Where are you living and what is it like? I live in Waterloo Lines Camp on Basra air station, which feeds and accommodates 19 Brigade Headquarters staff. Presently, we live in two-man corrimecs [portable buildings] which are heavily fortified with blast p

Where are you living and what is it like?

I live in Waterloo Lines Camp on Basra air station, which feeds and accommodates 19 Brigade Headquarters staff. Presently, we live in two-man corrimecs [portable buildings] which are heavily fortified with blast protection walls.

I am sharing with Flight Lieutenant Julia Windridge, from Strike Command in High Wycombe.

Her role is to manage the provision of all fuel and water in theatre.

What have you been doing day-to-day?

My role includes the management and monitoring of three of the major contracts in theatre.

These include the provision and maintenance of photocopiers, conservancy services including laundry for all soldiers, portable toilets and waste removal.

In addition I also manage the food contract with DAMAC which caters for all but four camps in theatre.

This role also includes the career management of some 109 military chefs in theatre.

My day-to-day tasks vary considerably from managing the contractor/military relationship to ensure that the services provided run smoothly and efficiently, to reviewing the menu cycles within the camp restaurants and organising functions and celebrity visits to ease the monotony of everyday life for the soldiers.

What is the weather like out there?

The weather has been getting progressively colder in the evenings, but this doesn't seem to stop the mosquitoes from attacking.

Despite the cold evening weather, by 9am it's relatively warm reaching 20-30 degrees daily.

What are you missing most about home?

Unsurprisingly it is not the British weather that I miss most about being out here, although it is hard to believe that Christmas is approaching when the sun is shinning brightly outside!

I, like most soldiers I suspect, miss my family and friends the most and I think that as Christmas approaches this will become more and more apparent.

The post and additional phone minutes we receive regularly are a real morale boost and there are several plans for Christmas functions to bring some festive cheer to the troops nearer to Christmas.