Day 200 Week 28

Two hundred days. A whole two hundred days. And to celebrate had the most incredible, fantastic, momentous news ever wished for.

C is no longer in Afghanistan.

Yes, can hardly believe it, but C is no longer in that desperately ravaged, alien land playing a hideous game of kill or be killed.

Finding it very difficult to write tonight as for all the world never once did I imagine all those dark, scary, lonely, terrifying weeks ago that I would find out by virtue of a virtual chat room that my younger son was actually, in his words, 'a third of the way home'. Now, of course, the task is trying to calculate with limited information and unknown geography, just where in the world he is.

Sent the round robin text message and as ever was blown away by the love and best wishes of everyone.

Never dare I wish this day would arrive. Never did I stop praying it would.

Saw on the MoD website that today is also the day 3 Rifles officially hand over control of the menacing terrain around Sangin to the Marines and in superb British phlegm was informed that the first task to be undertaken was a renaming ceremony. So it is that the loos are now 'heads', the cookhouse is a 'galley', brews are 'wets' and scoffs (food) are 'scrans'. Good to know priorities are recognised.

Heard from H and he said simply 'Ma the best news'. R being sweet and took me out in the car. No more news about my wandering soldier boy.

Nice new friend looking after me and fellow soldier's mum also daring to see a light at the end of the tunnel which may, possibly, not be an express train coming from the opposite direction after all.

Downside is ankles are vile.

Thank you Lord and please still keep your arms around him.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x