December
TUESDAY 1.12.98 6.45pm
Last night Liz Dalton (British) and Michael (Germany) came round to the house so we had a bit of a BBQ again!! Went to bed at 11pm really tired. Today I went to Ilijaš and saw Zdenko for a coffee and chat but apart from that nothing else happening. At present I’ve just watched a video “7 years in Tibet” and I’m having a beer. It’s been snowing again all day today but it’s that wet sort of snow so it’s hardly settled on the roads. Roll on the 19th of this month. I don’t know but this stretch of 30 days hasn’t been good for me so far. Maybe after coming back the next time it’ll be better. Only two weeks and five days to go!!! The British Contingency Meeting is scheduled for 12th January at Banja Luka, that should be a barrel of laughs because of the distance involved. I’ll probably have to stay the night somewhere as the meeting doesn’t start until 2pm and it’ll be dark going back. See Ya.
WEDNESDAY 2.12.98 6.35pm
Didn’t do anything after work last night, just watched TV and fell asleep at 12 midnight!
Today has been uneventful, tried to show Adamu (Ghana) how to use the computer programme called “Lotus Notes” correctly but he keeps ballsing it up. He’s keen though and that’s a blessing. The two Hungarians, Zsolt and Gergely have started CTO (leave) today so the station is minus two of its five Europeans!! Tonight we’re having Spaghetti Bolognaise in the house. We’ve invited Michael (Germany) Liz Dalton and Aleksandra (Language Assistant) across for a meal and chat. It breaks the night up!!
Must dash now and do a bit. See Ya!!
PS Einstein is outside barking his head off and it’s snowing like mad!!
Today has been uneventful, tried to show Adamu (Ghana) how to use the computer programme called “Lotus Notes” correctly but he keeps ballsing it up. He’s keen though and that’s a blessing. The two Hungarians, Zsolt and Gergely have started CTO (leave) today so the station is minus two of its five Europeans!! Tonight we’re having Spaghetti Bolognaise in the house. We’ve invited Michael (Germany) Liz Dalton and Aleksandra (Language Assistant) across for a meal and chat. It breaks the night up!!
Must dash now and do a bit. See Ya!!
PS Einstein is outside barking his head off and it’s snowing like mad!!
THURSDAY 3.12.98 6.55pm
Had spaghetti bolognaise with Alma, Markus and Michael then a few beers and a few gins! Michael (Germany) stayed the night as he was well gone. Got up at 7.30pm this morning and felt awful, took a few paracetamol and a mug of tea and improved during the day!! So far it's stopped snowing but the roads are icy and it’s cold. We’ve still not got any wood for the fire, I dread to think what the electric bill's going to be!! Alma who works with Austria Airlines told Markus that my name is on their computer for the flight from Sarajevo to Vienna but nothing else!! That’s great isn’t it!!! I’ll wait another week or so and then start going mental!!!
Nadeem (Pakistan) has just come to the house scrounging the car for his own monkey business!! I’ve got the TV on but there’s no films or serials on just yet. I think that I’ll read my book tonight and go to bed early. See Ya.
Nadeem (Pakistan) has just come to the house scrounging the car for his own monkey business!! I’ve got the TV on but there’s no films or serials on just yet. I think that I’ll read my book tonight and go to bed early. See Ya.
FRIDAY 4.12.98 6pm
Last night after writing I dossed about watching some non-descript film on the TV and read my book until 12.30am and then crashed out in bed. Woke up at 6.45am this morning to the sound of rain belting down and the sound of thunder blasting away overhead. The skies are clear now and it's windy and icy cold. All I’ve done today is write a few reports and then go to “Alma” for a Ćevapčići at lunch time. I keep trying to show Adamu how to use the computer but it's like peeing in the wind!! Tonight I’ve put a load of washing into the machine (it’s only a small washer) and I’ve got a load more after that!! Problem is the plug for the washer is Swiss and has three points so we have to take the adapter from the fridge, which is also Swiss, to use it!! In the ice compartment is a load of frozen bratwurst (20) so it’s a right job! Markus has just made some bockwurst (frankfurters) so we’re eating those with German corn bread – very nice. Tonight we intend going out into Vogošća for a drink in Viteroŝ, it’s a local coffee bar that sells beer and spirits as well. It makes a change from sitting about the house wondering what the hell to do next. Fifteen more nights to go including this one and I’ll be back in Nottingham again! At least when I come back I’ll be able to draw my pay straight away! At work I keep trying to write letters on the computer but I can’t think of much to say and this time I must go and visit the nick when I’m home. I’ve hardly seen my own shift. Moneywise I’ve put aside 1000 DEM for pocket money and I’ve got about 150 DEM to live on for the next two weeks. With any luck that should be enough.
Oh well, I’ll get off now and see if this bloody washing is done yet. See Ya!!
Oh well, I’ll get off now and see if this bloody washing is done yet. See Ya!!
MONDAY 7.12.98 6.40pm
Sorry for not keeping up to date, I’ll try and fill in now.
On Friday night we hit the “hot spots” of Vogošća Coffee Bar “Azra” where we had several beers. It was crowded inside and you didn’t need to light a cigarette as it was smokey enough. At about 10.30pm we moved next door to Viteroŝ Coffee bar and had a drink with the owner and a friend of his. By this time I was “happy” and we ended up going with the owner (I still don’t know his name) in his car to a restaurant called “AS” where there was live music (Bosnian Folk). I really enjoyed myself. The waiter was a middle aged bloke who used to work in the restaurant down the road from where I live (“Grill Guc”). So we got very good service. Eventually went to bed at 2am on Saturday morning!!
On Saturday got up at 7.30am and felt awful. Had a tea and a couple of paracetamol and felt better later but didn’t do too much on that day at all!! Went to bed at about 11.30pm after reading a book I’d scrounged from Aleksandra.
On Sunday got up at 7am feeling great and went into work at 7.55am (is this a record). In the afternoon we received a fax requesting lots of stupid information so I started on the report for that. After typing four solid pages on the computer I saved it on a floppy disk after printing it. Problem was the program was blank when I put the floppy back in!! So I left it until today (Monday). On Sunday night had ONE beer and did my ironing (uniform etc). Went to bed at 12 midnight after reading another book that I’d scrounged from Aleksandra.
Today (Monday) I sat down at the computer at 8.30am and cracked on with a load of paperwork – those reports from Sunday and an incident report for today (Man found in possession of loaded pistol). Eventually got sorted out at 2.30pm!! I then went across to the house and had a bite to eat. Finished work at 4.15pm:- Forgot to mention:- Yesterday Josef (Austria) who used to be at this station is leaving the Mission on Thursday and he didn’t know where to have his “leaving do” so we offered our house to him. He was very grateful and today he gave Markus and I a Maric Theresa Silver Dollar and some Austrian Police badges each. We will do the catering for him etc and he will foot the bill. The parties scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm onwards. (Here we go again!!).
At present I’m listening to a “Blues Brothers” CD and drinking beer. Outside it’s stopped snowing but is very icy. The Jordanians, Indians and Pakistani’s don’t like it at all!!!
See Ya!!
On Friday night we hit the “hot spots” of Vogošća Coffee Bar “Azra” where we had several beers. It was crowded inside and you didn’t need to light a cigarette as it was smokey enough. At about 10.30pm we moved next door to Viteroŝ Coffee bar and had a drink with the owner and a friend of his. By this time I was “happy” and we ended up going with the owner (I still don’t know his name) in his car to a restaurant called “AS” where there was live music (Bosnian Folk). I really enjoyed myself. The waiter was a middle aged bloke who used to work in the restaurant down the road from where I live (“Grill Guc”). So we got very good service. Eventually went to bed at 2am on Saturday morning!!
On Saturday got up at 7.30am and felt awful. Had a tea and a couple of paracetamol and felt better later but didn’t do too much on that day at all!! Went to bed at about 11.30pm after reading a book I’d scrounged from Aleksandra.
On Sunday got up at 7am feeling great and went into work at 7.55am (is this a record). In the afternoon we received a fax requesting lots of stupid information so I started on the report for that. After typing four solid pages on the computer I saved it on a floppy disk after printing it. Problem was the program was blank when I put the floppy back in!! So I left it until today (Monday). On Sunday night had ONE beer and did my ironing (uniform etc). Went to bed at 12 midnight after reading another book that I’d scrounged from Aleksandra.
Today (Monday) I sat down at the computer at 8.30am and cracked on with a load of paperwork – those reports from Sunday and an incident report for today (Man found in possession of loaded pistol). Eventually got sorted out at 2.30pm!! I then went across to the house and had a bite to eat. Finished work at 4.15pm:- Forgot to mention:- Yesterday Josef (Austria) who used to be at this station is leaving the Mission on Thursday and he didn’t know where to have his “leaving do” so we offered our house to him. He was very grateful and today he gave Markus and I a Maric Theresa Silver Dollar and some Austrian Police badges each. We will do the catering for him etc and he will foot the bill. The parties scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm onwards. (Here we go again!!).
At present I’m listening to a “Blues Brothers” CD and drinking beer. Outside it’s stopped snowing but is very icy. The Jordanians, Indians and Pakistani’s don’t like it at all!!!
See Ya!!
THURSDAY 10.12.98 5.45pm
,Missed a couple of days so I’ll bring you up to date. Josef’s party last Monday was very good, Michael and Stefan (Germany) stayed the night! The party broke up at about 11.30pm due to the weather (very cold) but all had a good time. I got a U.N. Flag and got everyone to sign their names on it for Josef and he was very happy about that!
On Tuesday we had a bit of food left so Markus and I had a Bar-B.Q. on the balcony of our house in the snow!! Also on Tuesday Ann from the S.R.S.G’s office came round and gave me 10 tickets to sell for an Irish group called “RIG the JIG”. They’re on on Friday 11th so we’re going to that concert as well. We’ve also been invited to a “do” at the Italian MP’s at Zetra camp so that should prove interesting!! On Tuesday night I stayed at home reading a book all night and watching the odd load of garbage on the telly!
Yesterday I had a load of paperwork to do so I was stuck in the station all day tapping away on the computer keyboard. In the morning I went to Vogošća Police Station and did a weapons check, all was in order. Again, at night time I stayed at home and read a book. The weather is freezing cold outside, and bloody awful.
Today we had a message from Ilijaš Police Station that there was two exhumations, one at Podlugovi and the other at Sudići Ilijaš. I took Edin and went but it was only some Serbs taking their family dead and re-burying them elsewhere. All the paperwork was in order and it was legal. At Podlugovi I was standing in the middle of a Serb Orthodox cemetery at Podlugovi drinking Rakija and eating smoked beef with two local cops and a Serb lady at 10.30am. Crazy isn’t it!! After that I went to Ilijaš Police Station and saw Muhammed and Zdenko and had a coffee with them. I told Muhammed (he’s the Chief of Police) that I had done the “surprise” weapons check and everything was in order. He liked that one!!!! Tomorrow I’ll go again to Ilijaš and possibly have a meal with Muhammed and Zdenko. Markus also wants to go as he doesn’t get out to them very often due to his duties. (He’s Admin and M.T.O officer).
Again tonight the sun's gone down and it’s freezing cold. I’ve got three electric fires on full pelt in the front room and I’m still cold. We’ve still got no firewood so just to get warm I burnt a load of cardboard! It’s really funny to see the Arabs and Indians etc dressing up for the cold!! During the day it’s not too bad as yet but they’re all wearing jumpers, overcoats and balaclavas!! As yet all I’ve worn is my normal coat and no gloves!!! Last Wednesday Alma (Austrian Airlines) phoned up. So far my names on their computer but only for the flight from Sarajevo to Vienna, there’s no other details after that and I’m supposed to be getting my “free” ticket from them. So, today I phoned Liz Dalton who’s our Deputy Contingent Commander for welfare reasons and she’s going to E-mail Mike Holdsworth so that he can phone Mike Rolf in the U.K. who then goes to the government to find out what’s happening!! It’s a bit of a saga isn’t it!! Einstein (the dog) has just come in for a warm up and a drink of milk, he can open doors on his own now and it gets to be a pain in the bum having to kick him out of the house and close the door again!! Tonight is another “in night”. After paying my share of telephone bills, rent, food etc I’m just about broke. Oh well that’s life. See Ya!!
On Tuesday we had a bit of food left so Markus and I had a Bar-B.Q. on the balcony of our house in the snow!! Also on Tuesday Ann from the S.R.S.G’s office came round and gave me 10 tickets to sell for an Irish group called “RIG the JIG”. They’re on on Friday 11th so we’re going to that concert as well. We’ve also been invited to a “do” at the Italian MP’s at Zetra camp so that should prove interesting!! On Tuesday night I stayed at home reading a book all night and watching the odd load of garbage on the telly!
Yesterday I had a load of paperwork to do so I was stuck in the station all day tapping away on the computer keyboard. In the morning I went to Vogošća Police Station and did a weapons check, all was in order. Again, at night time I stayed at home and read a book. The weather is freezing cold outside, and bloody awful.
Today we had a message from Ilijaš Police Station that there was two exhumations, one at Podlugovi and the other at Sudići Ilijaš. I took Edin and went but it was only some Serbs taking their family dead and re-burying them elsewhere. All the paperwork was in order and it was legal. At Podlugovi I was standing in the middle of a Serb Orthodox cemetery at Podlugovi drinking Rakija and eating smoked beef with two local cops and a Serb lady at 10.30am. Crazy isn’t it!! After that I went to Ilijaš Police Station and saw Muhammed and Zdenko and had a coffee with them. I told Muhammed (he’s the Chief of Police) that I had done the “surprise” weapons check and everything was in order. He liked that one!!!! Tomorrow I’ll go again to Ilijaš and possibly have a meal with Muhammed and Zdenko. Markus also wants to go as he doesn’t get out to them very often due to his duties. (He’s Admin and M.T.O officer).
Again tonight the sun's gone down and it’s freezing cold. I’ve got three electric fires on full pelt in the front room and I’m still cold. We’ve still got no firewood so just to get warm I burnt a load of cardboard! It’s really funny to see the Arabs and Indians etc dressing up for the cold!! During the day it’s not too bad as yet but they’re all wearing jumpers, overcoats and balaclavas!! As yet all I’ve worn is my normal coat and no gloves!!! Last Wednesday Alma (Austrian Airlines) phoned up. So far my names on their computer but only for the flight from Sarajevo to Vienna, there’s no other details after that and I’m supposed to be getting my “free” ticket from them. So, today I phoned Liz Dalton who’s our Deputy Contingent Commander for welfare reasons and she’s going to E-mail Mike Holdsworth so that he can phone Mike Rolf in the U.K. who then goes to the government to find out what’s happening!! It’s a bit of a saga isn’t it!! Einstein (the dog) has just come in for a warm up and a drink of milk, he can open doors on his own now and it gets to be a pain in the bum having to kick him out of the house and close the door again!! Tonight is another “in night”. After paying my share of telephone bills, rent, food etc I’m just about broke. Oh well that’s life. See Ya!!
FRIDAY 11.12.98 4.45pm
Last night at about 8pm Mike Holdsworth (Chief Insp who came out with my contingent and is also responsible for welfare) came and stayed the night at our house. He’s stationed up in Bihać but had business in Sarajevo. He was supposed to be staying with Dino Ferrari but got let down so we put him up. I also told him about my problems regarding air tickets and he’ll get in touch with Mike Rolf. It was so cold today that I lurked in the station all day. The sun' s just gone down and this house is freezing!! We really must sort out some wood soon and get that fire going.
Tonight we’re off to see an Irish Folk Group in Sarajevo called “Rig the Jig” the tickets cost 20 DEM each so they’d better be good. The show starts at 8pm and we’re planning to go at 6.30pm. I’m really starting to worry about my airline ticket now, I’m sure that it’s only a slight mix up but I’ve just realised that after the weekend I’ve only got five days in which to sort it all out!! Tomorrow I may go to the Lufthansa desk at Sarajevo airport and see if my names booked onto their flights.
Einstein the dog is in the house at the moment, he’s just been fed and he’s sleeping opposite a radiator. He really stinks as well. We’ll have to wash him and de-flee him again before I start running around licking my backside!!!
When Mike Holdsworth was here I had a few Heineken Beers, he went to bed at 11pm and I stayed up watching a John Wayne film until 1.30am. I feel a bit tired now so I think that I’ll get a shower before going to the bash.
I forgot I also asked Holdsworth about the tax thing, I was informed that we had to be “Non-resident” in the UK for the financial year 5th April – 5th April. Then we can get the back tax returned. Problem is our end of Mission is scheduled for the 1st April 1999 so we’re going to have to stay out of the country on “leave” until the 6th April. It’s well worth it though! When I’m back in UK on this CTO I’ll have to go to the tax office and get some application forms. Our telephone bill came in the other day as well – it’s well over 400 DEM. We’ve just paid the last one of 460 DEM so it’s going to have to wait until pay day. We’ve also asked for an itemised bill again. We did it before and found calls to Luxembourg, Croatia and Former Yugoslavia on it that we’ve not made!! They’ve all been made when the cleaning lady’s here so she’s going to have some pain very shortly!!! My shoes are dropping to bits in the snow. My left one is coming apart at the front, the sole is leaving the upper. I’ll see if I can get hold of some superglue and fix it.
At lunchtime today Markus, Stefan, Mladen, Aleksandra, and self all piled down to “Alma’s”, they’ve opened a restaurant above the coffee bar now and sell chicken + chips + Pizza. I had half a grilled chicken + chips with a coke. It cost me 8 DEM which isn’t bad. I’ll certainly go again for a nosh. Well I’d better get off now and make myself beautiful for tonight. See Ya.
Tonight we’re off to see an Irish Folk Group in Sarajevo called “Rig the Jig” the tickets cost 20 DEM each so they’d better be good. The show starts at 8pm and we’re planning to go at 6.30pm. I’m really starting to worry about my airline ticket now, I’m sure that it’s only a slight mix up but I’ve just realised that after the weekend I’ve only got five days in which to sort it all out!! Tomorrow I may go to the Lufthansa desk at Sarajevo airport and see if my names booked onto their flights.
Einstein the dog is in the house at the moment, he’s just been fed and he’s sleeping opposite a radiator. He really stinks as well. We’ll have to wash him and de-flee him again before I start running around licking my backside!!!
When Mike Holdsworth was here I had a few Heineken Beers, he went to bed at 11pm and I stayed up watching a John Wayne film until 1.30am. I feel a bit tired now so I think that I’ll get a shower before going to the bash.
I forgot I also asked Holdsworth about the tax thing, I was informed that we had to be “Non-resident” in the UK for the financial year 5th April – 5th April. Then we can get the back tax returned. Problem is our end of Mission is scheduled for the 1st April 1999 so we’re going to have to stay out of the country on “leave” until the 6th April. It’s well worth it though! When I’m back in UK on this CTO I’ll have to go to the tax office and get some application forms. Our telephone bill came in the other day as well – it’s well over 400 DEM. We’ve just paid the last one of 460 DEM so it’s going to have to wait until pay day. We’ve also asked for an itemised bill again. We did it before and found calls to Luxembourg, Croatia and Former Yugoslavia on it that we’ve not made!! They’ve all been made when the cleaning lady’s here so she’s going to have some pain very shortly!!! My shoes are dropping to bits in the snow. My left one is coming apart at the front, the sole is leaving the upper. I’ll see if I can get hold of some superglue and fix it.
At lunchtime today Markus, Stefan, Mladen, Aleksandra, and self all piled down to “Alma’s”, they’ve opened a restaurant above the coffee bar now and sell chicken + chips + Pizza. I had half a grilled chicken + chips with a coke. It cost me 8 DEM which isn’t bad. I’ll certainly go again for a nosh. Well I’d better get off now and make myself beautiful for tonight. See Ya.
SATURDAY 12.12.98 4.50pm
Went into Sarajevo at 6.30pm with Markus for the “Rig the Jig” concert but the bar wasn’t open so we had to hang about for a while. The concert was quite good but I don’t think that I’d go again – they were charging 4 DEM for a beer!!! Got back at about midnight and the next thing that I know was waking up at 6.30am still sitting on the settee! I thought, “sod it”, and went to bed for an hour. Got up at 7.45am and went into work. Baloch (Station Commander) started his CTO at 12.00 today so I’m now officially in charge. This morning I had a telephone call from Mike Holdsworth regarding my airline tickets. He’d been in contact with Mike Rolf, all’s okay it’s just that the Government hasn’t paid for them yet and that’s why the details aren’t on the Austria Airlines computer. Once they’re paid for all will come together, all the places booked on the different airlines are confirmed and the tickets will be paid for on Monday 14th December.
At present I’ve got a stack of washing in the machine so that I’ve not got many “dirties” left for my CTO next Saturday. Weatherwise, it’s not snowed apart from a few light showers for the past few days now but it’s getting colder and colder. During the day it’s averaging minus 3-5 degrees. Night time is obviously a lot lower!! I’ll be off now. Dobra Večer!!
At present I’ve got a stack of washing in the machine so that I’ve not got many “dirties” left for my CTO next Saturday. Weatherwise, it’s not snowed apart from a few light showers for the past few days now but it’s getting colder and colder. During the day it’s averaging minus 3-5 degrees. Night time is obviously a lot lower!! I’ll be off now. Dobra Večer!!
SUNDAY 13.12.98 5.15pm
As usual I fell asleep watching the TV last night at about 9pm. I woke up at 11.30pm and went to bed. Woke up at 5.30am and couldn’t sleep again so I got up and dossed about until 8am. Went into work and sorted out a load of check point requests from the local police. I did all the check point policy reports and knocked out all the permits, believe me it took forever. There was also an incident in the early hours of the morning where an off duty local cop from Breza had his gun taken from him in the restaurant “AS” at Donji Hotonj. I sent Stefan to get the details and the Incident Report but he made such a mess of the report I had to put it in “edit” and re-type the lot!!! Had a quick lunch of chicken at “Alma” and then straight back to the station for more reports. (The check point policy report isn’t supposed to go in until next Thursday but I thought that I’d get it out of the way!!). Finished work at 4.30pm. Tonight Markus and I have been invited to a leaving do for one of the Italian MP’s at Zetra camp in Sarajevo. Problem is with it being Army we have to go in uniform which is a bit of a bummer!! I wanted to go to the Norwegian PX today to get Del’s cigs (Dunhill Menthol) but I could hardly get out of the station. Maybe I’ll get them tomorrow.
We had a few flurries of snow again today but nothing to shout about. At least all the washing I did yesterday is dry, who knows, I may iron it tomorrow!!! Must get off now and grab a wash. See Ya (Vidimo Se).
JEDAN, DVA, TRI, ČETIRI, PET, ŠEST, SEDAM, OSAM, DEVET, DESET
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN
We had a few flurries of snow again today but nothing to shout about. At least all the washing I did yesterday is dry, who knows, I may iron it tomorrow!!! Must get off now and grab a wash. See Ya (Vidimo Se).
JEDAN, DVA, TRI, ČETIRI, PET, ŠEST, SEDAM, OSAM, DEVET, DESET
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN
MONDAY 14.12.98 6pm
Went out at 7pm last night with Markus – We first dropped Olivera off from the station to her home in Kula and then went to the Italian MP’s base at Zetra Camp, Sarajevo. Had an excellent evening, there was a row of tables set out lengthways with white table clothes on. After introduction about 30 people sat down and we had pasta in bolognaise sauce and then beef steak + chips washed down with loads and loads of wine. I really enjoyed myself. On Wednesday we’ve been invited to go shooting with them, that should be interesting. Got back home at about midnight and promptly crashed out in bed.
Got up at 8am and rolled into work but didn’t do much. Went to the Norwegian PX to get Del’s cigs but they’ve only got Marlborough lights in menthol so I’ve had to get her a carton of them. Went onto the French PX but it’s shut for renovation until 20th December. After that we went to Butmir in Republika Srpska and bought x4 Sony PlayStation Disks and 4 CD’s (Music) total cost 132 DEM. It snowed heavily again last night, it was about 4” deep when we came out of Zetra camp. Luckily the roads were okay.
To date still no news regarding my flight tickets home. I’ll give it until Wednesday and then start panicking again!! Yesterday I started wearing my uniform jumper for the first time, I seem to be feeling the cold a bit now. Tonight I intend to do a bit of ironing and have some fried eggs, beans and bread with a mug of tea. How’s that for sheer luxury. So far I’ve only had a chicken sandwich that I bought at the Norwegian PX and I’m starving!! As usual there’s a load of crap on the Telly, sometimes we get a decent film but the reception is poor. I’ll get off now and set the ironing board up. See Ya!!
7.20pm (6.20pm English time) Phoned Del up, heard that Akuma is at it again, he’s scratched a swastika into the bonnet of Del’s car and on another day has thrown oil over it. He’s also been making several threatening telephone calls and also threatened to “burn her out” meaning he’s going to set fire to my house!! At least Sarah’s going to see a solicitor in the morning to get an injunction against him, this is going too far now, he should be prosecuted. I just hope that the idiot doesn’t start coming round when I’m home on leave, I’d rather a third party arrested him! That’s about it really, I just wish that that disgusting creature was behind bars for a long time! See Ya.
Got up at 8am and rolled into work but didn’t do much. Went to the Norwegian PX to get Del’s cigs but they’ve only got Marlborough lights in menthol so I’ve had to get her a carton of them. Went onto the French PX but it’s shut for renovation until 20th December. After that we went to Butmir in Republika Srpska and bought x4 Sony PlayStation Disks and 4 CD’s (Music) total cost 132 DEM. It snowed heavily again last night, it was about 4” deep when we came out of Zetra camp. Luckily the roads were okay.
To date still no news regarding my flight tickets home. I’ll give it until Wednesday and then start panicking again!! Yesterday I started wearing my uniform jumper for the first time, I seem to be feeling the cold a bit now. Tonight I intend to do a bit of ironing and have some fried eggs, beans and bread with a mug of tea. How’s that for sheer luxury. So far I’ve only had a chicken sandwich that I bought at the Norwegian PX and I’m starving!! As usual there’s a load of crap on the Telly, sometimes we get a decent film but the reception is poor. I’ll get off now and set the ironing board up. See Ya!!
7.20pm (6.20pm English time) Phoned Del up, heard that Akuma is at it again, he’s scratched a swastika into the bonnet of Del’s car and on another day has thrown oil over it. He’s also been making several threatening telephone calls and also threatened to “burn her out” meaning he’s going to set fire to my house!! At least Sarah’s going to see a solicitor in the morning to get an injunction against him, this is going too far now, he should be prosecuted. I just hope that the idiot doesn’t start coming round when I’m home on leave, I’d rather a third party arrested him! That’s about it really, I just wish that that disgusting creature was behind bars for a long time! See Ya.
TUESDAY 15.12.98 5.45pm
Yesterday I didn’t bother with my ironing, I just dossed about in the house all night watching T.V. There were a couple of films (in English / American) on. Markus went out and had a meal with Alma (Austria Airlines). He came back at about 11pm stuffed!! Today I went “shopping” and bought some cigs, 3 stainless steel vacuum mugs and a Teddy Bear for Daniella’s child (She’s an interpreter). She had a child last month and I’ve got to visit (Serb custom) unfortunately you also have to drink Rakija or beer or both and if you’re driving it gets a bit dangerous!! Tonight we’re having jacket potatoes and a Bar B Que on the balcony for a change!! So far I’m on my third Warsteiner beer in anticipation!! We’re also getting paid a little earlier this month because of Christmas – 17th December so it looks like I’m going to be broke in January!!! Tomorrow is D Day as regards my tickets to England. I’ll have to get off my bum and find out if the Government has paid for them yet!! I’ll be off now as I want a “goz” of beer. See Ya!!!
WEDNESDAY 16.12.98 8.20pm
Last night I didn’t get any ironing done, had a few beers with Markus and crashed out at about 11.30pm after eating a can of chicken curry (Tesco’s) that I’d bought at the Norwegian PX. This morning Alma phoned and let me know that my airline tickets were ready so I cancelled the shooting with the Italians and went into Sarajevo to collect them. I’m flying business class both ways!! It’s cost the Government 1,844 U.S. Dollars, crazy isn’t it!!!
On one leg of the journey I fly from Sarajevo to Vienna then I’ve got 15 minutes to get the next flight to Munich!!! Hope I can make it!!!
Tonight I’m just dossing about the house again drinking a can of coke and reading “Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King. I think that I’ll have an early night. See Ya!
On one leg of the journey I fly from Sarajevo to Vienna then I’ve got 15 minutes to get the next flight to Munich!!! Hope I can make it!!!
Tonight I’m just dossing about the house again drinking a can of coke and reading “Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King. I think that I’ll have an early night. See Ya!
THURSDAY 17.12.98 5.55pm
Had a right day today. At about 11.45am I received a telephone call form a Brit called Paul Noon that my flight had been altered because of the 15 minute changeover time at Vienna for Munich. We had now been booked onto Croatian Airlines flying at 07.00 to Zagreb and then onto Frankfurt and Birmingham arriving at 12.25pm. The new tickets were supposed to be ready at Austrian Airlines, so, I duly went down and found out that Austria Air had cancelled my flight, Sarajevo to Vienna, but the rest remained. They didn’t know anything else and suggested I go to Croatia Air. I walked there and yes – they had me down Sarajevo – Zagreb – Frankfurt but that was it!!! I went back to Vogošća and phoned Paul Noon to see if he had any other info, he said that another Brit Paul Woods was also in the same pickle. Eventually I contacted him after leaving messages for Mike Rolf in London. It turns out that our tickets are with Lufthansa airlines with which we are not flying with – but they’ve not been paid for yet!!! What a cock up. After reaching Frankfurt we fly on British airways to Birmingham. The return should be the same as the Austrian ticket!!! At about 3.30pm Mike Rolf phoned but I think that maybe it’s all sorted now, we’ve just got to wait until tomorrow to see if this bloody ticket is paid for!! Paul Woods is going to contact the airlines so he’ll phone me back with details between 10am and 11am in the morning. Sod it, I’ve had enough today with trouping about downtown Sarajevo, I’m going to have a beer!!
See Ya (Maybe!!!).
See Ya (Maybe!!!).
FRIDAY 18.12.98 9.15pm
TICKETS!!! Still haven’t managed to change them, the Travel Agents American Express was supposed to sort it all out and myself and Paul Woods have been shuttled over half of Sarajevo. It’s a good job that he had a mobile telephone!! At 4.10pm I got a call from Paul to go to Austria Airlines in Sarajevo where my ticket would be “endorsed”, I could then go to Croatian Airlines where we would get new tickets for the outward leg. We duly went to Austria Air who knew nothing but eventually they “endorsed” the ticket, we then went to Croatia Air and found that it had closed at 4pm. Paul phoned the travel agents in U.K. and they said Bosnia Tours knew all about it and to go there. It was 4.58pm when we walked in just as they were switching off the lights!! They flatly refused to help us saying that they did not work after 5pm and we should go to Austria Air!!! So, Paul phoned again and American Express Travel Agents said to wait at Bosnia Tours, the General Manager would turn out. After 5 minutes we received a phone call stating that he would not turn out but we would be able to get our tickets at the Croatia Air desk at the airport in the morning as they would get a courier to deliver them!! I don’t believe that this will happen what with all the incompetent people we’ve had to deal with. I just hope that I can buy a ticket at 6am in the morning to get on the bloody flight!! Sarajevo – Zagreb – Frankfurt – Birmingham!! I feel very angry and frustrated about all this palaver!!
With any “LUCK” I won’t be writing this tomorrow so See Ya!!
PTO
With any “LUCK” I won’t be writing this tomorrow so See Ya!!
PTO