We've got rats

It's 0200 h and we have rats!!! Not just the two legged types that fill the Legal Officer positions on the Headquarters, but the four legged variety that obviously like the taste of our western military culture over the flavours of the Middle Eastern desert and the sweet essence of the Tigris. As I am up, thought I might share this important piece of wartime (sorry, security operation) information.

My housekeeping (not literal, but metaphorical - this is not the reason for the rats) has not been too good on this medium. I have now eight weeks of back(b)log to upload of weekly updates. Shall attempt to get them on soon.

Mos Eisley Spaceport

The Victory Base Complex, Baghdad, is like the Mos Eisley Spaceport: that iconic frontier experience starting with the different vehicles, control measures and Luke Skywalker's amazement at a big city full of sights and processes unfamiliar, and moreso typified by the famous scene where Luke and Ben Kenobi walk into the Cantina and are greated by a diverse range of foreign life forms, attitudes, and experiences.

I have not had anyone tell me that "he doesn't like you" (I'm sorry), "and I don't like you" and then draw a weapon on me, but there are a few characters around that some of the alien lifeforms and attitudes may have been modelled on. Unfamiliar shapes, sizes and sounds all accompanied by the obtrusive presence of a weapon on every hip or slung over every shoulder. Not to mention the similarities between Toeen's stark landscape and the bleak dustiness of my current environs.

I have sourced my first exit from this "planet", with a Rhino ride into the Green Zone in a couple of days time for an overnight stay. The Rhino is a large armoured bus that is escorted by four Hummers, "locked and loaded". No Carrilean Cruisers expected to be waiting in orbit, however they are always on the alert for the occasionaly Tie Fighter or the opportunistic Boba Fhet and his cronies.

Report from Baghdad #1

I will be posting the contents of my "family and friends" group emails to this forum over the next six months. Along the way I may interdict with some other observations abuot this life and the next.

You are part of my group email that I have created to keep you in the picture as to what is happening with my time away. If you don't want to hear from me just let me know (you will of course get a 'please explain' and be off the Christmas card list). The news that I will share will be fairly generic but if you want to know more about something just give me a hoy and I will do my best to quench your curiosity.

It is hot here low 40s each day and quite busy days, but it is all good at this stage. I arrived here on Sun afternoon and have settled in to my job and accommodation. We are in a palace complex that is surrounded by water so it is not too dusty, but the heat is there all day and most of the night. The US presence here is huge and I will have lots to tell. I am settling in ok. The vibe on the Hq is fairly relaxed as all appreciate the cramped living and working conditions. I am quite tired and have had no trouble sleeping. My body clock is now on 'Baggers ' time. I rise around 0530 and have been for a walk each morning thus far so I am quickly into a routine. Accommodation is ok, fairly good system of communal responsibility to keep the peace in a room where 24 bunks are co located. Compared to how many others are living here in the airport area the Aussies have it quite good. The food is plentiful but very dangerous as you could eat too much 'good tasting' but not so healthy stuff. It is mostly smorgasbord type layout with lots of variety; the dining facilities are fairly huge. It is about a 10 minute walk to where we eat, so it can be quite hot getting there and coming back three times a day.

The working and living accommodation is all surrounded by lakes and walkways. We are literally in palace complexes, with the water around the edges of the balconies and walkways. Out the back door of the part of the headquarters where I work is a verandah that we tee off of into the lake. There is an island about 70 metres out which has a flag and makeshift green on it. Only problem is that you can't get your golf balls back unless you land on the island!!!. And then it is a wait until someone goes out to the island in a row boat. James (the guy I replaced) has left me a bag of balls, but if anyone wants to send me anything, please send me golf balls, you know the dodgy cheap recycled ones the kids steal out of the dams and resell. I am told you can get 39 into the two kilo BM post pack, which can be posted for free. Hitting a couple of balls has already proven to be a great mind break.

The security situation here is fairly benign, with no real direct threat in our day to day routine, except for the occasional random incoming rocket and small arms fire on the perimeter towers. These incidents are few and far between and usually in other parts of the base. Still, it makes for interesting times when the alarm goes off.

That is about it for the moment. Keep me in your prayers and I will keep you all in my thoughts.

Wow - over 9 months and here we are back again - if anyone reads this let me know, because I would be keen to know who comes back to a box after 9 months still wondering if 'he' has bothered to writer!!!

Andrew has written about 'Rising' http://www..blogspot.cointhespacebetweenm and Rebecca is singing about this being our time to 'rise up'. I am not a big believer in signs, but I have just finished reading over the Easter weekend (when Christ rose!!! it just became apparent) John Smith's autobiography On the Side of the Angels .

When will we rise above self and rise to the challenge. Christ calls us to love the unloveable, no matter what the cost. We need to rise to the occasion and heed the call.

I just need to rise above myself.

Cat update: "Angus" now officially resides with us, after a brief 4 day reunion with his owner, one distressed wife of this author and a hero's mission to convince the crazy cat lady that she really did not need 11 cats and he would be much happier residing with us.

The cat is cool, learning that my bed is not his bed at 0430 is a process he is coming to terms with. I am continually amazed at a simple animal's capacity to teach me new things about my existence. How I thought my world was shaped has had some elements challenged. And I am enjoying the newness of an extra responsibility.

===

As I sit in an airport lounge in Alice Springs, viewing the "outback" out the terminal windows I am reminded of the vastness of this existence and the smallness of my part in it.

From Success To Significance is a read that will challenge the purpose of your efforts. Balance, margin and motivation are all required - but the discipline to maintain the course must be constantly monitored.

Let me say this: I am, without any doubt, not a cat person. Never have been, never will be. Don't want one, can't stand an animal that shows no respect or obedience.

We now have a cat. 5 days and counting. Abandoned, cold, half its body weight, curled up in the back of the "dog kennel" on Mother's Day. Adopted us it seems. As I have said to many, it is not a cat! It is an animal in need of help!!

"Angus" needs to survive another 3 days without being claimed for him to become legally ours. One vet bill, cat odour in the kitchen, and a tugging on my emotions already tell me that he is mine.

So the message on my mobile from a lady down the road who called in at the vet and heard about our find scares me. "She thinks we have her cat". I don't want to call Kel and tell her whilst I am away. Back tomorrow night which means we only have to stall the owner for a day and a half and we have legal ownership!!

The cat, "Angus", the animal in need of help has taught me a lot in 5 days. Most of all it seems that some things in life are more important than others. Angus, your season with us may be over, but you will leave a legacy.

My boarding call is about to sound and I shall pass the message home as I walk to the boarding gate. A day in Sydney will drag contemplating the absence of our newest family member upon my return.

I am sitting in the airport awaiting my boarding call, prepared for a home coming after a five day absence. My dog will come to the window as the driver delivers me to the front path. I will attempt to hurry with my baggage train up to the front door as the wet weather welcomes me with a reason to seek a hot shower. My loving hound will want to jump up on my leg as I juggle two suitcases, a laptop and my keys through the hallway. Upon opening the door to the living area my wife will arise from in front of the fire where she has been reading, sewing or pining for her beloved.

...if I make it home.

We have changed to an ealier flight due to an early finish today. Immediate thought - will I be watching the news tonight, in shock at the story about the flight that I should have been on, or will my wife be watching a story about my new flight, unaware that I won't be arriving as originally planned.

No logic or foundation truth behind these thoughts - maybe just a prompt to head back to the Qantas Club bar for a beer to bring me back to the reality that nothing will happen!