EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Absent friends

I’m still there Geoff. Can't say it's the best assignment I’ve had.

I was wondering ... as the news from there over the last few years has not been exactly encouraging, nor full of joy.

Not really the ideal location for jogging around the streets* before or after work, then.

Stay safe, Mate.

Many years ago (28?) I was getting geared up to work at the Oil Company Hospital at Sirte. It was a good deal, with a 3-month on, 3-month off work cycle (IIRC); but I did not go in the end as the "joining procedure" took so long, and I was offered an interesting contract in KSA whilst I was waiting. Of course, that was back in the Good Old Days when there were plenty of contracts ... and it was a "first one to hit the mat" situation (as Big Tony used to say). The world seemed (was) a safer place back then, too.

* As I used to do during my own sojourn in Amman (seeing that you mentioned it).

OK ... how about this for a real "blast from the past":-

Does anyone on here (besides me, that is) remember Andreas Schmolke ... our storeman at DMED Workshop in Bielefeld from 1979 through 1981?

Out of the blue yesterday I received an email from Andreas; only 37 years since I last saw or heard from him!

Andreas dropped a few names of blokes we remember from those days, but none of those mentioned ever visit this site (as far as I am aware).

But, if anyone wants to get in touch with Andreas (now enjoying retirement from what I hear), I would be glad to "do the needful".

It was interesting to learn that he went on to a career in the German prison service.

@Angus:- any signs of 61 Station Workshop REME remaining, I wonder?

It was there from 1960 to 1967, apparently.

Probably located on the Azizia Road, heading west out of the city; possibly in what was known back then as Prinn Barracks - marked on Ye Olde Maps as Muaskar Birin or just Hamiyat (barracks), I suspect.

I've seen some old B&W photos, and it all looked ... er, a bit dusty (and probably fly-blown). Lots of Austin K9's and Bedford RL's, though. Plus a couple of Scammel recovery vehicles; just imagine heading out along the desert road in one of those (at 25 mph flat out).