January
FRIDAY 1.1.99 11pm
Since last writing I’ll run through what happened. On the morning of the 19th Markus dropped me off at the airport at 5.45am. After a load of messing about, Paul Woods and me finally got our airline tickets from the Croatia desk BUT the plane was delayed (should have took off at 7am). We finally flew at 1.35pm for Zagreb. 10 minutes from Zagreb we got diverted because of fog. After another load of messing about we managed to get a plane to Heathrow and landed at about 6.30pm. Del picked me up and got into Nottingham for leave.
Came back on the 30th of December instead of the 29th. Flew on Crossair Business class Birmingham – Zurich then Zurich to Sarajevo. No problems. When I got to the house it was freezing cold and all the water had frozen up in the pipes. I put heaters in the bathrooms upstairs and downstairs for 24 hours but it didn’t do any good and to date they’re still frozen up. Markus was still in Germany when I got back, he came back yesterday 31st December. Believe me it was really miserable sitting in this house. The heaters seemed to be having no effect at all. I got into bed wearing a Tee Shirt!!!
On the 31st Dec I worked 8am-4pm. Went to the “AS” Market and bought minced beef etc for a chilli. Also got some booze form the Norwegian and German PX’s for the New Years Eve. At about 3pm Zdenko came round and gave me a couple of bottles of Slivovica – very strong!! Markus came back from leave at 5pm and we just had an “open house” for the New Year. After seeing that in and blasting off with the AK47 I went to bed at about 2am and read a book for a while.
Today I got up at 7.30am and had a shower and shit at the station. Worked 8am-4pm again but nothing was happening, finished work at 4pm and had some Irish stew from a can, it was horrible!! Since then I’ve watched T.V. There’s been several English speaking films on so it’s kept me going. I phoned Del up at about 6pm and she’s okay (Brian was tucking into the biscuit tin)!! That’s about it really! Oh yes we’ve now got x2 Americans at the station Blair and Jeff. They came when I was on CTO and they’re okay. It’s a refreshing change from the Jordanian and Pakistani’s!!
Weatherwise it’s about Minus 17 centigrade during the day. I daren’t think what it is at night!!! 11.40pm we’ve now got water in the bathroom upstairs but the washers on the taps are knackered so its’ leaking like anything. As yet still no water in the kitchen. It must come form a separate pipe.
Well, I’ll get to bed now. See Ya!!!
Came back on the 30th of December instead of the 29th. Flew on Crossair Business class Birmingham – Zurich then Zurich to Sarajevo. No problems. When I got to the house it was freezing cold and all the water had frozen up in the pipes. I put heaters in the bathrooms upstairs and downstairs for 24 hours but it didn’t do any good and to date they’re still frozen up. Markus was still in Germany when I got back, he came back yesterday 31st December. Believe me it was really miserable sitting in this house. The heaters seemed to be having no effect at all. I got into bed wearing a Tee Shirt!!!
On the 31st Dec I worked 8am-4pm. Went to the “AS” Market and bought minced beef etc for a chilli. Also got some booze form the Norwegian and German PX’s for the New Years Eve. At about 3pm Zdenko came round and gave me a couple of bottles of Slivovica – very strong!! Markus came back from leave at 5pm and we just had an “open house” for the New Year. After seeing that in and blasting off with the AK47 I went to bed at about 2am and read a book for a while.
Today I got up at 7.30am and had a shower and shit at the station. Worked 8am-4pm again but nothing was happening, finished work at 4pm and had some Irish stew from a can, it was horrible!! Since then I’ve watched T.V. There’s been several English speaking films on so it’s kept me going. I phoned Del up at about 6pm and she’s okay (Brian was tucking into the biscuit tin)!! That’s about it really! Oh yes we’ve now got x2 Americans at the station Blair and Jeff. They came when I was on CTO and they’re okay. It’s a refreshing change from the Jordanian and Pakistani’s!!
Weatherwise it’s about Minus 17 centigrade during the day. I daren’t think what it is at night!!! 11.40pm we’ve now got water in the bathroom upstairs but the washers on the taps are knackered so its’ leaking like anything. As yet still no water in the kitchen. It must come form a separate pipe.
Well, I’ll get to bed now. See Ya!!!
SATURDAY 2.1.99 5.04pm
At last we’ve got the water back but most taps are done in – the washers have bust and the downstairs toilet is bust due to the ice!! Markus is on the phone to the Landlord who speaks German, at the moment he’s in Switzerland. It’s been a quiet day today, no incidents at all. The weather of course is cold and it’s treacherous underfoot with all the snow and ice. At lunch time Markus, Stefan, Mladen and Olivera + self went to Alma’s and had a meal – I had chicken + chips with cabbage salad, it was okay. Einstein the dog won’t leave us alone now, as soon as one of us goes from the station to the house he runs straight in and drops down in front of the fire. It’s murder trying to get him out after that. I’ll be off now, see Ya!!
PS PLUMBER COMING TOMORROW.
PS PLUMBER COMING TOMORROW.
SUNDAY 3.1.99 6.08pm
Just the usual today, cold and icy. There was a minor road traffic accident at Rajlovac this morning involving a Jeep belonging to the German SFOR and a civilian. I sent Adamu with a language assistant to sort it out. We also picked up from the Vogošća Local Police Daily Bulletin of an alleged kidnap of two girls. I went down to the station and saw Remzo a Detective there. There was nothing in it, the girls had been lying because they’d come home late from Ilidža to Vogošća and didn’t want to get in trouble with their parents. After that went to lunch at a restaurant called “Ciea” in Vogošća and had Ramstek and chips. (It’s a sort of beef steak stuffed with cheese with a fried egg on top!!). I’m now sitting watching Robinson Crusoe in English on the Telly and writing this. I feel very tired, last night I didn’t go to bed until 1.15am after having a few beers with Markus. I also put my next leave request in yesterday starting on the 30th and ending on the 6th (I think!!). With it being Ramadan things are generally quiet during the day, all the locals are fasting from dawn to dusk and then feasting half the night. I’d better get off now and maybe “do a bit” i.e. washing!! See Ya!!
MONDAY 4.1.99 5.15pm
Did a couple of jobs today, went with Jeff (American) to Vogošća PD and had a coffee and chat with the crime departments and got info re a break that had been solved and then info re a man who had an illegal automatic pistol 7.65 calibre. As we were coming out of the station met Muhammed, Zdenko and crew so we floated away with them for a drink and a chat!! Got back to Vogošća at 1.30pm and did the incident reports so all was happy. Also there was a letter waiting for me form Notts Police about computerised records. I’ve just found out that I’m due to retire on 18.10.2000 (November next year!!). How’s that then, frightening isn’t it!!!
The plumber came round today, it’s going to cost 500 DEM minimum to sort the mess in this house out. I feel like spitting but it’s got to be done!!! On that note I’ll leave it for today and celebrate my impending retirement!!!
The plumber came round today, it’s going to cost 500 DEM minimum to sort the mess in this house out. I feel like spitting but it’s got to be done!!! On that note I’ll leave it for today and celebrate my impending retirement!!!
WEDNESDAY 6.1.99 4.50pm
Forgot to write yesterday so I’ll fill in a bit. First got up as usual and sauntered into work. There was a couple of incidents so I popped into Vogošća Police Station and spoke to Remzo in the crime department. 3 had been detained for burglary and theft so I obtained details etc. The other one was a man who’d been stopped at Semizovac in possession of a pistol with x4 rounds in the magazine. I got his details as well and did the incident reports when I got back to IPTF Vogošća. In the evening Markus and I went to “Sebastian” coffee bar down the road for a beer. We met Stewart from Scotland down there. He is a civilian working on the phone systems. Came out at 2am this morning after spending 50 DEM!!
Today (6.1.99) got up with a fuzzy head and rolled into work. 1st job was at Ilijaš where a man has started a hunger strike in the Municipality offices over a house and the other was the private exhumation of five Serb bodies from the Orthodox cemetery at Ilijaš. They will be buried by their families in Republika Srpska. Again went back to Vogošća and did the reports. Really I just should have sent Adamu (Ghana) but he’s too thick to do anything. Tonight I’m having spuds and corned beef so I’ll leave this for a while and crack on.
Today (6.1.99) got up with a fuzzy head and rolled into work. 1st job was at Ilijaš where a man has started a hunger strike in the Municipality offices over a house and the other was the private exhumation of five Serb bodies from the Orthodox cemetery at Ilijaš. They will be buried by their families in Republika Srpska. Again went back to Vogošća and did the reports. Really I just should have sent Adamu (Ghana) but he’s too thick to do anything. Tonight I’m having spuds and corned beef so I’ll leave this for a while and crack on.
THURSDAY 7.1.99 7pm
Did a bit today, went to Ilijaš this morning and spoke to the bloke on hunger strike at the Municipality building and then had a chat with an official in the building. After that met Muhammed and Zdenko at the police station and had coffee. Got back to the station (Vogošća) at about 12.45pm and started on the “follow up” report for the hunger striker. So far he’s had no food or water since 5pm on 5th Jan 1999. Not bad for a one legged war veteran!!!
Today we also had an Inspection Team come round checking all our documents and work practices. They also enquired about our “Local Police Advisors” I told them about how we’re outnumbered by Indian, Pakistani’s etc and that most of them are “dead wood”. They agreed with me on that one!!
Today is Christmas Day for the Serbs so we keep hearing gunfire going off due to the celebrations. We’ve also (Markus and I) been invited for a Christmas drink by Aleksandra at her parents house tomorrow. That should be interesting!!
The weather is cold and very foggy, there’s been no flights out of Sarajevo now for the past four days. One of the Jordanians, Sulejman, was going home today but he’s had it!!!
Finished work at about 6pm today so I’m now relaxing with a large Gin + Tonic (Gordon’s of course). Our electric bill also came today = 530 DEM. The landlord is going to have kittens when he sees that one!! He’ll probably want more money!!! Poor old Einstein the dog is still not very well. He’s a bit lifeless and has a bit of a bloody discharge from his nose. Markus has just called his Mother-in-law in Germany who’s a dog expert, she thinks that it’s Parvo virus so it’s “good night” Einstein the poor sod!!
I’ll be off now, See Ya!!
Today we also had an Inspection Team come round checking all our documents and work practices. They also enquired about our “Local Police Advisors” I told them about how we’re outnumbered by Indian, Pakistani’s etc and that most of them are “dead wood”. They agreed with me on that one!!
Today is Christmas Day for the Serbs so we keep hearing gunfire going off due to the celebrations. We’ve also (Markus and I) been invited for a Christmas drink by Aleksandra at her parents house tomorrow. That should be interesting!!
The weather is cold and very foggy, there’s been no flights out of Sarajevo now for the past four days. One of the Jordanians, Sulejman, was going home today but he’s had it!!!
Finished work at about 6pm today so I’m now relaxing with a large Gin + Tonic (Gordon’s of course). Our electric bill also came today = 530 DEM. The landlord is going to have kittens when he sees that one!! He’ll probably want more money!!! Poor old Einstein the dog is still not very well. He’s a bit lifeless and has a bit of a bloody discharge from his nose. Markus has just called his Mother-in-law in Germany who’s a dog expert, she thinks that it’s Parvo virus so it’s “good night” Einstein the poor sod!!
I’ll be off now, See Ya!!
FRIDAY 8.1.99 5.12pm
At least the fog has cleared up now, we’ve had some pea-soupers these past few days. The hunger striker who I wrote about the other day has packed up and gone home (probably felt hungry!!!). This morning I went into Sarajevo with Markus and after going to Regional and Main Headquarters we went to “Echo’s” at Tito Barracks and had an English breakfast, egg, bacon, sausage, beans, tomato and fried bread – it was great!! Then off to the French PX for ciggies. This afternoon we popped round to Ilijaš and had a coffee and brandy with Muhammed and Zdenko then back to Vogošća for 4.45pm. Tonight we’re off to Dobrinja to visit Aleksandra and have some Serb Christmas food. That should be interesting!! Nothing much else going on at the moment – on Sunday we’ve been invited for dinner with Cathleen, a French/ American together with Anne (Ireland) and a few others so at least we’re getting fed a bit more regularly!!
Poor old Einstein is in the station at the moment laying on the floor feeling sorry for himself. I hope that it’s just “doggy flu” and not Parvo Virus!! Time will tell. I’ll get off now and have a shower etc ready for tonight’s bash. See Ya!!!
Poor old Einstein is in the station at the moment laying on the floor feeling sorry for himself. I hope that it’s just “doggy flu” and not Parvo Virus!! Time will tell. I’ll get off now and have a shower etc ready for tonight’s bash. See Ya!!!
SATURDAY 9.1.99 5.15pm
Last night was very good. Visited Aleksandra and her parents and had a load of beer, wine and food – PORK!!! It was a good evening all round. Today, I hardly did any work. I just hung about the station and knocked out a couple of reports on the computer. Poor old Einstein is still poorly. At the moment he’s laying in the station. Markus went and saw a vet at the German Army Base at Rajlovac today. He bought some pills back but I don’t think that they’ll do much good. Anyway, fingers crossed!!
Tonight I’ve just put a load of washing into the machine, after that I’m having an early night, see ya!!!
Tonight I’ve just put a load of washing into the machine, after that I’m having an early night, see ya!!!
SUNDAY 10.1.99 4.25pm
Yesterday SFOR tried to arrest a war criminal at Foča and ended up shooting him dead so last night IPTF Foča got looted and three monitors were severely beaten up by the public and police in plain clothes. The place has now been evacuated because of the tense situation.
Had a pleasant surprise this morning when I went to the station, couldn’t see Einstein anywhere so I looked downstairs and he was laying against a wall. He looks very thin from not eating. I bought him up stairs into the warmth and someone brought a puppy into the station that plays with Einstein. He perked up and started eating again. He finished some dog meal and drank some water as well!! (He wouldn’t let the pup near the food). At lunch time we had Bar-B-Queued steaks and Einstein ate a few of them as well. So, he’s a little stronger today. With any luck he may just survive this illness, we’ll have to see.
Nothing much has happened today, because of Foča we’re all on alert and travel is restricted. Tonight Markus, Michael and I are off to Sarajevo to have a meal with Cathleen + co. I don’t really want to go as I find it boring talking to her but one has to be sociable now and again!!! See Ya!!!!
Had a pleasant surprise this morning when I went to the station, couldn’t see Einstein anywhere so I looked downstairs and he was laying against a wall. He looks very thin from not eating. I bought him up stairs into the warmth and someone brought a puppy into the station that plays with Einstein. He perked up and started eating again. He finished some dog meal and drank some water as well!! (He wouldn’t let the pup near the food). At lunch time we had Bar-B-Queued steaks and Einstein ate a few of them as well. So, he’s a little stronger today. With any luck he may just survive this illness, we’ll have to see.
Nothing much has happened today, because of Foča we’re all on alert and travel is restricted. Tonight Markus, Michael and I are off to Sarajevo to have a meal with Cathleen + co. I don’t really want to go as I find it boring talking to her but one has to be sociable now and again!!! See Ya!!!!
MONDAY 11.1.99 4.58pm
Went to Cathleen’s with Markus and Michael last night and had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It was okay but I was glad to leave!!! It’s a lot warmer today and the snow has just about gone now but the winds getting up at the moment. Einstein seems to have improved today, he’s still weak but when I called him this morning he ran and looked a bit more lively. He’s still got a cough and his nose is warm though. Last night we arrived back at midnight and let the dog sleep in the house. At least there was no mess when we got up. I was supposed to go to Banja Luka for the contingent meeting tomorrow but that’s been cancelled due to the SFOR action at Foča. Apparently the war criminal had a bar in Foča and the French SFOR in their wisdom decided to stop him whilst he was driving. There was also five children in the car and when he tried to crash the road block the French fired at least 18 rounds into the car killing the driver. Luckily none of the children were injured but one had a bullet lodged in his back pack!!!
Nothing much has happened today. I’ve been checking the flight schedules of the airlines trying to fit my leave in getting home. I think that Croatia Airlines looks the most promising at the moment.
Tomorrow the ugly one comes to clean the house at 7.30 in the morning so Markus and I will be straight into work first thing!!! I’ve got a load of ironing to do but I think that I’ll leave it for a while as I just couldn’t be bothered tonight.
See Ya!!!
PTO
Nothing much has happened today. I’ve been checking the flight schedules of the airlines trying to fit my leave in getting home. I think that Croatia Airlines looks the most promising at the moment.
Tomorrow the ugly one comes to clean the house at 7.30 in the morning so Markus and I will be straight into work first thing!!! I’ve got a load of ironing to do but I think that I’ll leave it for a while as I just couldn’t be bothered tonight.
See Ya!!!
PTO
TUESDAY 12.1.99 5.45pm
Have just come back from the station, was playing games on the computer and forgot about the time!!
Yesterday Markus phoned the vet up and he came at about 9.30pm on the same evening which was good of him. After examining Einstein he said that he was very ill but it wasn’t Parvo Virus. His Lymph glands are playing up so he had three injections. Total cost 30 DEM and a promise of a carton of cigs and a bottle of Chivas Regal Whisky!!! That is still a lot cheaper than a vet in England!!!
Today Einstein’s been bouncing all over the place and he’s also playing!!! The vet said that he’ll be good for a couple of days and then he may possibly deteriorate again. Either way we’ve got to telephone him in two days to let him know how he is. He also had a few glasses of gin and tonic as well!!!! I was quite tipsy when he left!! It’s been warm today, I could walk about in shirt sleeves for a short time.
Workwise there’s not a lot, a couple of people have been threatened by anonymous persons via telephone to blow their houses up because they live in Tihovići village which used to be Serb. The local cops think that the calls are coming from the Serb side! At lunch time we went to the Scala restaurant in Sarajevo and had a lovely lunch. I had salad, bread and lasagne which was great. After that, pancakes with chocolate sauce and coffee. I felt like a stuffed pig!!
This morning the cleaning lady saw Del’s video – “Titanic” so she’s borrowed it until next week. I bet that she thinks that there’s Bosnian sub-titles on it!!! I also phoned Del last night and all’s okay at home!! That’s about it for now.
See Ya!!!
Yesterday Markus phoned the vet up and he came at about 9.30pm on the same evening which was good of him. After examining Einstein he said that he was very ill but it wasn’t Parvo Virus. His Lymph glands are playing up so he had three injections. Total cost 30 DEM and a promise of a carton of cigs and a bottle of Chivas Regal Whisky!!! That is still a lot cheaper than a vet in England!!!
Today Einstein’s been bouncing all over the place and he’s also playing!!! The vet said that he’ll be good for a couple of days and then he may possibly deteriorate again. Either way we’ve got to telephone him in two days to let him know how he is. He also had a few glasses of gin and tonic as well!!!! I was quite tipsy when he left!! It’s been warm today, I could walk about in shirt sleeves for a short time.
Workwise there’s not a lot, a couple of people have been threatened by anonymous persons via telephone to blow their houses up because they live in Tihovići village which used to be Serb. The local cops think that the calls are coming from the Serb side! At lunch time we went to the Scala restaurant in Sarajevo and had a lovely lunch. I had salad, bread and lasagne which was great. After that, pancakes with chocolate sauce and coffee. I felt like a stuffed pig!!
This morning the cleaning lady saw Del’s video – “Titanic” so she’s borrowed it until next week. I bet that she thinks that there’s Bosnian sub-titles on it!!! I also phoned Del last night and all’s okay at home!! That’s about it for now.
See Ya!!!
WEDNESDAY 13.1.99 5.04pm
Went to bed at about 10pm last night and slept like a log. Up at 6.50am this morning and grabbed a shower, felt really refreshed and got into work at 8am. There was an incident last night where a complete unoccupied house collapsed in Vogošća. It had been damaged in the war and because of the severe cold over Christmas it gave up and tumbled down throwing debris all over the road. The owner is a Serb who lives somewhere in Republika Srpska side so the local cops are unable to inform him. There was an investigation this morning but there was no fowl play!! Again I did the Incident Report, aren’t I good!!!
The weather is still warm but rainy at the moment. Einstein is laying next to me as I’m writing this, he’s not so active as yesterday but the vet said to expect that as he’s still very ill. Tomorrow we’ll call again and give the vet a “situation report”!!! We’ve also got the bottle of Chivas Regal Whisky and cigarettes that he wanted so I’m sure that he’ll come out!!!
Markus sloped off today and went into Butmir, he came back with 26 CD’s so the player is going at full blast at present!! This morning I had a couple of pieces of “Burek” for breakfast/ lunch and tonight I’ve just eaten a can of Tesco hot chicken curry mixed in with some powdered potatoes. It wasn’t all that tasty but it filled the gut up! This time in 22 months and 6 days I’ll be retired from the Police!! I still can’t believe it!! (Actually I can, it’s 674 days to go but I’m not counting!!!). It’s now really throwing it down with rain outside, at least it keeps the temperature up!!! I’ll get off now, See Ya!!!
The weather is still warm but rainy at the moment. Einstein is laying next to me as I’m writing this, he’s not so active as yesterday but the vet said to expect that as he’s still very ill. Tomorrow we’ll call again and give the vet a “situation report”!!! We’ve also got the bottle of Chivas Regal Whisky and cigarettes that he wanted so I’m sure that he’ll come out!!!
Markus sloped off today and went into Butmir, he came back with 26 CD’s so the player is going at full blast at present!! This morning I had a couple of pieces of “Burek” for breakfast/ lunch and tonight I’ve just eaten a can of Tesco hot chicken curry mixed in with some powdered potatoes. It wasn’t all that tasty but it filled the gut up! This time in 22 months and 6 days I’ll be retired from the Police!! I still can’t believe it!! (Actually I can, it’s 674 days to go but I’m not counting!!!). It’s now really throwing it down with rain outside, at least it keeps the temperature up!!! I’ll get off now, See Ya!!!
THURSDAY 14.1.99 8.05pm
Last night Markus went out to see a friend in Sarajevo and I went down to the “Sebastian” coffee bar down the road for a beer. Got there at about 7.15pm and left at 11.30pm had a very good night with the local people. Before going out had a tin of hot curry with powdered spuds and when I got back I was hungry so had pasta and another tin of curry! Woke up at 6am this morning and had to dive into the bathroom!!!! It snowed for a while last night as well but it’s cleared up now. Had some good news this morning, Mike Holdsworth phoned up and informed me that because of the tax saga and the fact that none of the contingent would get on the aircraft going home on April 1st the Government and U.N. had agreed to our end of Mission on 8th April!!! It would have been rather stupid chartering an aircraft for us and only the trunks and baggage were on it!!!!
Markus got back from Sarajevo at 4.30am this morning so I had to wake him up for a change. Not a lot happened today so I sat and played games on the computer again. Tonight had pasta on bolognaise sauce for dinner. Aleksandra came round and talked the hind leg off a donkey!!
Right now I feel very tired and just want to go to bed. Einstein’s been out for a pee and he’s just let himself in the house and attacked me. He really stinks at the moment but the vet said it’s best not to wash him until he’s recovered and put some weight on again. He really is a great dog though!
Well I’ll be off now, and do a bit of dossing about. See Ya!!
Markus got back from Sarajevo at 4.30am this morning so I had to wake him up for a change. Not a lot happened today so I sat and played games on the computer again. Tonight had pasta on bolognaise sauce for dinner. Aleksandra came round and talked the hind leg off a donkey!!
Right now I feel very tired and just want to go to bed. Einstein’s been out for a pee and he’s just let himself in the house and attacked me. He really stinks at the moment but the vet said it’s best not to wash him until he’s recovered and put some weight on again. He really is a great dog though!
Well I’ll be off now, and do a bit of dossing about. See Ya!!
FRIDAY 15.1.99 4.55pm
Last night I just dossed about the house doing nothing after dinner. There was an American film on the Television so I just watched that until about 12.15am and then went to bed. Up at 7am this morning had a coffee and put “Euro News” on the Telly to catch up with the headlines. It snowed for most of the night and the roads were treacherous this morning. Shyam (India) and Mohammed (Jordan) had a small miss-hap and ended up in a small ditch whilst driving a Nissan Pick-up. Some of the local people got them out and no damage was done. At about 8.30am this morning an elderly Serb female came to the station complaining that someone had broken her fences and stole her chickens. I told her to report it to the Local Police as we were not allowed to investigate crime. She then went on and on about how she doesn’t trust the Police and we should investigate for her. It went on and on – I got all her troubles since the start of the war and she was yelling and getting all worked up. After an hour I was ready to hit her and then Gergely (Hungary) came in. She knows him so I legged it into the other room to recover my hearing!!! In the end we got a police patrol form Vogošća Local Police Station to visit her!!! (She was a raving nutter!!!). After that Markus and I went to Ilijaš for half an hour and had a coffee with Zdenko. We didn’t have an interpreter but tomorrow evening at 4pm we’re meeting him for a drink in “Sebastian” coffee bar, Vogošća. He also gave both of us a large desk diary each which was nice of him.
Markus phoned the vet up and he’s coming round tonight between 7pm and 9pm to have another look at Albert Einstein. As usual all we’ve got to eat in the house is packet soup and salami. Not even any bread!!!! I think that I’ll have a beer now, sod it!! See Ya!!
PS Aleksandra gave me a Čolić Zdravko tape yesterday so I’m going to play that now!! See Ya!!
Markus phoned the vet up and he’s coming round tonight between 7pm and 9pm to have another look at Albert Einstein. As usual all we’ve got to eat in the house is packet soup and salami. Not even any bread!!!! I think that I’ll have a beer now, sod it!! See Ya!!
PS Aleksandra gave me a Čolić Zdravko tape yesterday so I’m going to play that now!! See Ya!!
SUNDAY 17.1.99 5.05pm
On Friday night went to bed reasonably early and had a good nights rest. I even got into work on time on Saturday morning!! Not a lot happened, there was a private exhumation of 5 Serb bodies from the Serb Orthodox graveyard at Ilijaš. They were re-buried on the Serb side at Lukavica. All the paperwork was in order and there was no problems with the locals. After that I did the Incident Report and then sloped off to my house and dossed for a while. At 3.30pm I finished work and got changed. I was just going out when the landlord arrived with some equipment. I said “Hello” and then legged it to Sebastians to meet Zdenko. He never showed up all evening, Markus came in at 5pm and we drank until about 9pm and chatted with the locals. Then went home and crashed out in bed.
Today the “ugly one” came to clean the house instead of coming on Tuesday. So, we were both out of the house by 7.30am!!!! On the 19th it’s the end of Ramadan or Ramazan as they call it here. It’s then called Bajram (Bayram) we should hear lots of shooting and grenades going off in the morning as they start celebrating. Did nothing at all today apart from grab a video, “Keep on Screaming Part Two” and watched that in the house!! See Ya!!
Today the “ugly one” came to clean the house instead of coming on Tuesday. So, we were both out of the house by 7.30am!!!! On the 19th it’s the end of Ramadan or Ramazan as they call it here. It’s then called Bajram (Bayram) we should hear lots of shooting and grenades going off in the morning as they start celebrating. Did nothing at all today apart from grab a video, “Keep on Screaming Part Two” and watched that in the house!! See Ya!!
TUESDAY 19.1.99 6pm
Last Sunday the landlord came to the house wanting extra cash for the electricity!!! That’s why I stopped writing. He was told where to get off and we’re now going to look for another house to move in to.
Yesterday was a quiet day again, in the evening at 6pm went to Sebastian and had a few beers, Zdenko came in at about 7pm and bought me a beer. He’s got an abscess on his tooth so he’s on anti-biotics at the moment. Got home last night at about 1am and then fell into bed after eating powdered spuds and a can of chicken curry courtesy of Tesco via the Norwegian PX.
Today Baloch went on leave so I’m in charge of the station for the next week or so. Bajram started today, the start of dawn signalled the end of Ramadan so there was lots of ariel shooting going off – automatic fire as well as single shots and grenades. Had a man come in the station complaining about the local police in Vogošća. He states that an officer grabbed him and shook him! I’ll sort that one out in the morning some time. I’ve just eaten some powdered spuds again but this time with a tin of tomatoes! At least it filled the gap and we’ve got nothing else in the house. I think that I’ll have an early night tonight. Markus intends going down to Sebastian again but at the moment he’s conked out fast asleep on the chair. I’ve got a load of washing in the machine that is just about done so I’ll go and hang that up in a minute.
See Ya!!!
Yesterday was a quiet day again, in the evening at 6pm went to Sebastian and had a few beers, Zdenko came in at about 7pm and bought me a beer. He’s got an abscess on his tooth so he’s on anti-biotics at the moment. Got home last night at about 1am and then fell into bed after eating powdered spuds and a can of chicken curry courtesy of Tesco via the Norwegian PX.
Today Baloch went on leave so I’m in charge of the station for the next week or so. Bajram started today, the start of dawn signalled the end of Ramadan so there was lots of ariel shooting going off – automatic fire as well as single shots and grenades. Had a man come in the station complaining about the local police in Vogošća. He states that an officer grabbed him and shook him! I’ll sort that one out in the morning some time. I’ve just eaten some powdered spuds again but this time with a tin of tomatoes! At least it filled the gap and we’ve got nothing else in the house. I think that I’ll have an early night tonight. Markus intends going down to Sebastian again but at the moment he’s conked out fast asleep on the chair. I’ve got a load of washing in the machine that is just about done so I’ll go and hang that up in a minute.
See Ya!!!
THURSDAY 21.1.99 7.10pm
Yesterday I had to attend the Station Commanders meeting at Ilidža, the topic was mainly about security after Foča station got attacked by the locals. Meeting started at 11am and went on until 1.30pm. By the time I got back to Vogošća it was 2.30pm. After that I did some check point permits for the Vogošća Police. At 4pm finished work and went across to the house, it was freezing inside so I thought, “sod it”, got changed and went across to Sebastians for the night. Got to bed at about 12.30 this morning!!
Today the greedy landlord came round again stating that he wanted more money for the electric etc – I’m really sick of it now, we’ve started to look round for alternative accommodation that’s not as expensive. The landlord is going to install central heating in the next few weeks so the bills will really rocket then. Of course we’ll still be expected to live here whilst all this is going on!! Today had a fax with the official notification of the end of Mission. As confirmed earlier it is now on the 8th April 1999. So at least we’ll get our tax back!! That’s 78 days left in the Mission and then back to reality!!
I’ll get off now, see Ya!!!
Today the greedy landlord came round again stating that he wanted more money for the electric etc – I’m really sick of it now, we’ve started to look round for alternative accommodation that’s not as expensive. The landlord is going to install central heating in the next few weeks so the bills will really rocket then. Of course we’ll still be expected to live here whilst all this is going on!! Today had a fax with the official notification of the end of Mission. As confirmed earlier it is now on the 8th April 1999. So at least we’ll get our tax back!! That’s 78 days left in the Mission and then back to reality!!
I’ll get off now, see Ya!!!
MONDAY 25.1.99 7.35pm
Since last writing we’ve been haunted by the landlord for more and more money re the “big freeze” when I last came back and found all the pipes frozen. He’s getting very greedy and is now on about the electric bill!! So, tomorrow we’re moving out to another place that’s got central heating. I don’t want to move but this month alone we’ve paid 450 DEM each plus an extra 800 DEM (400 each) in electricity etc!! It’s just too much and the landlord can get stuffed. (He doesn’t know we’re leaving yet!!). It was ridiculous, as I’ve written before he lives in Switzerland and when he comes back he’s always in this house – he just sits there or brings other people and then expects beer and coffee!!! He comes at all times and we really haven’t had any privacy for the past week!!
On the work front, just the usual jobs. Last Saturday had a man lobbing grenades into the street, a few windows were smashed but a couple of witnesses came forward with his car number. He was caught in Central Sarajevo when he lobbed another grenade through his wife’s flat window. Luckily she wasn’t hurt and the local cops were soon on the scene. Another job on Saturday afternoon was a drunk firing an automatic pistol into the air in Vogošća open market. He had the pistol confiscated and when he sobered up was charged with public order offences. Apart from that things have been reasonably quiet. Tomorrow is pay day (I hope) so I’m going to buy my ticket home then. (I feel ready for some leave). Last Friday Mike Holdsworth stayed the night, he’s Deputy Regional Commander at Bihać. He told me that the H.Q. has approved 4 weeks leave now instead of the 14 days we were going to get!! Great stuff.
Today (Monday) things went as usual in the station. I got a letter requesting 3 check point permits from Vogošća so I knocked them out and delivered them myself for something to do. They were most impressed at Vogošća P.D.!! Also, this afternoon one of the Pakistani’s Ali Jafri Nadeem accused Markus of being racist because he couldn’t get his own way. It was so stupid but now all are up in arms. Nadeem wrote a memo requesting redeployment to Ilidža station and wanted me to sign it (chain of command) I refused to sign it as it was racist and accused all the Europeans (all 4) of being racist!!! All the Pakistani’s are at the station at the moment having a meeting. I hope something happens because they do no work and really haven’t got a leg to stand on!! (At least I’m fireproof!!). The weather’s still cold but it’s not been snowing for the past week and the roads are fine. It’s about -4 at night maybe a little colder. Last night I did a load of ironing, after that I went out to Sebastian and had a few beers. Went to bed at 11pm and slept like a log!! Tomorrow the “ugly one” comes to clean the house so when she leaves we’ll do our packing and clear off!! See Ya!!!
PTO
On the work front, just the usual jobs. Last Saturday had a man lobbing grenades into the street, a few windows were smashed but a couple of witnesses came forward with his car number. He was caught in Central Sarajevo when he lobbed another grenade through his wife’s flat window. Luckily she wasn’t hurt and the local cops were soon on the scene. Another job on Saturday afternoon was a drunk firing an automatic pistol into the air in Vogošća open market. He had the pistol confiscated and when he sobered up was charged with public order offences. Apart from that things have been reasonably quiet. Tomorrow is pay day (I hope) so I’m going to buy my ticket home then. (I feel ready for some leave). Last Friday Mike Holdsworth stayed the night, he’s Deputy Regional Commander at Bihać. He told me that the H.Q. has approved 4 weeks leave now instead of the 14 days we were going to get!! Great stuff.
Today (Monday) things went as usual in the station. I got a letter requesting 3 check point permits from Vogošća so I knocked them out and delivered them myself for something to do. They were most impressed at Vogošća P.D.!! Also, this afternoon one of the Pakistani’s Ali Jafri Nadeem accused Markus of being racist because he couldn’t get his own way. It was so stupid but now all are up in arms. Nadeem wrote a memo requesting redeployment to Ilidža station and wanted me to sign it (chain of command) I refused to sign it as it was racist and accused all the Europeans (all 4) of being racist!!! All the Pakistani’s are at the station at the moment having a meeting. I hope something happens because they do no work and really haven’t got a leg to stand on!! (At least I’m fireproof!!). The weather’s still cold but it’s not been snowing for the past week and the roads are fine. It’s about -4 at night maybe a little colder. Last night I did a load of ironing, after that I went out to Sebastian and had a few beers. Went to bed at 11pm and slept like a log!! Tomorrow the “ugly one” comes to clean the house so when she leaves we’ll do our packing and clear off!! See Ya!!!
PTO