Sergeant Cook returned to the dugout, where the nervous Tommys were sharing fags and trying to make light of the big push they knew was soon to come

"Right lads its this morning 10 hundred hours precisely, theres just time for you to get your last letter for home written, then on the officer's whistle its over the top towards the German positions"

"Are there many Jerrys out there Sarge?" a mud smeared lad barely out of his teens asked.

"Thousands of em, young fella, well armed, dug in and if its any consolation just as scared as you and I, but its imperative to London that we take this position, so steady yourself son and stick with me"

In the minutes remaining, more fags were exchanged, letters were written, weapons and watches nervously checked, men shook hands with their companions never sure if they would greet the next day together or not. At ten the big guns stopped pounding and the ensuing silence was eerily broken when the officers whistles sounded the signal to go over the top.

Minutes seemed like hours as the brave Tommys wove between shell holes and dodged incoming fire to lay their towels on the remaining three sunbeds.

In other news I watched a local driving lesson

"Morning Mrs Christadoulou"

"Morning Spiros"

"When your ready light a fag, and taliking into your mobile drive straight on into the nearest stream of traffic at breakneck speed, only stopping to make a rude hand gesture at the person you just cut up sounding his horn"

Other than that lazy day at he pool good lunch from hotel bar, stuffed tomatoes (not as good as mine though) don't know why they can't keep up this standard in the evening.

Afternoon went into the old town to look at the mosques (sadly very much in decay) and St Maria's Cathedral, very nice indeed, Mrs F and the Moff lit some candles for people.

Evening meal was once again an interesting experiment. On offer was watery pasta, some very nice roasted spuds in mustard seeds and what I can only describe as the skeleton of a sheep in tomato sauce, judging by the amount of meat on it.

Off to Pheastos tomorrow so have to show a leg early

Night night