Day 129 Week 18

Another soldier killed. This one from the Engineers. They're the ones involved in bomb disposal. Apparently he was helping clear and area when a device exploded and that was that for the poor lamb RIP. The officer in charge refused to say whether this sudden escalation implied that the Moshtarak offensive was actually underway. Apparently it means working together.

The local Afghan population are finding it almost impossible to escape the danger zone because of all the IEDs and in total it is expected fifteen thousand coalition troops will take part, of which four thousand are to be British. When I spoke to C last night he said that the push was supposed to be a hush-hush as stealth was the soldier's friend, but that this was the most open secret of all time.

This is truly horrible.

Mulling over C's call last night, and how odd it was that he should receive a message from his Regiment's HQ to ring home. To go to all that effort usually signifies some sort of urgency and so whilst am heartily pleased it's not to do with us on this occasion, as my colleagues at work pointed out maybe it was sent in error to C and the person who should have received it is completely unaware of the need to contact his family. So it was at half past eight this morning that I firstly rang Winchester and was given the number of a Major in Edinburgh, who I then explained events to. He was terribly nice, if not a little vague, but he did say he'd call Helmund immediately and sort things out. Totally surreal. Ringing Sangin was as mundane to him as it would be for us to pop to the shops.

Work been good but alas there is more threat of the white stuff in the air. There was a smattering of it this morning but the promised deluge has thankfully kept at bay.

Heard from fellow soldier's Mum and she too is paralysed with fear over the upcoming operation. How on earth did people cope during the global wars - six months (if you're very lucky) is long enough to test the sanity without it dragging on for year after year after year.

Well mystery solved. The awfully nice but not so vague Major rang back and it would transpire the children's father has contacted the Regimental Welfare people to express concern over C's condition. I said I thought he sounded tired but fine, which was to be expected under the circumstances, and the Major agreed. They are, however keeping an eye on him. Hard as it is, the homefront must hold it together for the sake of those in peril.

H sent a text saying all was fine and couldn't understand how we'd been contacted in error, but now that one's dealt with. R in good form and I'm going for a long walk after work to try and work off the adrenaline that's pumping through my agitated nervous system.

God love them and keep them safe. Please.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x