The Gaffer is back in Town


Viv arrives in Marrakesh today in order check I haven’t ‘gone Native’, and to spend a few days together in the Coastal town of Essouaria before I have back over the Atlas again and into the desert for the most challenging (but for me the most exciting part of the trip. 

Over the past 34 years …… makes me feel old! We have had many trips and holidays in North Africa but this will only be our second to Morocco and the first time Viv will have been to Essaouira.

Essaouira is known as the ‘windy city of Africa’ and attracts plenty of professional and amateur kite surfers starting this month but mainly between May and August……sounds like madness to me although having seen a couple of German’s indulging lower down the coast can see its attraction.  Sadly with my increasing age and girth not sure the kite has been invented to be able to do the job for me these days 😉


Over the past weeks I have been reflecting on how things have changed since the last time we were separated for reasonably long periods of time whilst I was still serving.

Even on my last deployment to Sarajevo in 1997, we were limited to letters (remember them…….) and one single 15 min call via the military satellite system once per week. How far have we come in 25 ish years!  Now by using cheap Moroccan SIM cards I am able to wattsapp whenever, read emails, conduct all my banking etc etc virtually seamlessly and in case of real emergency I can contact those I need to via Sat comms via my iPhone.

I remember in 97 we were buying a house in the UK in anticipation of me leaving the Army, Viv got expert in forging my signature as it was impossible for me to turn anything round without resorting to a 2 weeks postal challenge.

Whilst looking forward immensely to seeing Viv (have to say that really 😉), I genuinely have missed the forced isolation that I experienced previously as it made you concentrate on where you were without the ‘diversion’ of life at home.   I realise that is a really selfish perspective and that the lens that Viv or anyone left at home would have would be completely different but hey ho, I am being honest🤫

Update from Essaouira in a few days👍 

Comments

  1. Further NorthMarch 7, 2024 at 1:47 PM

    I remember those days, so long ago, happy birthday Viv

    ReplyDelete
  2. Life controllerMarch 7, 2024 at 5:21 PM

    Well life is all about our own perspectives! On the plus side that you could find a wedding photo whilst in Morocco is impressive, and that you still don’t know quite how many years we’ve been married far less of a surprise!! The call may only have been 15 minutes once a week but you could guarantee it would be at an inconvenient time 😂. And of course with the true wonders of modern technology I can always find you with the ‘find my wayward husband’ app

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BuckoMarch 7, 2024 at 5:26 PM

      Oh Bollox………. That will be 36 years then………. Let’s see if I can survive the night without the life controller removing my testicles with a blunt spoon 🫣

      Delete
  3. The boyMarch 9, 2024 at 10:04 AM

    Been a mental week at work so only just catching up on these, rookie error getting that mistake published for mum to catch you out on.

    Hope you have a lovely time with Mum!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 21, 2024 at 11:15 AM

    You'll never learn Nige!!

    ReplyDelete

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