SASless
25th Dec 2003, 08:18
Helicopter flying gave me two of the best memories of Christmas I have. One revolves around the bush operation known as "Papa Charlie" in Bristow records. About 150 miles east of Bandar Abbas in the middle of nowhere Iran....stood a tent camp that had no source of heat besides a wee dram or two taken internally. Cuisine amounted to lots of beans and goat and flat bread. Laundry was done in a bucket...hobbies were hot air ballooning and kite flying....and the odd game of Uckers. The Christmas celebration involved a cats chorus, bagpipes, large amounts of beer and whiskey and a most memorable night. Christmas songs sung outdoors in the cold...under a very pretty starry sky.
The other was in a small country in SE Asia during a period of unpleasantness. Pouring rain, poncho's and steel helmets, rifles slung upside down, ankle deep mud......and soldiers singing Silent Night.
The other was in a small country in SE Asia during a period of unpleasantness. Pouring rain, poncho's and steel helmets, rifles slung upside down, ankle deep mud......and soldiers singing Silent Night.