3:51pm Tuesday 21st July 2009
07:50 we are given orders to conduct a foot patrol through two nearby areas to show our presence.
The areas we are to cover are yellow and blue. The majority of the blue area is quite heavily guarded; the yellow is not so, however is full of hustle and bustle of everyday life.
As the briefing is read out to us we are informed that on the previous day, a young child had been run over by an American call sign.
This accident happened just after our sister multiple had just past that spot. As it was reported that the American call sign had not stopped at the scene and now we could expect that tensions within Kabul would be would be high within the population and we were to be on our guard as there was a possibility of some public disorder, even to the extent of stoning or worse.
We conducted the patrol and luckily things went smoothly.
We passed through the busy streets and people greeted us as normal, children trying to beg for chocolate and the area seemed pretty normal.
At one point we walk through the rear of some houses where upon we have to cross a little bridge that spans an open stream.
The stream is full of human sewage and the thought of having to jump into it to take cover if we were to be attacked, made me feel a little queasy I must admit.
Only one incident happened and the lads that were in my section, thought it was hilarious, as we were walking along the pavement in front of a KCP checkpoint, the ground below me gave way and opened up a good four to five foot deep void, which I went straight down into. Instead of a hand from the lads, all I received was a view of them creased up laughing at my predicament. I was ok apart from my pride bruised and a cut leg. Who needs enemies when you have mates like these.
The main roads were very busy and we made it around and back to base with no incidents to report to all our relief.
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