March
SUNDAY 29.3.98
Arrived at Hendon approx 3.45pm on Sunday 29th March 98 with Dolores, Jenny, Catherine and Brian. Said goodbye and then went to get a room. Was issued room № 1716 which is on the top floor at the college. Had meal and at 7pm, all contingency met in Peel Bar where large amounts of alcohol was consumed. After closing time went to Mike Kelly’s room with a crowd and toasted us all with Brandy/Cognac. Bed at about 12am midnight.
MONDAY 30.3.98
Up at about 7am and to breakfast, had meeting at 9am with all contingency. 9.30am loaded baggage onto the back of a lorry with trunks ready for departure. 10am left on metpol coach to Gatwick airport arriving at about 11.45am and booked baggage in at EgyptAir. At no time was the EgyptAir flight sign-posted or displayed on the movement board, it was as though it did not exist.
2.30pm Boarded flight at gate 38 onto EgyptAir 737-500 charter travelling to Sarajevo then Cairo. Was a very good flight – had lamb for meal which was very good. Flight took off at 3.45pm and landed at Sarajevo at 18.45 local time. Was met by army who unloaded the aircraft.
On getting out of the plane my first impression was “God, what a hole”. Right next to the airport were ruins of bombed out and shot up houses with no windows in them. There was no customs or immigration, went straight through and got onto a bus to “Hotel Ilizda “Oasa”/ “Oasis” which are chalet type huts sleeping 3 to a room. I’m in with Chris Withers who is from the Norfolk police and Mike Wild from Gloucestershire: The rooms are very cramped but adequate and we have a colour TV with remote control.
9pm Monday. Made the mistake of going out with other IPTF for welcome drink about a 10 minute walk down the road. Fell in with an American called Pete from IPTF and got blasted on Sarajevo pivo price 2 D.M. per bottle. Left bar at about 12.45am and made way to bed.
2.30pm Boarded flight at gate 38 onto EgyptAir 737-500 charter travelling to Sarajevo then Cairo. Was a very good flight – had lamb for meal which was very good. Flight took off at 3.45pm and landed at Sarajevo at 18.45 local time. Was met by army who unloaded the aircraft.
On getting out of the plane my first impression was “God, what a hole”. Right next to the airport were ruins of bombed out and shot up houses with no windows in them. There was no customs or immigration, went straight through and got onto a bus to “Hotel Ilizda “Oasa”/ “Oasis” which are chalet type huts sleeping 3 to a room. I’m in with Chris Withers who is from the Norfolk police and Mike Wild from Gloucestershire: The rooms are very cramped but adequate and we have a colour TV with remote control.
9pm Monday. Made the mistake of going out with other IPTF for welcome drink about a 10 minute walk down the road. Fell in with an American called Pete from IPTF and got blasted on Sarajevo pivo price 2 D.M. per bottle. Left bar at about 12.45am and made way to bed.
TUESDAY 31.3.98 07.00
Got up with a thumping headache and feeling awful. Room is very cramped and with all luggage in it had hell of a job looking for paracetamol.
Breakfast at 8am, had ham omelette which was awful. Settled for coffee/no milk or sugar.
9.30am, on mini type bus to a place called at P.T.T. in Sarajevo for I/D cards. (P.T.T. is an old telephone company building but now Regional HQ for IPTF Sarajevo). These have a photo and are laminated, you wear them around your neck on a chain. From P.T.T. to TITO Barracks to training classroom. Felt a lot better after paracetamol had kicked in.
Had various form filling to do re pay (M.S.A.) I opted to get 1400 dollars a month in D/Marks.
11.45am – 14.00 meal break!!!
Went out of Barracks and ate locally, was very good. X4 Bratwurst sausage and several coffees cost about 8 D.M.
2.30 Back in class, had assessment to fill in.
18.00 Class finished but dragged into a room with computers and told to do a “Lesson Plan” on any police subject!! I have never done one in my life!!
18.30 Finished plan re dealing with “Sudden Death” on computer, this was copied onto a diskette by Chilean officer and was informed it would be marked and interviews held on Wednesday! Apparently IPTF want English trainers to teach other Nationalities!!
19.30 Arrive back at Hotel Illidzia and got changed, went out with Mike and Chris to the restaurant down the road and had Bifstek – (Beef steak) was very good. Next had chips + salad with it. Also had x3 beers and x2 coffee. Bill was 56 DM gave 20 DM each!!!
10.30pm arrived back to the chalet and I went to bed feeling very tired. Could not sleep at first but soon dropped off.
Breakfast at 8am, had ham omelette which was awful. Settled for coffee/no milk or sugar.
9.30am, on mini type bus to a place called at P.T.T. in Sarajevo for I/D cards. (P.T.T. is an old telephone company building but now Regional HQ for IPTF Sarajevo). These have a photo and are laminated, you wear them around your neck on a chain. From P.T.T. to TITO Barracks to training classroom. Felt a lot better after paracetamol had kicked in.
Had various form filling to do re pay (M.S.A.) I opted to get 1400 dollars a month in D/Marks.
11.45am – 14.00 meal break!!!
Went out of Barracks and ate locally, was very good. X4 Bratwurst sausage and several coffees cost about 8 D.M.
2.30 Back in class, had assessment to fill in.
18.00 Class finished but dragged into a room with computers and told to do a “Lesson Plan” on any police subject!! I have never done one in my life!!
18.30 Finished plan re dealing with “Sudden Death” on computer, this was copied onto a diskette by Chilean officer and was informed it would be marked and interviews held on Wednesday! Apparently IPTF want English trainers to teach other Nationalities!!
19.30 Arrive back at Hotel Illidzia and got changed, went out with Mike and Chris to the restaurant down the road and had Bifstek – (Beef steak) was very good. Next had chips + salad with it. Also had x3 beers and x2 coffee. Bill was 56 DM gave 20 DM each!!!
10.30pm arrived back to the chalet and I went to bed feeling very tired. Could not sleep at first but soon dropped off.