General Chat

In Issue 33 of Take a Break magazine there was a letter printed asking for people to make contact with service personnel serving in Afghanistan. The writer was a female soldier serving there with the 19 Light Brigade and she said ' if anyone could send friendly letters, chatty emails or small parcels it would cheer them up a bit . Some of them are living in remote locations with no running water, fresh rations or any of the simple day to day comforts that we all enjoy at home.'

Initially you have to send the letters etc to Take a Break c/c katie Fraser on the Take a Buddy page and she will forward everything on.

It's such a little thing to do, to send a funny or bright card or message etc, that I thought I would pass the info on to all my caring friends here. Please don't send them to me tho.

The address is Katie Fraser, Take a Break, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT

Probably best to mark the envelope 'for service personnel'


Lizx

nudging this to see if anyone wants a penpal lol

Lizxx

Another nudge, it only needs to be one card, they need contact from the outside world all year round, not just at Christmas.

Lizx

thanks Rita, I will send a card in the next couple of days and give my email address but I don't suppose they will want an oap to keep in touch with lol

Lizx

I will mail a Thank You card as we owe them a huge thanks for doing a difficult job so professionally and so many of them only a couple of years out of school

Thanks Col, I think it won't hurt to cheer someone's day.
Hope you are well.
Lizx

Well I picked a card out of my box and realised it was a birthday card, so I thought maybe it would arrive in time for someone's birthday and would be an extra greeting. I have put on the front, for any female soldier who has a birthday coming up - had to say that as it had flowers and kittens on lol and wasn't sure a big tough soldier lad would appreciate the picture lol
If it raises a smile it will have done it's job, I did say that if one of them was a member or joined gr they could start a thread and we could add to it for them with supportive messages or such. I mean we keep each other cheerful on other threads so why not one for them too. I sealed the envelope and then realised I had forgotten to add my email address so had to open it again and sellotape it up. No hope for me is there~?

I can imagine a big package of letters and such going from Take a Break to the regiment. It will give them something fun to do to open it and read all the messages anyway and if they run short of loo paper they can use the envelopes.

Lizx

will send a card , Ros xxx

Hi Ros, thanks - maybe you can spread the word amongst your friends too.

Rita, I am sure they will be pleased to receive them, I will try and do something more later on. i hope your Grandson doesn't have to go to Afghanistan again, it must be so scary for them and their families.

Lizx

Hi Karen, you are up late! or early!
Hope you are ok.

It's the least we can do isn't it, to try and bolster morale and show our support. I thought more people would have responded as this has been up since Wednesday but never mind, maybe more will join in later on.


take care, hope your lads will be fine
Lizx

n

Hi Liz, sat up late trying to write a letter or card ... found it really hard actually,
everything seems just too 'trivial' somehow when you are writing to someone in such appalling conditions..... but will finish it today and send off,

Rose xx

Thanks all,

Rose, I am sure the 'trivia' is just what they need to read, to distract them from the horrors of the place they are in, it will remind them of normal life and might raise a smile.
Just the fact that someone remembers them is surely a help to their morale.

Rita, you have been busy, I am sure all you send will be very welcome. Do add a contact email address or something so they can let you know they got the things.

Julie, thanks. I did put a thread up about this one Christmastime but a bit late, but it's all the year round they need the contact really not just Christmas.

Lizx

can someone keep this nudged please?

x

n Liz i will try to do something afriend of jans family there daughter is out there
xx

sent 2 yesterday

I don't want to put a damper on a good cause, but there was an article on the BBC website the other day to say that the Army was having logistical problems with getting stuff out to front line troops and needs to concentrate on rations and ammo.
They recommended giving money to service charities instead.

Thanks Brian, it's the woman from the magazine letters page who is dealing with this, I will try and make contact somehow and see if she has found out about sending the stuff on.

Money to the charities doesn't boost morale in the same way tho does it?

Lizx

Just read this:

The parents of a soldier killed in Afghanistan while trying to save an injured comrade have called for the public to show they are "proud of being British" and back the troops.
Ann and Peter Annis, whose son, Fusilier Simon Annis, 22, was killed while going to help a stricken comrade said soldiers need more support from the public and asked for people to send parcels to the troops in Afghanistan.
"The lads are all heroes, they do a job that's so brave and special," said Fusilier Annis' parents from Salford, Greater Manchester.
The continued: "We feel they need more support and recognition from our country. If we are British, let's be proud of being British and show all of our special heroes we're here for them."

Fusilier Simon Annis, 22, from Salford, was one of two soldiers trying to carry a fallen comrade to safety when he was killed by an explosion in Sangin on August 16th. He died along with Fusilier Louis Carter, 18, who had also gone to the aid of 24-year-old Lance Corporal James Fullarton. All were members of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Fusilier Annis leaves a widow, Caroline, who he married in February shortly before being posted to Afghanistan.
Fusilier Annis' parents added: "Simon was a beautiful, caring cheeky son. The void he has left in our hearts won't ever fade. We loved him so much. He cheered everyone up in his presence, smiling and with his sudden outburst of song. He was a trickster with his mates and a loyal pal to all his comrades.
"The pride burns my heart for the job he did. When he came to the door he was like a tornado, we definitely knew he was home. How we will go on I cannot imagine. To his sister Natalie - who he called Tilly - and his older brother Stuart there was a special bond that only siblings could share.
"I would like to highlight that when Simon received his parcels, which we sent weekly, it was a boost for him. If in these hard times, people can find it in their hearts to send even a little something over to the boys, they would know of our support back home.
"If we can do one thing to help ease the pain it would be if we can all do this together and for the families of all the fallen heroes."


Haven't had a reply from Take a Break yet

Lizx

n