Entry 26 04/03/2009 10:22 GMT

I’m home. I finally made it back on Monday night and have spent the majority of the time since then sleeping. I think partly I’ve been getting over jet lag and partly I’ve been getting over one of the hardest mental and physical experiences I have ever faced. Two weeks of bouncing around Afghanistan reporting on Kent troops has come to an end. No more will I be patrolling in the dead of night, eating boil-in-a-bag rations, carrying my bag for three kilometres at a time or be told my next journey is being delayed by a day because of Operational Requirements.

I do jest that it was tough but it truly was the experience of a lifetime. Not many people get to spend an extended period of time in a war zone and not many people are able to say they’ve flown in a Hercules, Sea King and Chinook all in the same fortnight. Most importantly, not many people can say they’ve met such a dedicated, hard working and good-spirited bunch of people as the Second Battalion of Royal Gurkha Rifles, The First Battalion of The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and all the Royal Engineers, medics and other fine people that make up Kent’s contribution to the British forces efforts in Afghanistan.

The keenness of everyone to help me out, be interviewed and ensure my safe transport was not only greatly professional but also extremely touching. I was ready to come home after 14 days of working in the dusty, hot and hilly conditions. Kent’s troops have to spend six months out there and are often sent back or to other war-torn areas within a couple of years if not less. The greatest thing that struck me over the two weeks was the diversity of the challenges faced by our boys day in and day out and how majestically they meet and surpass those challenges with the same zest and commitment every time.

The work in Afghanistan will take decades to achieve. Getting a country torn by more than 30 years of civil war back on its own two feet is no easy task. Yet even since the Gurkhas have been head of Battlegroup North-West in Musa Qal’eh there have been great improvements in the way crops are produced by Afghan civilians (and getting rid of the illegal poppy trade) and advances in the ability and organisation of the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army. Afghanistan is due to have its first presidential elections in the coming year and since the Gurkhas’ tenure thousands have registered to vote and thus endorse the new democracy out there.

The Taliban are being pushed further back and more ground is being controlled by British forces. The Afghan civilians I spoke to living in those areas have all spoke of the vast improvement in their standard of living since their villages have been Taliban free. The mission of providing security for the Afghan people to get on with their lives is working. People back home just have to be patient and allow the time necessary for it to work.

There is real change happening in Afghanistan and it is for the better. The work of Kent’s troops since the start of the war in 2001 has been crucial in giving Afghanistan a chance of being a nation free of tyranny and fear in the future.

Special reports:

• Behind the frontlines - our reporter in Afghanistan >>>

• History of the Afghan conflict >>>

Entry 25 01/03/09 11:42 GMT (16:12 Afghan time)

I've checked in on my flight so fingers crossed all will go well. I’ve got some time between now and the flight so I’ve been walking around Kandahar to soak up the atmosphere.

Life here is drastically different to that of the Gurkhas and Princess of Wales Royal Regiment in Musa Qal’eh. In Musa Qal’eh existence is basic and mod coms are few and far between.

Right now I’m sitting on what’s called "The Boardwalk" which is a kind of shopping centre made of wood. Among the Afghan trinket shops it boasts a Burger King and a Subway.

Inside the ring of shops is a football pitch sized area with an Ice Hockey field (yes it has ice in it) and a stage where concerts are apparently held every now and again. To top it off I’m writing to you via an internet café which provides free WiFi access. Kandahar could almost be a home from home for the troops who work here.

Admittedly the Americans serving are deployed for a year as opposed to the British forces six months so they are allowed a few reminders of home. Also the work done here is obviously vitally important to the effort to get Afghanistan standing on its own two feet.

Yet this is not an area that smacks of being in a war torn country. The only thing that serves as a reminder is the noise of Chinooks and F18s hurtling past overhead and the military uniforms worn by nearly everyone around.

Entry 24 01/03/09 09:10 GMT (13:40 Afghan time)

A glimmer of hope. We have been put on a flight for tonight scheduled to arrive sometime tomorrow morning. They certainly keep you on your toes in the military.

All this has made me think how frustrating it must be for troops waiting to go on their mid tour leave or R&R (Rest & Recouperation). They get given two weeks in the army.

It just shows what patience these guys have and shows they are so professional in accepting these delays as a part of making their journeys safe.

Still I’m not taking anything for granted. I won’t be satisfied that I am going to make it home until my feet touch British soil.

Entry 23 28/02/09 21:15 GMT (01/03/09 01:45 Afghan time)

Just when you think you might be on a good run you are abruptly reminded that nothing can be taken for granted in Afghanistan.

As I arrived in Kandahar via a Hercules from Camp Bastian I was told I would not be getting a flight home in time for the League Cup Final.

Instead, I have to wait until March 3. I assumed the Media Ops officer was joking and said "ha ha are you serious?" "Yes I really am serious,” he said.

My heart sank. I have loved my experience here in Afghanistan but there are only so many false starts a man can take.

Entry 22 28/02/09 05:27 GMT (09:57 Afghan time)

Just when you are feeling at your lowest something is thrown at you to pick you right back up again.

The cancelled flight yesterday meant I was facing the prospect two more full days at FOB Edinburgh before I could be flown to Camp Bastian. Then, as I was settling in for another night’s kip, a Gurkha came in and informed me he had got me on a flight early in the morning.

Now I obviously took this with a pinch of salt based on previous experience. Much to my amusement, I arrived on time at the HLS (Helicopter Landing Site) but many other Gurkha soldiers casually strolled up 15 minutes late knowing full well that nothing is on time in Afghanistan. Much to my relief the Chinook came and whisked us off to Bastian where I am writing from now.

My ears are still ringing from the flight. With the rear hatch opened there is little separating your delicate eardrums from the rapidly spinning propellers just a few metres above.

Also, you fly very close to the ground so you get a real feel for just how fast you are going. On a plane you can feel quite comfortable, looking outside occasionally to see the distant ground slowly drifting past as you carry on towards your destination.

On a Chinook you sway from side to side as the pilot turns right and then left and you really feel the bump as it comes to halt when it lands.

If you are a thrill seeker, a career in the armed forces is definitely worth considering.

Entry 21 27/02/09 10:25 GMT (14:55 Afghan time)

Chopper has been cancelled and we are now waiting for confirmation of our next flight. The soldiers have a name for all the waiting around done out here: Afghan time.

You figure out how long something should take, double it and add two. So that means we should make it to Bastion sometime tomorrow afternoon. Happy days.

Entry 20 27/02/09 08:40 GMT (13:10 Afghan time)

I’m sitting at FOB Edinburgh’s HLS (Helicopter Landing Site) waiting for my ride to Camp Bastion to arrive. From there I’ll be briefed when my flight home will be.

FOB Edinburgh is a strange place. It is pretty big. I would say around the same size as FOB Musa Qal’eh. However, it is like a ghost town. I’m told about 80-90 people work here but so far I’ve seen around 15 people wandering around the whole time I’ve been here (apart from meal times when the cookhouse is swamped with hungry soldiers).

I guess this is added to by the fact it is in the middle of the mountains surrounding Musa Qal’eh. Therefore there are no civilians going about their daily business just outside as is the case with FOB Musa Qal’eh.

There are not many times in Afghanistan when you are afforded a moment of peace and quiet but I’m having one right now.

As I look ahead of me I see the FOB's chapel (a tent with a large cross planted in the ground outside) with the FOB's centopaph next to it (five blocks of HESCO arranged into a small tower).

There are some poppy wreaths laid at its foot with some messages that those lost will never be forgotten.

It’s nice to think that regardless of where you are in the world there is always time put aside to pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price in the name of their country. It’s a pleasant reminder of home and the values we stand for.

Entry 19 26/02/09 16:15 GMT (20:45 Afghan time)

I was told by the MOD before I went on this tour to get fit because there would be times when I would have to perform some physically demanding tasks. I will say one thing…the MOD keep to their word!

We set off to walk the 3km back to FOB Musa Qal’eh in the district centre from Patrol Base Woqab at around midday.

Obviously everything you bring with you you have to carry so my rather large backpack went on my back where it would stay for the next hour and 15 minutes.

My bag ways around 20 kg and the guys who have to carry the heaviest gear carry packs that weight around 45 kg. Hats off to them. I was exhausted by the time I made it back to the FOB.

But it was not the distance, length of time or the weight that particularly made me tired. It was the roughness of the Afghanistan terrain that took it out of me.

The farmers in the area between PB Woqab and FOB Musa Qal'eh have made a series of canals that carry water from the Wadi river across the area to feed their farms. It means you are constantly faced with jumps over the canals or thin branches to tiptoe over.

There are no pavements or roads as such so it’s also a constant fight to avoid twisting your ankle on the bumpy tracks. Getting that bag off my achey shoulders was a tremendous feeling. It made me glad I do not have to do that kind of thing on a regular basis.

After a short stay at the district centre we then were taken via the CLP (Combat Logistics Patrol) to FOB Edinburgh. The CLP is basically a line of supply trucks guarded by a Force Protection Unit of Jackals and Mastiffs driven by Gurkhas from 2RGR.

They make sure the supply line (which can number between 70 and 120 vehicles and stretch between 7 and 12 km) is safe from mines and enemy insurgents.

I decided to stick my head out of the Mastiff I was in to do some filming and I was struck by the beauty of the area. Up until this point I had only seen the farming areas of Afghanistan and the bases.

Now I was in the desert and mountain ranges. I forgot the harsh terrain of earlier in the day and was simply taken aback by the stunning views. Hills and mountains that effortlessly change colour from the greyish yellow dirt to a rich green of flora and fauna.

It struck me how much of a shame it is that Afghanistan is a war zone. This land should be open for all to see.

Then I was snapped out of my thoughts as the Mastiff proceeded to plough over a series of large potholes and bumps throwing me from side to side of the small hatch I was looking out of. I bashed my hips, right, left, right, left continuously for a good five minutes. Oh how I ache as I write this. Oh how I ache!

Entry 18 25/02/09 15:50 GMT (20:20 Afghan time)

Despite what's happened I was still raring to go on patrol this afternoon with Four and Six platoon from One Section of B Company 2RGR.

We went on a reassurance patrol to let locals know the army is still in the area protecting them. That was to the south of Patrol Base Woqab which is an area more or less completely under British Army control. North of the base however is a different story.

This evening I sat up with the sentry or Sanger as the army folk call it, looking out over the area north of PB Woqab.

At first it seemed quiet. Then one of the Fire Support Group spotted a dicker about a mile north. He recognised him straight away as "Bob" who regularly goes into the area to try and spy on them for the Taliban. They fired a warning shot to send him on his way.

Then around 15 minutes later the sentry spotted a number of Taliban soldiers in the so called "White House", a white building about half a mile north east. Everyone got to their battle stations.

The Javelin was aimed (actually an anti-tank weapon but perfectly suited to warfare in Afghanistan where you want incredible accuracy to hit the enemy but with minimal surrounding damage) and the GMG (Grenade Machine Gun) was armed.

Then two sets of warning shots were fired to try to get the Taliban to leave the area and to let them know we knew they were there. That was enough. They left. There would be no repeat of the contact experienced at Satellite Station North last night.

Entry 17 25/02/09 04:25 GMT (08:55 Afghan time)

I woke up thinking of my girlfriend for the first time this morning. I think the adrenaline of last night made me start to think of home. I kept thinking about the moments I was concerned I could not see the man ahead of me and hearing all the sounds and not being able to fathom where they came from.

The nakedness I felt when walking in the darkness, treading tentatively forward with every step onto a ground I could hardly see, is certainly something I won’t forget in a hurry.

Even though I was in the professional hands of one of the best fighting forces in the British army I was still shaking when I had to wade through ankle deep streams on the patrol up to Woqab.

At one point when I was wondering what I might do if we did have an enemy contact, I remembered a piece of advice my dad gave me before I left. He said: "If something goes off remember you’re just a reporter out there doing your job. Don’t get carried away in the moment and get yourself into trouble."

As I remembered that advice I removed the battery from my camera. I had already been told that any light emitted from it might cause a situation. Last night was certainly the most poignant experience of the tour so far for me.

Entry 16 24/02/09 19:40 GMT) (25/02/09 00:10 Afghan time)

I’m feeling rather charged so I feel I have to write. The war in Afghanistan became very real for me tonight.

We began our journey to Patrol Base Moqab, north of Musa Qal’eh District Centre, with the Queens Dragoon Guards at around 17:00. They were due to take us to Satellite Station North where a patrol from B Company 2RGR would meet us and then walk us the 2km or so to PB Woqab.

On the way to Satellite Station North I was filming out of the hatch of the Mastiff when I heard a loud bang. It was the sound of a Rocket Propelled Grenade being fired at the station by insurgents less than a kilometre away.

We were told to hold our position as we had a couple of vehicles with us that did not have the heavy duty body armour that the Mastiff does. We then heard the Sanger or sentry post had dispelled the insurgents with some well placed fire and we continued into the station.

A couple of hours later we were met by the Gurkhas from 2RGR and we then left in the dead of night to walk to PB Woqab. As we walked the Media Officer for 2RGR Captain Emily Peers (who has been incredibly helpful to me throughout my visit) told me that "if something happens then just lay down on the floor and stay there".

That was the moment I really realised I was in a war zone.

We walked for over an hour before we reached the base. At times we stopped and kneeled before carrying on. We walked through what appeared to be a small village with dogs barking at us from inside their owner’s yards. My heart was racing. This was real. Very real.

When I walked into the patrol base I felt not relief but a sense of elation. We had made it through the open land of Afghanistan. The strangest thing is for the Gurkhas, it was just a routine evening stroll.

Entry 15 24/02/09 05:20 GMT (09:50 Afghan time)

I made a serious error of judgement this morning. I decided to go and have a shower first thing.

At Patrol Base Minden this is not a problem as you just put some boiling water into a shower bag, top it up with cold water, turn on the tap attached and away you go.

At FOB Musa Qal’eh where there is just a regular tap like you would find at home you would think there would be "no dramas" to use a military term.

Not so. I turned on the tap to full blast and received a shock like I never have before when the water fired at me at a considerable rate was absolutely Baltic in temperature.

Letting out a little yelp at the shock I tried to stand to the side of the cubicle to let the water warm up. "It ain’t warm in the morning mate," shouted a sniggering squaddie. "Doesn’t heat up until about 1300."

So there I was in the freezing shower, too proud to exit and knowing that I probably won’t have the chance to come back because of the interviews I have lined up for this afternoon.

So I proceeded to wash in my arctic shower, breathing at every opportunity the cold did not take my breath away and then sheepishly came out and towelled myself down amongst the smirking soldiers shaving at the sinks.

I have learnt a very valuable lesson. When in theatre, always shower before you go to bed.

Expect some radio silence from me for a while. I'm moving out for a couple of days - cannot say where for security reasons - but when I get back to FOB Musa Qal'eh I'll tell all about my experiences.

Entry 14 23/02/09 13:25 GMT (17:55 Afghan time)

The patrol I was due to go out on to the bizarre just outside FOB Musa Qal’eh was cancelled at late notice giving me some unexpected downtime.

So I decided to relax in the Afghan sun and try to soak up the atmosphere of this Middle Eastern or South Asian (depending where you’re looking from) country. It was the first time I found a moment of tranquilty in this war torn place.

Sifting through my interview notes I was allowed a moment's calm as the wind kicked up the dust in a mini whirlwind with the sounds of the local market (which runs on Mondays and Thursdays) just outside the FOB in the background.

It’s just an ordinary place really with ordinary people trying to make an ordinary living. Just some need a little help to be able to do that safely.

Entry 13 23/02/09 08:19 GMT (12:49 Afghan time)

For many people in the UK Afghan justice means someone getting their hands cut off for stealing a loaf of bread, or something like that.

Today I was given a glimpse into the new method of Afghan justice which is germinating into something very like the justice we have back in the UK.

At a Justice Shura, members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Musa Qal’eh and soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles sat down to discuss the arrests of a number of civilians in the local area.

An orderly discussion through interpreters culminated in two men being sent to Lash Gagar for trial as suspected Taliban, four men being released and one man being fined for running over a child with his motorbike.

Most of the men were released because the ANP had not gone about collating evidence properly.

But it is a sign of progress that the ANP are understanding the need to collect evidence before arrest to get a conviction and that different crimes deserve different punishments in accordance with their severity.

The Gurkhas have done a lot to bring security to Musa Qal’eh - but I think their true legacy will be based on how well they have instilled the values of justice into local Afghan law enforcement.

Entry 12 23/02/09 04:26 GMT (08:56 Afghan time)

That’s it - I can’t stand anymore! I have to tell you about the bed situation out in Afghanistan.

In fairness it is much better than I expected as I was told I would be sleeping on the floor with the soldiers.

However, in Camp Bastion, Patrol Base Minden and now in Forward Operating Base Musa Qal’eh (all essentially bigger or smaller levels of base in Afghanistan) I have always had the relative comfort of sleeping on a camp bed, which I could put my nice warm sleeping bag on over the top.

So what is all the fuss about you might ask? Well, these camp beds are quite frankly the noisiest things you will ever come to rest your body weight on. Every time I need to shift to make myself a little more comfy there are more creaks and squeaks than a mouse’s picnic party in the cupboard under the stairs.

And what leaves me most perplexed is the fact the soldiers just get in bed and then that’s the last noise you hear out of them for the rest of the night. Either they are extremely efficient at getting comfortable or they have got used to waking up in the morning not being able to feel one of their limbs.

Aside from the guilt of the racket I create from needing to move an arm or turn over, the noise outside the room where I was sleeping was just as bad.

At 4am I was awoken by the call to prayer, at around 6am I was woken by the noise of countless cockerels welcoming the new day in and at some stage in the night (do not ask me why) it sounded like a group of soldiers from the Afghan National Army were pumping some iron right above my head, judging by the loud tensing noises followed by a large thud.

And if you thought that was it, the temperature at night is pretty darn cold as well creating a mix of insomniac heaven. Taking away the events of last night, I have often woken up shivering throughout my trip despite wearing a t-shirt under my sleeping bag which is pretty much designed for arctic conditions.

So, in short, in Afghanistan you have to be prepared to be a bit of a light sleeper.

I’m done now. Rant over!

Entry 11 22/02/09 18:01 GMT (22:31 Afghan time)

As my trip becomes more and more hectic I’m finding less and less time to be able to sit down and get some writing done. So sorry for the long delay between entries.

We had an amusing moment just before leaving Patrol Base Minden for the luxioury (relatively) of the District Centre. One of the soldiers had a bet with an officer that he could row 5 km in 20 minutes on the rowing machine (despite being in the middle of a war zone their gym is surprisingly well kitted out).

Fair enough it was in response to the officer saying he needed to do more cardio work as he was getting on the chunky side but that is a tall order for even a fit man.

So with 10 cans of Pepsi riding on the result the man from the Queens Dragoon Guards tried and failed (he actually did it in 21 minutes so not a bad effort) much to the delight of his superiors and all his fellow squaddies who had been egging him on and jeering him at the same time.

It showed me the real spirit all these soldiers have. Every day they go through a struggle just to do their job and inevitably they form strong bonds with each other.

If I’d been asked before this trip I would never have said I would join the army. But after seeing the comradery and spirit these guys show despite the difficulties they face, I felt rather humbled at being given the chance to have a glimpse into their world.

Maybe I could have been a squaddie in another life. Who knows? Anyway, what a great bunch!

So to keep you up to date on where I am, I'm now in FOB Musa Qal’eh in the District’s Centre. This is the main hub of Battlegroup Northwest for the British army and the 2RGR Battlegroup who are in charge of operations here for Operation Herrick Nine.

No rations here and rather than just bag of hot water with a tap overhead for showers we have a series of pumps providing running water. Luxury at its grandest.

Entry 10 21/02/09 14.52 GMT (18:22 Afghan time)

Just been out on my first patrol. It was an eye opener to say the least. We came across several Afghan civilians going about their daily business. Everyone knows their life is more basic than that of western civilians, but it doesn't hit you until you see it.

We walked past several poppy and wheat fields. Apparently most farmers harvest crops of around half and half. They are more predisposed to growing wheat now because the price of the crop has gone up. But they still rely heavily on illegal poppy crops used to support the drugs scene in western countries.

All we walked through were fields populated by the odd farmer and his family, along with a few cows or goats if they are lucky. The children were more keen to come and talk to us than the elders.

I was confused when one kept saying to me “pien, pien, pien”. Then I realised he was after the Bic I had in my hand. It was the only pen I had taken with me on patrol, but I couldn’t keep it away from him. It was clear from the look in his eyes when I handed it over to him that he was more than happy with his new possession.

There was one point on patrol when I did feel concerned. The troops from 1PWRR who we were out on patrol with pointed out two faint silhouettes on top of a distant hill. They told me they were Taliban watching over our movements.

It was only when I got back that I was told by one of the soldiers that we were a mere 400 metres away from the British army/Taliban border. “If we had gone any further south we would have had a heavy contact for sure,” he said. Needless to say I felt my heart racing when he told me the news.

Entry nine 20/02/09 17:38 GMT (21:08 Afghan time)

What a busy day. And an eventful one. My first helicopter ride, a trip in a convoy of Matiffs, finding out my stay will be majorly extended and a fire fight around 800 metres away.

We left Bastion in the morning via a Sea King helicopter which took us to Musa Qal’eh within around 15 minutes. I have to say it was one of the best 15 minutes of my life.

The gunner on the chopper allowed me to sit next to him for the entire trip and peer out of the open door onto the ground several hundred feet below. It was a rush better than the fastest roller coaster I’ve ever been on.

Following our arrival in Musa Qal’eh we were given time to have some food before being taken to one of the southernmost base called Patrol Base Minden.

Here we met with Gurkhas who work as part of a Reconnaissance Group scouting the southern most area under the control of the British army. What a fantastic group of men they are. Chatting to them it became clear they are totally devoted to the British army’s cause of helping the Afghan people set up a safe society. A credit to the army they serve.

And the commitment they have made became all to clear as the night began to set in. A troop from 1PWRR were out on patrol close to the border of control of the Taliban when they came under fire from a group of insurgents. I was just sitting sorting out the footage I had taken on my camera when I heard the first gunfire. The battle was ensuing just 800 metres away from our base. Things began to quieten down and then I heard a massive bang which frightened the life out of me and made me duck out of instinct.

I only slowly raised my head when I heard the sound of cheers from the Gurkhas. They told me it was the sound of mortar fire from our troops. Shortly after air support was brought in and the insurgents were silenced by a 500 pound bomb.

So a lot has gone on and yet in a funny way it hasn’t. To the PWRR who have been based here for six months a fire fight like that is nearly an everyday occurrence. One soldier told me of the amazing buzz he gets from being in combat. I consider myself a bit of a thrill seeker, but I’m not as brave a man as them for sure.

Entry eight, 20/02/09, 01:30 GMT (19/02/09, 20:30 Afghan time)

Dust, dust and more dust. The stuff is everywhere. In my shoes, on my clothes, on my camera, even on my laptop as I write this.

I'm shattered. The lack of sleep of the last few days has caught up with me now I've had a prolonged period without a nap.

I've been told I will be in Bastion for at least one more full day before I can meet up with 2RGR at a FOB near Musa Qaleh.

It looks as though my trip is going to be extended by a few days to make up for the earlier delays. It's also a case of waiting for when the military can fit me onto a flight out.

I met soldiers from PWRR earlier and the Commando Logistics Regiment. From hearing all their different roles you get a feeling of how massive a scale Operation Herrick is being conducted on.

All are under no illusions that for Operation Herrick to be successful in its goal of allowing the Afghan people to develop a democratic and safe society, the armed forces will have to be here for a long time to come.

It took 30 years to get anything like peace in Northern Ireland. Afghanistan will be no different.

Entry seven, 19/02/09, 18:32 GMT (14:02 Afghan time)

We made it. As I finally stepped off the plane I have to say it felt a little surreal.

We had just spent around 20 minutes in total darkness as the plane prepared to land. Not one person uttered a word the whole time.

A real sense of the seriousness of what our troops do for their country realty hit me. These guys were all preparing for a tough six-month haul. I was just psyching myself up for a week.

We were quickly moved to the arrivals lounge where we collected our baggage and then were flown a couple of hours later via a Hercules to Camp Bastion where I am writing to you now.

A ride in a Hercules is something else. You are in one of two positions for the whole flight. Leaning back or leaning forward depending on whether the plane is flying up or down, such is the force of the vehicle.

On arrival we collected our bags and were taken to our media tent for some much needed rest. Four hours later we were up for breakfast and our first debrief on the overall mission of the British forces in Afghanistan.

The strange thing is everything seems to be going at such a rapid pace and yet all the soldiers based here at Bastion seem to be in quite a relaxed mood.

I guess you have to be.

I’m now waiting here until I can be given a flight to my next destination with the Gurkhas. Before then I’ll be spending some time with the PWRR.

Entry six, 18/02/09, 09:06 GMT

We've come into the departure lounge and so far so good. We're now due to go out on a different type of Tristar.

The mood in general is philospohical. I don't think anyone will be taking for granted we're going to Afghanistan until we've actually got our feet on the ground.

Entry five, 18/02/09, 01:37am GMT

Patience is a virtue. We were forced to turn back again after the same fault occurred at the same point as last time.

So, after leaving Brize Norton for the second time at 5.30pm we returned for the second time at 11.10pm.

I can't hide my feeling of utter disappointment that I am not out there right now.

The RAF are gutted it could not get us out there today and are clearly working as hard as it can with new technology.

It's tough times for the British military. How many more stories will I find when I'm out in the field?

Entry four, 17/02/09, 15:19 GMT

So near and yet so far.

I'm in the last place I expected to be after taking off from Brize Norton for Afghanistan...Brize Norton.

After getting into the air at 10.10am (over three hours later than scheduled), we received a message from the captain two hours into the flight.

He told us there was a technical problem on the plane and we had to turn back for safety reasons.

So here I am back in the departure lounge waiting for the plane to be fixed.

We've been given a new departure time of 4.45pm. Let's hope despite this problem we can at least get away then.

We should land in Afghanistan shortly after midnight.

Entry three, 17/02/09, 06:30 GMT

I've just been told the flight has been delayed for an hour due to weight issues on the plane. Our new takeoff time is now 8am.

I can't help feeling this is going to become a recurring theme over the next week!

Next entry either from in the air or from the field - who knows?

Entry two, 17/02/09, 06:17 GMT

At Brize Norton now wating for takeoff. I arrived here at 4am and the flight is due at 7am.

I'm surrounded by squaddies all in khakis and looking very relaxed. The mood is in general very laid back, but then they would be. They do this regularly.

I can feel butterflies in my stomach. A fellow journalist has told me that for a joke the troops switch the lights off in the plane and lock and load their weapons to see how you react!

I want to say I'll be prepared - but you never know until you're there.

Entry one, 16/02/09, 21:02 GMT

And we're off! Welcome to my blog about my trip to Afghanistan reporting on Kent's troops out in the field.

I hope you enjoy reading about my experiences and I'll try to make this as honest an account as I can.

I'm at a comfy, rustic hotel in Minster Lovell, which is around five minutes' drive from RAF Brize Norton where I fly from at 7am Tuesday (February 17).

I'll be going to sleep soon to try to get my last bit of shuteye in a bed for the next week.

I can't help thinking this blog is going to be a therapeutic tool for me over the coming seven days.

I’ve spoken to my parents and my girlfriend for the last time for a while. I won't be able to switch on my phone in Afghanistan so I'm left feeling a little lonely right now.

But overall my feeling is excitement. What is waiting round the corner? A 14-hour journey that's what!