in the world if you have a mobile phone on you - even if it's switched off? Also - and if I didn't have this from the source who imparted it I would not believe a word - it can pick up all conversation in close vacinity (whether switched on or off), and therefore you're dear little mobile phone is actually a sonic listening device. That's why the soldiers have to take their batteries out and render them useless.

Life is now all about juxtapositions. I am sort of re-entering my old life but there is a constant awareness that at any moment it could erupt into chaos, not that my life isn't prone to erupting into chaos anyway. Sent C off an ipod doc yesterday, his girlfriend sent him the Twilight books and a good friend is sending toilletries. My Aunt and Uncle are assembling a package of goodies to be sent from Nottighamshire and R has created a beautiful album of memories and messages she will send this week. My closest friend is looking into sending stuff out to C'c men because as she pointed out some people join the Army because they have no one else. It's so odd to think of such everyday, normal appliances being sent to a battle zone. It's as if by week 3 we've got used to it and almost acclimatised to it.

A colleague I work with said his favourite juxtaposition was a bird sitting on high tension power cables. All that might and power unaffecting something so delicate and beautiful. Please God and St Therese we haven't all been lulled into a false sense of security.

I've got an obsession at the moment with the apparent lack of morality and denuding of standards that now appears to be the norm. When did the 'f' word become an accepted adjective? When did spitting become something to do in the open? When did we begin to tolerate drivers screaming and shouting at each other? When did guns and knives become an accepted aspect of life in London? Everywhere we appear to be surrounded by violence and agression and yet we're not - or at least we shouldn't be in a civilised society. The people who are trained to work in an environment of application of physical force have codes and ethics drummed into them. When did we lose interest in responsibility and throw all the emphasis on personal rights regardles of how they impact on others?

Apparently all the MPs who should, as a matter of honour resign because the've been fiddling everything from dog food to moats are hanging on because if they go before the end of a session of parliament, they could lose up to £50k in pension rights. What a fine example they are.

Definitely feel poo today. The sore throat and achey bones have kicked in and so as soon as the nurse has been to dress my wound am going to rededicate myself to my mattress.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x