I think this time I have figured out the pictures

So with John's help I think I have figured out the pictures...however, you will have to put figure out what they are from what I wrote a few days ago....but I don't think it will be too hard.
 
I hope you enjoy them.....
 
Sheryl
 
P.S.  I only have about another 200...and Don has tons too...so if anyone wants more, let me know....enjoy

no pictures

I attached a bunch of pictures to the post...but they did not go with the email....I have no idea what I did or did not do.....when I figure it out I will try to get the picture of on.
 
Any suggestions??
 
 
Sheryl

FW: Egypt...amazing

 

---

From: donald.eastop@sympatico.ca
To: john.mcgarr.thesudon@blogger.com
Subject: Egypt...amazing
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 02:27:10 +0000

Well, I am finally getting to putting something on the blog...we have been home just over a week and to sum up the holiday would be...amazing!!!
 
 
I have attached some pictures, so hopefully they come out.  I only picked a few because I did not figure you wanted to look at the approximately 200 pictures.
 
The first day we went to the Museum, that is the first picture...I think we were a bit tired and we were not used to the heat.  The only one who looks okay is Don, it was actually cool for him compared to Sudan.  So we walked around there for awhile and then went back to the hotel to the pool.
 
We, of course, went to the pyramids...and there is really nothing that I can say that can really describe it.  And of course we rode the camels.  It was actually a long ride...around the pyramids.  It was great...except the carpet on our camel was hurting my legs, so the owner wrapped his scarf around my waist and then it was much better.  I also was talking to the camel and Donald was 'so embarrassed'!!!  There is a funny story about our camel ride.  Everything in Cairo is a negotiation...taxi rides, buying things at stores, paying for entrances and of course camel rides.  We had a 'tour guide'.  He was a friend of a friend of a friend...you know how Don always seems to find these people...anyway...he was our negotiator, our interpreter, our photographer...he was great.  His name is Maater (have no idea how to spell it, just spelling it like it sounds).  He was part of our family for the time we were in Cairo...and we actually missed him when we went to Sharm....Molly and him seemed to have this little flirty thing going on (he is 21!!!), but that is another story...
 
Back to the camel...Maater is talking to the guy about the ride, oh ya, they are also very aggressive...so another guy is getting Molly and Don on the camel and then all of a sudden, it was like a drug raid and all the guys and camels take off running down the desert, they all just scattered....of course I have no idea what is going on because I do not understand the language...there are tourist police and I guess the camel guys are not to be so close to the pyramids and bug the tourists and a police came and they all scattered....it was very funny...Don and Molly both said they were a bit scared when they started to take off running on this camel!!
 
But the ride was excellent and we have tons of pictures from it and video...because Maater also did that!!
 
Another night we walked the streets of Cairo...and let me tell you...that was very interesting.  Donkeys eating out of the garbage bins, a million stray cats sleeping everywhere, young kids playing every where, corn on the cob being cooked on an open flame on the sidewalk...Don was a nervous wreak but the kids and I loved it.  Molly was getting lots of attention because she is white and blond hair...so dad was watching out for her as some groups of boys would follow us for a bit. 
 
Traffic is crazy...there are no rules of the road...basically do what you have to do to get where you have to go.  And seat belts..whats that???!!  When you fit 16 people in one small car, seatbelts just do not matter.  And pedestrians just walk out into traffic when ever and cross the road.  The most used part of the car...is the horn!!  I think it is for a warning to get out of the way!!!  So we crossed the street, just to say we had done it!!!  And every taxi ride was an adventure.  The first day, I was a bit nervous, after that...it just did not matter!
 
Don and I went out later that night at about midnight, to a shop (which opens at 6:00 p.m. and stays open throughout the night!)  That was another interesting thing...nothing closes...people of all ages out until all hours of the night!!  No one seems to sleep!  At this shop, we drank tea and smoked shish (again do not know how to spell it) it is a water pipe...that was a treat.  So of course Don had to buy one, he has it with him in Sudan, but beware the next time you are here...you will probably have to try it out!!
 
We also went on a Nile Cruise, it was a dinner cruise with singers, belly dancer and this other really neat guy who did a dance.  In one of the pictures, that is Maater...like I said, he was a part of our family.  That was our last night in Cairo...so it was sad to say good bye to him.
 
Then we went to Sharm el-Sheik...to an all inclusive resort.  It was beautiful and it was on the Red Sea.  The water was crystal blue and it was so warm, the shallow parts were actually like bath water.  We went on a day trip snorkelling...which was awesome and it was all video taped, so of coarse, we had to buy that too!!  We saw a ton of unique fish and sting ray and turtle...  The other picture is just Don and the kids playing in the pool at the resort. 
 
I would say the only complaint would be that the resort was owned and operated by Italians, so 90% of the people there were Italian and all the entertainment was in Italian.  So that was a bit of a bummer...because we did not go to any of the entertainment at night...we would not have understood any of it.  Most people also spoke english...but we did not really make any friends nor did the kids make any friends because of the language barrier.  But we just made our own fun.
 
The food was very good at the resort...not so good in Cario.  The first night in Cairo Molly was sick and then the first night in Sharm Donald was sick.  I think they just ate something that did not agree with their system.  And since we have been home, Molly and I seem to be having a bit of a digestive problem...but that will pass soon (I hope!!)
 
The other thing that was a learning curve for me was that everyone expects a tip...the guy opens the door for you..wants a tip...the guy takes your luggage...wants a tip!!  Even if they work there...they still want a tip!!  Most times I would just say no thanks...or I don't have any money!!
 
The haggling at the market was fun...I managed to get some really good deals (I think!!!)
 
We went back for one night to Cairo and then the kids and I fly out at 8:30 in the morning and Don flew back later the same day.  It was hard to say good bye...but we had such a great trip.  Don is homesick and he wished he was coming home with us...but he still has 4 months to go...
 
Plus...we are probably going to go on another trip in October...this time we are looking at a Mediterranean cruise...I want to go to Greece!!!
 
So that is sort of our trip in 500  word or less...but like I said it was amazing!!
 
Talk to you all soon
 
Sheryl
 

Egypt...amazing

Well, I am finally getting to putting something on the blog...we have been home just over a week and to sum up the holiday would be...amazing!!!
 
 
I have attached some pictures, so hopefully they come out.  I only picked a few because I did not figure you wanted to look at the approximately 200 pictures.
 
The first day we went to the Museum, that is the first picture...I think we were a bit tired and we were not used to the heat.  The only one who looks okay is Don, it was actually cool for him compared to Sudan.  So we walked around there for awhile and then went back to the hotel to the pool.
 
We, of course, went to the pyramids...and there is really nothing that I can say that can really describe it.  And of course we rode the camels.  It was actually a long ride...around the pyramids.  It was great...except the carpet on our camel was hurting my legs, so the owner wrapped his scarf around my waist and then it was much better.  I also was talking to the camel and Donald was 'so embarrassed'!!!  There is a funny story about our camel ride.  Everything in Cairo is a negotiation...taxi rides, buying things at stores, paying for entrances and of course camel rides.  We had a 'tour guide'.  He was a friend of a friend of a friend...you know how Don always seems to find these people...anyway...he was our negotiator, our interpreter, our photographer...he was great.  His name is Maater (have no idea how to spell it, just spelling it like it sounds).  He was part of our family for the time we were in Cairo...and we actually missed him when we went to Sharm....Molly and him seemed to have this little flirty thing going on (he is 21!!!), but that is another story...
 
Back to the camel...Maater is talking to the guy about the ride, oh ya, they are also very aggressive...so another guy is getting Molly and Don on the camel and then all of a sudden, it was like a drug raid and all the guys and camels take off running down the desert, they all just scattered....of course I have no idea what is going on because I do not understand the language...there are tourist police and I guess the camel guys are not to be so close to the pyramids and bug the tourists and a police came and they all scattered....it was very funny...Don and Molly both said they were a bit scared when they started to take off running on this camel!!
 
But the ride was excellent and we have tons of pictures from it and video...because Maater also did that!!
 
Another night we walked the streets of Cairo...and let me tell you...that was very interesting.  Donkeys eating out of the garbage bins, a million stray cats sleeping everywhere, young kids playing every where, corn on the cob being cooked on an open flame on the sidewalk...Don was a nervous wreak but the kids and I loved it.  Molly was getting lots of attention because she is white and blond hair...so dad was watching out for her as some groups of boys would follow us for a bit. 
 
Traffic is crazy...there are no rules of the road...basically do what you have to do to get where you have to go.  And seat belts..whats that???!!  When you fit 16 people in one small car, seatbelts just do not matter.  And pedestrians just walk out into traffic when ever and cross the road.  The most used part of the car...is the horn!!  I think it is for a warning to get out of the way!!!  So we crossed the street, just to say we had done it!!!  And every taxi ride was an adventure.  The first day, I was a bit nervous, after that...it just did not matter!
 
Don and I went out later that night at about midnight, to a shop (which opens at 6:00 p.m. and stays open throughout the night!)  That was another interesting thing...nothing closes...people of all ages out until all hours of the night!!  No one seems to sleep!  At this shop, we drank tea and smoked shish (again do not know how to spell it) it is a water pipe...that was a treat.  So of course Don had to buy one, he has it with him in Sudan, but beware the next time you are here...you will probably have to try it out!!
 
We also went on a Nile Cruise, it was a dinner cruise with singers, belly dancer and this other really neat guy who did a dance.  In one of the pictures, that is Maater...like I said, he was a part of our family.  That was our last night in Cairo...so it was sad to say good bye to him.
 
Then we went to Sharm el-Sheik...to an all inclusive resort.  It was beautiful and it was on the Red Sea.  The water was crystal blue and it was so warm, the shallow parts were actually like bath water.  We went on a day trip snorkelling...which was awesome and it was all video taped, so of coarse, we had to buy that too!!  We saw a ton of unique fish and sting ray and turtle...  The other picture is just Don and the kids playing in the pool at the resort. 
 
I would say the only complaint would be that the resort was owned and operated by Italians, so 90% of the people there were Italian and all the entertainment was in Italian.  So that was a bit of a bummer...because we did not go to any of the entertainment at night...we would not have understood any of it.  Most people also spoke english...but we did not really make any friends nor did the kids make any friends because of the language barrier.  But we just made our own fun.
 
The food was very good at the resort...not so good in Cario.  The first night in Cairo Molly was sick and then the first night in Sharm Donald was sick.  I think they just ate something that did not agree with their system.  And since we have been home, Molly and I seem to be having a bit of a digestive problem...but that will pass soon (I hope!!)
 
The other thing that was a learning curve for me was that everyone expects a tip...the guy opens the door for you..wants a tip...the guy takes your luggage...wants a tip!!  Even if they work there...they still want a tip!!  Most times I would just say no thanks...or I don't have any money!!
 
The haggling at the market was fun...I managed to get some really good deals (I think!!!)
 
We went back for one night to Cairo and then the kids and I fly out at 8:30 in the morning and Don flew back later the same day.  It was hard to say good bye...but we had such a great trip.  Don is homesick and he wished he was coming home with us...but he still has 4 months to go...
 
Plus...we are probably going to go on another trip in October...this time we are looking at a Mediterranean cruise...I want to go to Greece!!!
 
So that is sort of our trip in 500  word or less...but like I said it was amazing!!
 
Talk to you all soon
 
Sheryl
 

Egypt here we come

This will just be short post to let everyone know that on Monday this week we finally received approval for our trip...so then the flights had to be booked, double checked our hotel reservations and then pack!!!  We are all very excited.  It will be exactly 4 months since we have seen Don, other than on the computer!!  We leave at 11:15 p.m. today (Saturday) and with the time change and lay over for a few hours in London...we will get to Cairo at 12:40 a.m. on Sunday.  I think our bodies and minds will be a little messed up when we get there!!!!
 
I am looking forward to some rest....and having someone else there to answer the million and one questions from the kids!!!
 
The other news is that I was successful in getting the job.  I am very happy...I really enjoy this new position....however I loss my summer lay off...which is a bummer!!!!  That was nice...especially when the kids were younger...now that they are a bit older it is actually pretty good timing.  This will be my first summer to work in 6 years...I am struggling a bit with that!!!  I kind of liked collecting pogey!!
 
Well, off to get all those last minute things done before we leave....
 
When we return I will post things and 'attempt' to put pictures on......
 
Talk soon,
Sheryl, Donald and Molly
 
 

Camping at Awenda

Just got back from a great weekend with the boys; Christopher, Donald, Adam, Jack and Max.  The boys all had helpful hints on how to start a campfire with gas and/or napalm; I wonder where they got that idea from. 

 

The boys were great. Donald and Jack each helped cook a meal.  The waves were pounding on the rocks in Georgian Bay so the boys tried hiding behind the rocks. They all came home battered and bruised but with big smiles. 

 

I would take this group camping again. They were a great bunch. They kept feeding me beer, hoping that I would then let them do what ever they wanted. Good try boys; I may have been born at night but it wasn't last night.

 

Any way, we all had a great time and they were all a big help.

 

This is my first try at a posting rather than a comment so I hope it works

Ivan

 

New word of the day: Everythinging

Well this entry has only taken me ummm…a few weeks to get done….I would start and then get side tracked and get back to it a week later…get side tracked…okay you get the picture.
 
Just thought I would talk a bit about the perils of single “everythinging”  That is my new word….don’t think you will find it in the dictionary but I am sure that everyone will understand the gist of what I am trying to say.
 
Don’t get me wrong…I am used to doing a lot of things…but when there really is no one to delegate anything to…it starts to add up.  Plus, sometime I think “if I hear ‘mom’ one more time I think my head will explode!!”.  So I think sometimes I am more mentally tired than physically tired…there is no one else for the kids to go to.  
 
Well, where to begin…let’s just say there just never seems to be enough hours in the day….there just does not seem to be time and when there is time, there is so many things that could be done, it is hard to know where to start.  Some of the things that I have noticed are that I just can’t be everywhere and see and be aware of everything.  For example, one morning, Molly was about to put sugar on her toast…huge fight about it…when she finally says “I have done it before…”  Well, missed that one!!   Another time, Molly and I had a huge argument about wearing her helmet.  She refused and when I told it was the law…her response “I don’t care!” (saw visions of things to come!!!) but then she continues and said “you didn’t care about the other 2 times I rode my bike without my helmet!” Again missed that!
 
I think I should stop…because I am noticing all my examples are about Molly!!!
 
Then on the other end I have Donald, Molly’s third parent (who she often says to “stop being the parent!!!).  He is so responsible it scares me sometimes.  One time I actually had to ask him to please be 12!!!  
 
But he has been a great help as he tries very hard to fill in for his dad and take care of some of the things that Don would typically take care of.  And I really feel that he and I are really establishing an even better relationship…and he is developing quite the sense of humour!!
 
So just to fill in a bit about what I have had to do since Don left…that he would typically take care of or just things that are out of the ordinary…
 
1)    the red van died…so had to have it towed and then when the cost was too much, decide to sent it to the junk yard…deal with that…then deal with getting insurance for the other van…and of coarse insurance tried to charge me an arm and a leg…so called around for a better rate
2)    our tenant in our rental property gave me her notice…she was moving out…so go and clean the apartment, post for a new tenant, show it to a million and one people, put an add in the local paper…finally get a new tenant…get a lease signed etc.  I did have some great help from friends, who tired to find someone and were also my sounding board when I had a question or was stressed about it ! (thank you!!) This was Don’s little project and I had nothing to do with it in the past…now I am two feet into it!!!
3)    Plan our trip to meet up with Don…checking for Mediterranean cruises for May…no June…no…start checking into Egypt for July…go to a travel agent…get told by Don we are not allowed to use a travel agent(?)..find out all the information I can…..
4)    Deal with huge issues at work…long story…not getting into it!!
5)    Try to get the lawn tractor to work so Donald can cut the grass (I think he just wanted to ride the tractor and did not really care about the grass) anyway…after having 4 people look at it…finally it worked and has continued to work (keeping our figures crossed)
6)    Tried to get the wiper sniper to work…it does sometimes and other times…no!
7)    Have a garage sale…just because the street was!
8)    Deal with a bird or birds that have decided to build their home in one of my vents..huge fire hazard according to my neighbour (thank you Bob and Ernie for taking care of that!!)
9)    Dealing with a dead picky shrub in the front that had died!!  (thank you again Bob and Ernie)  It only cost me a bottle of Crown Royal!!
10) Apply for a new job and prepare for the interview.
11) Work fulltime!!!!
 
Well, now that my head is spinning, I think I’ll stop there…and then of course on top of all that there is just general up keep of the house, yard, laundry, grocery shopping, meals, …life!!
 
The kids were also involved in a lot of swim meets, which meant a lot of weekends…gone…we were in Etobicoke, Guelph, Brantford, Collingwood…just to name a few…plus all the practices during the week.  It is done for the summer and I can not say I am disappointed!
 
So I hope I have explained why it has taken me so long to get to this…time …we all need more time. Or at least a housekeeper, gardener, cook, driver…
 
For those that do not know…we are planning on leaving on July 11 for two weeks to meet up with Don in Egypt.  We will be spending about 5 days in Cairo then we go to Sharm El-Sheik for some R & R. The trip has not been totally approved from the UN…but Don hopes to hear very soon and then it will be booked. Sort of leaving it to the last minute..but it builds up the excitement.  We are very excited!!
 
I also want to thank everyone who has called, emailed etc to see how we are doing…it is greatly appreciated and I always tell Don so I know he thanks you also.
 
I will try to write again sooner….thanks John and Sarah for always posting something…it gave me the motivation to get this done.
 
Next time I may even figure out how to put in a picture!!
 
Talk soon,
Sheryl

Canada Day Weekend

Nothing says Canada Day like camping at Killbear with baked potatoes and giant Polish sausages on the grill.
And the clouds of mosquitos.
And Charlie the brat at the campsite next door waking everyone up at 6am.
And Adam across the way getting spanked around 630am.
And the sudden rainfall while trying to pack up.
And of course the 6 hour drive home with all the other happy campers.
And last but not least....the 3 hour clean up and air drying of all gear upon arrival home.

*sigh*

Hey Haboob!

I see from Sheryl's post that she was with her friends for her birthday and that is great! I also know she was out for dinner on Sunday with Gary and Sally. That girl is never home!
It is getting hotter here up to 115C which is boggling for me...By the end of the day I am a puddle...
The members of the Contingent are starting to rotate through on their first CTO (Cumulated Time Off) periods. The routine is the same we pick them up at an ungodly hour. They are hot tired and filthy. We get them stowed away. They sleep, eat we have a giggle and a laugh and then big hugs as they are out for a couple of days off. Honestly these guys and gals deserve it! Everyone is positive for the most part, if anything frustrated because they aren't able to do more.
We have moved an set up a permanent 'Canada House' as our logisitcs base here in Khartoum. The spot is very nice, with a walled little yard so we are able to sit out when the sun goes down. One of my roommates just came back from CTO and the other is just going...I am out on the 29th!! Hey I love my job but it has been 95 days in uniform so its time for some R&R.
We just went through out first week long huboob. A huboob is like a snow storm except with sand and dust. It hangs in the air for days and basically turns day into dusk. As the sand is fine it gets into everything, electronics, the house, your nose everywhere. I have attached a photo but it just doesn't seem to do it justice.
In case anyone from Sudan is reading, the driver is the one and only Ukrainian Cowboy...Long story of a great guy for another day...Back to the haboob...imagine being in a snowstorm that had 110C winds...It is like standing in front of a blow dryer.
I am really feeling the separation with Donald and Molly. I guess it is seeing the kids in the street. Tonight, honey kiss my kids good night snuggly into their beds. Tuck them in, yes even the man of the house Donald, and tell them their Dad loves them.

Don

Sheryl's Night Out With The Ladies!

In honour of Sheryl's birthday and the fact that she is fact surviving, the Grimsby Girls went out for dinner! We are happy to report that Sheryl is as charming as ever running the Orillia headquarters solo. We asked all about Don to which she kept replying......uh who??? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah....that guy!

Greetings from Wolfville Nova Scotia

Don, Sarah and I are in the thriving metropolis of Wolfvile, NS. Population 13.
Jack is here competing in the Eastern Canada Power Tumbling Championships. He placed 3rd in his first round and has advanced to the finals tomorrow.

Anyways, we are out for dinner and of course, this made us think of you!

Its early in the season, so they are not very good.
(this is an utter lie.)

Stocker and the Kid

Here is one of our guys nicknamed Stocker. Have a look at this photo and look close at both their faces...
This was taken near the village of Wau.

In case you don't succeed try, try again..

Ok, so its hard from this end to know what to write you - normally I would go on about movies, books, music .. however given the enormity of your work and the experiences you and your crew are experiencing - it seems weird to be writing about that kind of stuff .. BUT, I must say, however trivial, that you look very handsome in the beret!

I can't imagine the heat you describe and how difficult it must be too sleep - I hope you can find some distractions that help you sleep .. hmmm .. can't think of any off the top .. but maybe you can!!

So, I have some questions for you, when do you get time off and where can you go? What can you do? Were you able to bring books with you? Are we allowed to send you things (i.e. book)?

I imagine, give the hour you must rise, that you are sleeping peacefully as I write this note so, good night my dear friend and lets talk tomorrow .. love , Mare p.s. Glas Vagas is my new favourite Band, My One Freebie John Cusack has been replaced by Robert Pattinson and I read 4 books, about 500 pages each, in about 2 weeks .. more on that later.. xxxooo

Out and About

Last week I flew into Abyei then out to Agok on a patrol to a Temporary Operating Base (TOB) with one of the two Canadians posted to the area. Kirk and I spent three days in the community working along side the local police assisting them with any questions they had in relation to investigations or processes. The work was great. Not to mention the learning we did thanks to the local police. Below you can see the white UN tent at the TOB which was our home. The first day was dry and it was just plain hot dusty and busy. The next day it rained.


The TOB and the countryside went from a dust bowl to a swamp in a blink! The Security Platoon of Zambians was great with us and had a good laugh at our expense watching us try and move about in the mud as it stuck to your boots and made them weigh about 10 lbs a piece. I had never met any people from Zambia until now. Their police and military people are a good crew. They are cheerful, resourceful and pleasant to work alongside.


I wonder if Sheryl would go for a transfer there...? Kirk and I 'co-located' with the local police in their area as they did their daily business on the second day of our patrol. I have a lot of respect for these officers as although they are Sudanese Nationals they are not from that particular community. Just like the OPP they are recruited and then sent to a specific that requires members. These men live at the police station separated by many miles from their families.

Did I mention it is hot here?

The next day we reported to the United Nations compound for our induction training. I am pleased to say we were very well briefed and prepared prior to our departure Canada so our days in the classrooms and the information we received did not come as shock to us. The problem was not the subject matter but rather the heat and the time change. The heat because during that first week it went up to 51C and the time change because many were waking up through the night with all of us wide awake 0530 hrs no matter we did. It took about a week to get our systems anywhere near normal.

Between the heat and the erratic sleep patterns and the various drugs were are on for malaria, yellow fever, this flu that flu a couple of our folks ended up in the hospital. One from bites from a mysterious bug which left huge welts that took almost two weeks to go down. So nightly that member literally covered themselves in cream with a nightcap of anti-inflammatories..not fun. The second member gave us a real scare with an increase in blood pressure followed by a bout of dysentery. The poor guy spent four days and three nights in the hospital. The UN doctors and nurses were great and when he was transferred to the local hospital he received the best of what they could offer. even had a VIP room. The hospitals are not what we would have in Canada but he was treated very well none the less. The members all volunteered to stand a post with their comrade to make sure that he was safe and able to relax. I think in fact there were even a couple of arguments as to who was going to go and sit with him all night. I am very proud of that officer and of our people for looking after their own in a very foreign environment. For example when he was checked in the nurse wanted the name of the other patient. we explained that no he was not another patient he was just going to stay to make sure our friend was ok. Now remember there is a fairly serious gap in mutual language...Eventually we realized the nurse wanted to know who the co-patient was going to be...Here it is expected that a friend or family member stays with you in hospital to ensure the patient can get assistance for whatever they need like a drink of water or a steady hand to help them to the facilities. The hospital even serves two meals for the patient and the co-patient. It was noticed that our guy was feeling better when the requests being put to the co-patient were becoming more lets say...exotic.. Unfortunately the day he was to be released turned out to be a Friday. Friday is a Holy day like our Sunday and not a doctor could be found to sign his release papers so our man got tucked in for another night. At one point during his stay I was visiting when an orderly came and haltingly told the patient the co-patient and myself that the patient was required for some tests. So the co-patient and I said good bye to the patient expecting he would be going down the hall and be back as the orderly had indicated in five to ten minutes. An hour late we were starting to get a little concerned when in wheels our guy and the orderly. Once the door closed the patient told us of his adventures.. Once leaving his hospital room he was taken down stairs for a couple of tests. They were done quickly and efficiently from their he was wheeled out of the examination room and directly out the door into the street and before he knew what was going on he was snugly packed in the front seat of an ambulance between the orderly and the driver with neither of them able to speak English. The hospital is smack right in the middle of Khartoum with the streets teaming with vehicles and people. Before our man can ask the ambulance squeals off lights and sirens wailing into the packed streets. Telling us his tale he did say at that point he was a little concerned...but up a street across four lanes of traffic and down another to an abrupt stop in front of another building and he is whisked in to the front of the line for another test. Once the tests were completed they retraced their tracks lights and sirens back on. We had a good laugh on that one. Throughout the whole time that member never bitched, never complained or felt sorry for himself. I am very proud to serve alongside a fellow like that.

Over the next week the Canadians deployed out to the Team Sites. We are all far flung across the country in some very interesting and challenging posts. The good thing is that I managed to get them all posted with the blessing of the Commissioner two to a Team Site. They can then support each other during the good and the tough times.

Easter was kind of quiet here as all our guys had flown out and we were here just the three of us. Easter is not a holiday as we work everyday here until you get time off every month or two. The day before Easter I got a frozen turkey at the PX and got it home. Sitting in 110 degree heat on the way home being cuddled up with a large frozen bird wasn’t the worst thing which could have happened. The next day after many international emails and calls, Mombo our resident expert Chief was able to find out how to cook the bird. The emails actually went to my other roommate’s folks who in turn emailed his Aunt in Florida who in turn emailed his folks back who in turn called him… It worked out great! We also invited some camp mates of ours a group of officers from Russia. We tried to be good hosts with what we had and they were great guests. We compared cop stories (go figure) talked about home (and cooler climates) and toasted our families with Barbican. Barbican is a non alcoholic malt beverage….sort of like near beer except it comes in various flavours…..yaaaa you can imagine….But hey it was good fun! They are a good bunch. We are now pestering them for a real Russian meal….caviar perhaps (not likely!)


At this point our contingent has worked everyday since reporting for induction training in Ottawa light years ago. We are all tired as we are on everyday but as we are all away from home it is good that we are focused on the job and not sitting around thinking of home. I am getting reports of some solid work by our people ranging from looking into the case of a mentally challenged youth who is living on the streets of a village many miles from his home community and organizing efforts to get him re-united with his family to our people responding (remember they are advisors) to a fatal car crash. They responded and did their best for the injured and then attended the village with the deceased to help the relatives. When they arrived with the body 200 relatives where waiting for the sad reunion with their family member. Our people are also co-locating and heavily involved with training our Sudanese colleagues. Sometimes the police stations they are attending are 30 minutes down the road and other times they are and overnight long range patrol away. Bottom line is we are supplying a much needed product to these officers and are being well received.

First off hello to everyone and thank you for the emails!

The internet here is sporadic and very slow, but hey at least it’s a gateway to the world and more importantly home. I will try and update you from our arrival in Khartoum on the 16th of May. We arrived in the late afternoon and man was it hot. The thing that struck me getting off the aircraft was the heat which was like a wall as you stepped out into the air. We were processed by Customs and Immigration without major incident aside from quite a few forms and the like. Next was arranging and collecting all of our kit. Out of 20 members all but one got their two big blue bags and two barracks boxes. Fortunately his kit arrived the next day so all was good.

By the time we walked out of the terminal it was dusk with the sun just starting to go down. The Amman's in the mosques were calling the people to their evening prayers and their chants/prayers could be heard as we exited. Immediately in front of us were an absolute a wall of people and behind them taxis, tuk tuks, and vans. The UN contact spotted us and we began to load our kit into the buses. Trust me no easy feat given the heat and the shear weight of the kit itself.

From the airport it was a 20 minute through the street of Khartoum including a lap around what we now call the "Traffic Circle of Death". Driving in Khartoum if not the whole of Sudan is something to be experienced! To us as North Americans our brains have been schooled to think along linear lines. Not so here. Lane markings, intersections and 'orderly' traffic flow do not exist to our unaccustomed eyes. People navigate through the flow of traffic like dancers in a ballroom of old. There is order and there is reason however when you first are in the middle of this maelstrom of metal and engines the impression you have is of absolute pandemonium... Now is all fairness and as a testament to the human ability to encounter, adapt and accept radical changes in an unfamiliar environment I am pleased to say that after near a month, all of this seems rather common place!

We were dropped off at the unofficial Canada House where we quickly split up the twenty members to two apartments, VERY tight quarters to say the least. But no one squawked and everyone did their best to give the other guy or gal their space. Brenda our unofficial Canadian contact at the UN was fabulous helping us get set up, not to mention the Canadian Military who could not do enough for us! While Brenda took a couple of us to a store for water the military guys supplied cots and got us squared away. By the second night we all had a cot to sleep and cold water to drink. Oh and drink you did!! I think the first week each of us on average drank between 8 and ten liters a day. The thing was you weren't passing it in the usual manner no not at all in fact we noticed how we should have been running to the toilet but weren't. Instead we were sweating it out!

Canadian Police off to Sudan - TorStar Article

Canadian police off to Sudan

Officers join UN-led mission to train and mentor fledgling force in the south of strife-torn nation

Tonda MacCharles
Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA–Volunteering to go to Sudan as part of a newly beefed-up Canadian police contingent was how OPP Staff Sgt. Don Eastop quelled his gut reaction when watching or reading news from the region.

"The little voice in my head said, `Why doesn't somebody do something?' Then it sort of hit me – what am I doing?" he said in an interview from Khartoum.

As part of a UN-led mission, 20 Canadians from the OPP, RCMP, Halifax and Ottawa police are now in southern Sudan to train and mentor the fledgling southern Sudan police force.

Southern Sudan is rebuilding after Africa's longest-running civil war between north and south Sudan killed 2 million people and ended with a peace agreement in 2005. Many of the former southern rebel army officers now make up the police force charged with trying to enforce basic laws.

"A lot of them have no policing skills whatsoever. They're former fighters, basically," says Wayne Hanniman, who took a leave from the national security section at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa to complete a nine-month stint based in Juba, the capital of south Sudan.

The job of Canadians and others is to teach basic police techniques: how to interview, investigate, take notes and draw up a report so a prosecutor can lay a charge. It is also to encourage the Sudanese police to discipline their fellow officers who fail to respect human rights. But it's not to lead the investigations or hand out orders.

"We don't arrest anybody. We're guests here," says Eastop, commander of the current Canadian contingent in the region.

The Sudanese police "are absolutely thirsty for any kind of education they can get," says Eastop.

"I'm not a teacher by any stretch, but I'm teaching basic computer skills after my regular work hours to police officers. They want this, they need it."

There are huge challenges: widespread illiteracy among the Sudanese officers, a lack of infrastructure. . There's a dearth of police vehicles and a lack of basic equipment, like notebooks. Public confidence is low, and for the officers, there's often a long lag in getting paid.

"Sometimes their paycheque is two to three months late," says Hanniman. "They've got uniforms and a rank structure. Everything else we're starting from scratch."

The Canadian contingent, including three female officers, is spread along contested areas between north and south Sudan. The Canadians are among 650 officers from 36 countries that make up the UN police mission. The northern region of Darfur is deemed too unstable for an international policing deployment.

There are dangers. A Canadian police officer, in a group other UN-uniformed officers, was forced off the road by a group of armed men in an unidentified uniform, pistol-whipped and roughed up.

"Post-conflict societies are breeding grounds for terrorism and extremists," says Hanniman. "And it's important that Canada be there in those societies, helping to rebuild their cultures, their police services, to prevent the extremists from taking hold."

check out the Toronto Star

Hi Everyone
 
Don was interviewed yesterday (April 6) by the Toronto Star...so in your travels today, if you get a chance pick up the paper and see if it made it to print.
 
Will write more later....
 
Sheryl

A short update

Hi everyone

Well, here I go again...I tried to post something last weekend...and some how it never made it to the blog...so it is somewhere lost in cyberspace!!!

Anyway, a lot of you have received Don's short update...so some of you know how he is doing...so this will be a bit of a repeat for some and a bit of an update on how the kids and I are doing.

So first...Don's departure date was delayed for a few weeks and he came home for that time...it was a bit bittersweet...it was nice to have him home, but we were all mentally prepared for him to be gone...and then we had to change. He was disappointed also. He was basically house bound also...since we had taken the insurance off the van that he used...since it was not going to be needed for 9 months. Him and another guy worked out of our home on some computer stuff for the mission. I think it was a "work make project" but they felt they had to do something since they were still receiving a pay cheque!!!

I will tell you though...I was really starting to enjoy this house husband thing!!! Dinners were made...he did a bit of cleaning and laundry and spent a lot of time with the kids!! I could have gotten used to that! The funniest thing was after he had cleaned the toilets and then Donald used it (those who have boys will understand what I mean!!!) Don came into the kitchen after seeing the toilet and expressed his frustration "Donald...I just cleaned that toilet!!!" Meanwhile, all I can think about it is "welcome to my world"

I had planned to go to Florida for March Break with the kids (it was supposed to be a nice break for them since dad was away). Don's parents had rented a condo for a month so we were going to spend the week with them. What happened instead was that...we all left on the same day, same time...Don on his way back to Ottawa and the kids and I on the way to Buffalo to fly out to Florida. Don was a bit upset because he felt the kids did not really care that he was leaving. Get real Don...they were focused on the trip to Florida, sand, beach and sun!! And also we had been there, done that already!!!

Don then flew out to his final designation on March 15, arriving on March 16 in Khartum (not sure on that spelling!!!). And he was emailing us as he went just brief updates. The final one I received when he arrived was "I'm here, it's hot"...that was it. But in those few words, it also said a lot....since Don loves the heat (not) and manages the heat really well (not)!

The kids and I had a great time in Florida...even if it was without Don but with his parents. It was so nice to be in shorts and flip flops and hang out on the beach. It was spring break for colleges and universities in the states and we shared the beach with them all. The were very polite and actually entertaining. Donald and Molly can't wait to go to Florida for their spring break...they learned early what it is all about! I however, felt like an old frumpy woman, as there was not one one piece bathing suit to be found and the girls were all beautifully tanned and toned!!! They must only be in first year still!!! And just you wait...girls!!!

We came home from the sun, to cold and still snow...so that was a bit depressing, but with each day more snow disappears and the temperature starts to rise (a bit). The only thing is that everyone is saying, "we will still get another snow storm!"

I have spoken to Don once, he is doing well. I think he is still trying to get into the 'groove' and get things under control. He sounded a bit home sick, but I think it is more that he is just overwhelmed with it all and it has not been long enough. I always said that it would be harder on him then us...we are at home surrounded by our things and our comforts. I have no fear that he will do great and we fully get into the swing of things very soon!!

Well, I will try to update when I know more and I will encourage Don to post things. The other thing he mentioned was the they can only take pictures if they have permission!! So he is trying to take some pictures. Apparently, it is a day in jail for taking a picture with out permission...and Don said that is the last place he wants to end up...a big white guy in jail...not a pretty site!!

Our social calendar is not overyly filled, so if anyone is looking for something to do...give us a call...and we can maybe do something...or just hang out and do nothing.

Talk to you soon
Sheryl

Welcome to Cornwall!

The McGarr's are passing through Cornwall Ontario on our way to Stowe VT for March break.

On our way into town we noticed a new sign: Welcome to CORNWALL - The contraband cigarette capital of North America!

Well, its good to be the best at something.

An update

Hello everyone

 

I just thought I would fill in everyone what has been happening...since Don has not been writing anything.  Most of you know that the mission was delayed...and that Don actually came home for about 2 weeks.  It was sort of bittersweet to have him home.  We had been mentally and physically prepared for him to be gone and then he arrives home again.  And let me tell you.. he was home...we had taken the insurance off of his vehicle so he was definitely house bound....he and another guy worked out of our home on some 'mission stuff'. And I was getting used to the 'house husband role' thing!!!  He actually did some cleaning and he made dinners and cleaned up after dinner...it was nice!!!

 

Well, Don left on March 12 to head back to Ottawa...the ironic part is that the kids and I left at the exact same time to go to Buffalo to fly out to Florida...so it was sort of a funny departure.  The kids were more focused on the trip to Florida then dad going away for 9 months.  And you know Don...he gets a bit cranky when the focus is not on him!!!! 

 

He then left on Sunday March 15 to go to Sudan...they flew to Frankfurt and then on to Sudan, so they actually did not arrive until the 16th.  The only real communication I have received from him since then is that they have arrived.  Actually the email was "I'm here..it's hot"  So that sort of sums things up!!!  And we all know how well Don handles the heat.  This will be very interesting for him!! 

 

I have not heard anything since and he had told me before he left to not worry if I had not heard from him for a few weeks, as he would be getting things all set up and organized.  Plus he had to get all the guys organized and set up before he could take care of himself.  So, when I hear from him, I will try and post more information and I will tell him to post something also.

 

On a different note...the kids and I had a great time in Florida...it was so nice to wear shorts and flip flops and be warm!!  Then we came home to the cold and snow...when will this winter end!! 

 

Well, now that March Break is over...it is back to reality, in more ways than one.  Back to lunches, homework, swimming schedule, work, cleaning and laundry, making dinners...and the count down of 9 months!!!

 

I really appreciate all the inquiries on how things were going for us...unfortunately it was when Don was home!!  At least I know you are thinking of us...and just to let you all know...my social calendar is pretty bare...so if anyone is looking for something to do...don't forget me!!!

 

Talk to you all soon

 

Sheryl, Donald and Molly

Week One

Week one is now under our belts.  To say the first week was a whirlwind would be an understatement.  Upon arriving in Ottawa the members of the contingent was introduced to each other.  They are from all across Canada from the East Coast to the Yukon.  When you listen to them speak and look in their faces they clearly represent this huge country.   We have worked together long days both in and outside the classroom all week and I will tell you without reservation they are a good crew.  Each of these members brings with them a wealth of experience and a genuine desire to help the people of Sudan.  I am extremely pleased that the group is comprised of very bright men and women who although physically fit and tactically able are not burdened with machismo or ego.  Each is a leader in their own right which is good as they are expected to lead, in their individual posts when they arrive in country.  Our instructors are experienced members who are veterans of other missions.  They have been positive and focused and are doing their utmost to prepare us to the task ahead.

We were issued our uniforms mid week which helped bring the contingent together mentally as a Unit.  I am working hard at ensuring we see ourselves not as individuals from individual police services but rather as Canadian Police Officers.  I believe this will be crucial as we have a short time together to ingrain the responsibility that we are representing the Country and the people of Canada in a far off and vastly different country from our own.

Today was a day off so yesterday evening another member and myself headed off for home to drop of extra clothes and say good bye to our families.  Seeing everyone when I got home was great; leaving this afternoon was hard.  This is a family commitment there is absolutely no doubt about that…

 

This entry is short as I have to iron my uniform for tomorrow as I have called for an inspection first thing therefore I will wish you goodnight.    

 

Don

Heading Out

Well here goes my first exposure as a ‘blogger’. When the Grimsby Crew henceforth referred to as GC and that would be Grimsby Crew not God’s Creation or anything deep…I just want to nip that little item in the bud before things get out of hand. I don’t want to end up like that fella Salmun Rushdie … Anyway when the GC gave me this site I was tickled and I want to say thank you for being so creative and thoughtful (Thank you John). Oh and to Bruno Grazie Bruno per la grande laptop. Entrambi sono di lavoro grande e utilizzati da entrambe le Sheryl e I. Not to be out done however a big shout out has to go to the members of DPIS who got me an inflatable goat
…presumably to ride to town for groceries on my day off…just as creative and thoughtful in a different sort of way…

I have taken leave prior to deployment with the intent of spending time with Sheryl and the kids and meet up with friends to reconnect. Over the last two weeks I have done just that. Time with Sheryl and the kids was and is great. Ok enough about the people I love….

I met with a group of guys that I have known through some interesting times. We have done stuff and seen things. We get together from time to time to sip tea and postulate over the meaning of life. These guys have heard the wolf. Actually to tell the complete truth one of them tripped over it and woke the dopey thing up but that is another story with like eight different versions. Anyway we got together and had a lot of red meat and home made, deep fried in the drive way steak cut fries courtesy of a Chief on a snowmobile. Not a salad or French bread stick to be seen. It is good to be a boy, enough said on that. If you don’t know why you never choose the middle urinal, well you just wouldn’t get it. The night ended with everyone being tucked in and a very angry, loud midget lecturing me. Hey I don’t make this stuff up, it just happens.

On another Saturday night, like I mentioned time off really blurs the days…thank goodness I’m not on the dole cuz everyday is a Saturday when you’re taking the regular rebate check! But anyway it was a Saturday, I was asked to go with a neighbour henceforth known as ‘The Liar’ to purchase a hot tub. A long story short, in which, I will not incriminate the innocent (I’ll get to that later…) which included beer(s), a tour book, a take out Sushi Restaurant, a Black Market hot tub dealer and a deep fried pickle. Throw in the Maltese Falcon and you would have had the whole enchilada! Just read along ok, this is my life…a little bit magic, a little tragic but a pretty good time all and all... Well when

I finally get home Sheryl who was “sick” has a cast of thousands hiding in our basement.




I was tickled to see everyone. I won’t get into who was there in case I mention oh So and So was there with So and So and boom turns out HE was supposed to be working late and was definitely not supposed to be there with HER...you know that sort of thing. (Email me direct for actual names, dates places and juicy insider information). What a good night. Seeing all those faces, seeing my friends mingling with other friends, some new, some old was great. I was about to get into how people came from places like Toronto, from the East, from Colson, St. Catherines, The Collingwood Retirement Villa, Barrie, Orillia, Peterborough, and even Manitouwadge (no you Google that one yourself) but I won’t because I will forget people, so stop. To all, thank you! Throughout the night people offered assistance should it be required for Sheryl if she needed it for repairs, kid free break-a-ways etc. One friend of mine who I have known since Buddha was a Probationary, forever shocked me as I did not realize he was into horticulture. He was good enough to offer rather insistently without even a moment’s hesitation that he would water the plants should it be required. I will say to that Good Soul who shall remain anonymous, “Thank you good Sir and sleep well”.

I really enjoyed seeing everyone no matter what the setting. It makes you wonder why we don’t just make up excuses instead of waiting for happenings to take place. You people are nice people…really you are and I feel privileged knowing each and every one of you.

The next day my folks came in to help out. And yes thanks my Dad is doing great and my Mom has not changed a bit. I love them both. TOTALLY UNRELATED rent “So I Married an Axe Murderer” with Mike Meyers, watch it, you tell me, enough said.

With my folks at our place, thank you again Mom and Dad, Sheryl and I snuck away for a couple of days to Blue Mountain where we hung out by the fire and had a day at the Le Scandinave Spa.
Now THAT was something! As a pal of mine says sometimes you just have to Chillax and that place was the place to do it! When we got there Sheryl went in across this beautiful snow covered bridge. The mountain in the background, a beautiful rustic lodge snuggled into the trees with an amazing spa laid out with hot and cooling pools, waterfalls set in amongst the trees and fresh snow. I went and parked the Chevy Van amongst the other family BMW, Audi, Rolls and the like. I walked over that bridge and just knew the day was going to be great, my wonderful wife and I together relaxing and enjoying each others company. I open the door into the main chalet and a remarkably attractive blonde woman sees me and floats over to me. “Side entrance for Tradesmen.” Pardon? Thank goodness Sheryl came out of nowhere and explained I was with her! Well then I flipped her two VIP members’ passes courtesy of a good friend of mine, who said I should use them in a case of emergency sort of like the little red glass boxes with the miniature hammers in the high school hallways when I was growing up. From then on in it was great. The only thing was you weren’t permitted to speak. Now that’s tough at the best of times but when there are signs saying PLEASE SILENCE, it’s a killer because everything is worthy of a comment or a giggle when everyone (including you) is in their bathing best. We had a blast but were like Gumby and Pokey when we left that evening! We topped the trip off with a great dinner in the Village (listen to me…).

On the way home we picked up some Grade A lobsters to have with my folks. That’s a good Eastop family dinner.
Six voracious crustacean eaters and one small lobster, we’re Scots for crying out loud!! (Ha Ha Ha my Mom will kill me for that!!) Ok, Ok we all had a great feed of lobster (relax Mom, it’s a joke ok...). Margot, my Dad even made Stovie’s for me before he left-and it simply does not get any better than that.

The meeting up with friends has been crazy! Now as far as the actual work side of things is concerned I have met or spoken to all the members of the OPP I am heading over with. To a man they are a good bunch. Down to earth, easy going and seem to all have a good sense of humour. We have all cleared our medical, physical and psychological screens….Ok before anyone says anything yes there were a few nervous moments during the psychological interview but I studied really hard and squeaked through! For so long we didn’t seem to hear anything concerning the task at hand. Not anymore. We are receiving briefings, on-line study and doing the prep work for the two week pre-deployment course in Ottawa. It’s funny how things have gone because now, even though it has been a year in the preparation, time seems to be speeding up for us. I am packing, reading and preparing. Many of the members have taken time off just as I have and are enjoying time with their families and friends. I managed to teach the kids some life critical skills during this leave period, namely how to determine the gender of a lobster and how to play hooky at school.

Molly for her day chose to do the movies with popcorn, junk food, and fast food leading up to and lots of pop. It was a BLAST. Donald chose Toronto-China Town-King Noodle for his. We rode the front seat of the front car on the subway and then did several laps on a streetcar for good measure. What a great day we slunk all around Spadina, Kensington Market and Queen Street, ending up with a Soviet Army fur hat for our efforts. We then knocked back a couple of Cokes at Filthy McNasty’s and headed northbound. These kids know how to live! Here’s a suggestion if you haven’t already done it, pull the kids out of school for a day and get a real education. Kids are smart and funny you won’t regret it. If you’ve already done it just nod and feel very righteous about ‘down’ with the kids you are.

That’s basically where we’ve been for the last two weeks. I am heading to Ottawa on Sunday after I hit Peterborough to see a couple of close friends. The next post will be from Ottawa as we continue in earnest our preparations.


Don

The Grim City Send Off

A fine time was enjoyed by all in this Grim City Send Off for the Don.

Welcome to SuDon!

Sudan is a very far way from Orillia Ontario (though interestingly only half as far from Toronto as Red Lake....but anyways...).  Our man Don is going over to Sudan on a very important mission:  to teach the local police force where all the best Tim Horton's locations are and how to get the powdered sugar off your mouth quickly when your superior officer has pulled into the parking lot.  Seriously.  That's why he is going.  

Being away from family and friends for long periods of time is difficult for everybody – and it will be challenging for both Don and his family.  This blog is a gift from all of his friends to the whole Eastop family as a way to create a virtual place to be together – so this is the Sudon, while Don is in Sudan.  This is the easiest way for them all to stay connected during the long nine months of constant partying, hot tubbing and illegal activities at Ground Zero in Orillia......no, no..wait..(that was supposed to be secret wasn't it Sheryl?!).  

Of course we all want to help Don and family in their bid to stay connected so this blog has been set up to be viewable by anyone with the web address, comments to any post can be made easily and emails can be sent and posted directly on the blog by anyone using the mail-to-blog address (with or without pictures attached).   This makes it very easy for any of us to send messages to Don.  On the other end he can do the same for all of us.  Being able to see and read about the events across such great distance helps to make it feel much less remote, much less disconnected and less unknown.  You can post direct to the blog by using either your regular email program or smartphone to email to john.mcgarr.thesudon@blogger.com.  NOTE: This is a LIVE posting – so what you send gets posted immediately for all to see and cannot be recalled or deleted quickly! 

The blog has been set up to provide a few people with email notifications when new postings are made – there is a limit of 10 email addresses.  This is intended to be a useful reminder for all of us to keep checking back for updates from Don and to make your own postings to him.  In order to make sure as wide a circle of Don's friends and family as possible can participate in this, not everyone will be able to get the notices, so some of you may need to inform others of new posts. 

If anything on the blog needs to be edited, deleted or modified please send a request to john@freshsqueezedideas.com and it will be sorted out quickly.  NOTE:  this is a FAMILY blog, so keep the nudity down to a minimum. 

Of course, this all assumes that Don will have access to a computer and an internet connection in Sudan, which in hindsight is a fairly significant assumption on our part.  So if in fact there is no computer or internet connection......disregard everything you have just read.