Happy New Year to you all.

To those of you I saw on R&R, it was fantastic to see you. Everyone else I shall see you when I return. Awaiting my arrival back in Afghanistan was a ton of Xmas mail. First, I must say thanks. You’ve been beyond generous and I’m very grateful. Sgt B, you’re a star: two parcels no less. I still have the Fortnum & Mason cake. It will go nicely one evening after a troop scoff with the guys. All your gifts were great. I’ll get the beers in back at Fulham House.

Well, within 24 hours of returning I was back out on the MOG. Tpr Exeter also, driving a Scimitar in 1 Troop. The weather has really turned and it’s bloody freezing. A ton of rain dropped recently, softening up the groud and it’s been bog-in city, especially for the B-vehicles, and many a track has been thrown. Day one saw us move no further than 12km. Eventually, we neared our destination. About day three, a sunny day saw mist and fog roll in and - can you believe it, in the middle of the desert - it began to snow. And I’m talking a blizzard. Within an hour it had settled and the ground was white (is still). A bugger to drive in. So we took stock of the seriousness of our situation and had a snowball fight.

It was a very strange sight when out of the blizzard came a camel train, the herder wearing the mandatory flip-flops. Hardy fellows, I tell you.

I write this to you atop a hill. The snow isn’t with us here (much) but we’re battening down in response to a severe weather warning. Today we (my troop) escorted some guns to ... well, somewhere I can’t pronounce. I enjoy the “escorting guns” business in Afghanistan - so Victorian. In honour of this activity I celebrated with a pipe. All I need now is a pith helmet. Anyone?

We travelled through the Musa Qala wadi which was a bit of a drama for the WIMICKS and ammo trucks now there is water from the rains but we all got through in the end. So far, so good. No Taleban yet despite picking them up on their net preparing to engage us. Anyone who wears flip flops in this weather, be wary of: nails!

Must admit, it’s a bit spooky driving through compounds at night with the snow about. Don’t know why but it seems to make it all the more eerie.

I’m writing to you from my cab by torchlight and we’ve just been “stood down” for the evening. I’ve got my cold hat on with the ear flaps. My cab, like the turret, the hull and the transmission, stinks of diesel. This is because the rain has “bally well” filled it up and has mixed with a previous leak of fuel. I swear, it’s even given me a buzz when driving. The swishing water means I get various flotsam and jetsam around my pedals, which is marvellous. This morning my mug washed up which has been AWOL since day one. Who knows what will be next?

Unless someone is filming an episode of The Bill or called an ambulance, a flashing blue light in the valley below needs some investigation. So, bye for now. Hope you’re all well and enjoying the WDs. For those of you off ski-ing, enjoy.