Inso's World

Today, at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month... on the hundredth year... We remember them.

Today, I found myself unable to sing the National Anthem. It wasn't because I didn't want to because I really did. I was unable to... I was too moved by the occasion.

Luckily, I was among many friends and towns folk who joined me in my reflection on this hundredth commemoration... this centenary of the end of the "war to end all wars".

I remembered those friends and colleagues who sadly took their final journeys, while I was serving.

My first trip to Iraq is particularly poignant at this time of year because I landed in Basrah, to find that three of my RAF colleagues had lost their lives to a mortar attack on the living accommodation.

During my time in the RAF, I made a lot of friends and acquaintances along the way and I remember those who have been taken away while at home and travelling... in accidents, through illness and through mental tragedy.

I also remember and think of, those who are still struggling with their own personal memories that cause them great pain and continued suffering, especially when remembrance is the focus of the nation.

I also think of the families of those servicemen who are currently on operations abroad... those who carry the weight of their families while their husband, wife or significant other is facing peril, many miles away.

I also remember my family members who were changed by WWII and spent many years, overcoming their demons to lead relatively normal lives... some I never met, yet they had a profound effect on my family and how I was raised.

I also think of my legacy... my son who is currently serving in the RAF and who will be away from these shores over Christmas. My daughter who is at home, working hard... but who always manages to take those two minutes to reflect; if she is unable to attend the Remembrance commemorations with us.

Then I reflect on the freedoms and opportunities that we have, as a result of the sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives... I never knew them... but without them, our lives would be very different.

At this time of year, these words come to mind:

Hello and welcome to Inso's World.

Today is the 11th September and it immediately makes me think of what happened in the US fifteen years ago; namely the terrorist attack on the twin towers, the pentagon and what followed.

At the time, I was away from home; staying in a hotel whilst I was travelling to and from a Merlin Helicopter course. During the day, details were sketchy and we had no real idea of the severity of what had happened. When we returned to the hotel in the evening of the 11th, there was a sombre atmosphere and the screens behind the bar were showing the events of the day. The first Images I saw were of the second tower coming down, followed by replays of the pair of them falling.

I was immediately struck silent before the barmaid said to me how terrible it was. My response was "we're going to war".

The events of that tragic day began a chain that has ended up where we are today in 'the war on terror'.

The cost of what happened on that day goes so much further than the lives lost in the towers, the surrounding streets, the Pentagon and in a field on the way, when passengers bravely brought down their own aircraft. It goes further than the emergency crews that lost their lives. It goes further than the trauma that lives in those people as a result of what happened in those dark hours and the aftermath.

It is an event that should be remembered as a remembrance for those who died, those who have been traumatised as a result and the fact that from that one single act, the world changed.

Hello and welcome to Inso's World again.

Today is Remembrance Day and as usual, I will be going to the local town with my family to join in with the festival of remembrance.

This year will be a bit different because my children are away from home so it will be just me and my wife. It will be quite strange because we have always attended as a family apart from when I have been oversees on military duty; then it has just been my wife and children.

It is a particularly poignant one this year because my son is currently at basic training for the Royal Air Force, so is following my path in life (although he has joined as a different trade). Every year he has joined us on our trip to the festival, yet still has decided to join the military; with full knowledge of what can happen. I am very proud to have him as my son.

I think that in this everchanging world it is essential for our children to understand what foundations were laid for us to have a relatively free existance; not living under oppressive dictatorship, and standing for an hour, by the roadside, whilst listening to the names of the local people who fell during the various conflicts, helps to cement that understanding.


As long as we teach our children the sacrifices that were made for them, us, our fathers and mothers... one day, they or their children, will eventually see the futility of it all and there will, in time, be no need for it. Until then...

Today is Remembrance Sunday. It is a day when my family visit the local town of Wallingford to attend the ceremony of Remembrance. Every year (when I am in the country) we do the same and every year, the square is filled with people who are also there to pay their respects and give humble thanks for the ultimate sacrifice of so many people so that we could live in relative peace and freedom today.

In 2007, I went to Iraq for a couple of weeks to carry out some maintenance on a helicopter there. When the plane landed, we discovered that three of our colleagues had just been killed when a rocket landed in their accomodation area. Today, I remembered them.

Here is a short poem I wrote for Remembrance day:

Today is Remembrance Sunday. My family and I  went over to the local village, as we always do (assuming I am in the country) and joined hundreds of others in remembering the fallen.

The parade was well executed, the service was as it should be and the fly past was well timed.

The list of names was read out; the names of those from the village who went away to fight for their country but failed to return.

It is a time of reflection.

This week I have been quite distracted. A lack of sleep didn't help either. As a result, I have only managed to throw a first untidy base coat on five Teratons. I also managed to sell the Halo Hornet so have added a few pennies to the Pay-Pal pot.

Over the next few months I will be selling off a lot of hobby stuff. As you know, I have been struggling with the hobby for a while now and have been looking for an excuse to 'shake things up'. Well, I have found it and I need to gather funds to achieve a very personal goal. I won't say anything about what it is but needless to say, I now have a mission so am looking through all of my stored items to find sellable stuff.

I have also decided that as a result of my new found mission, I will be getting my motorcycle sorted for sale. That will mean a little less hobby time and a little more mechanic time.

In order to raise the amount of money I need, I will also have to sculpt a bit and see if I can't sell a few of my creations.

So it will be an empowering time. It will get rid of my guilt over my motorcycle, get rid of some projects that will never be finished and also clear some space which will in-turn, remove the clutter. Not to mention the extremely large amount of positive Karma I will gain from my mission. It is win-win.

See you from the next level!

Like so many times before, I sit on the day before Remembrance Sunday and ponder things.

I remember the first time I went to Iraq. It was to carry out some maintenance on an aircraft so it was going to just be for a couple of weeks and then a swift return home with the rest of my small team. Although I had received some pre-deployment training, I wasn't due to go out when I did but it seemed fitting that I should go because my training was fresh in my mind.

Getting there was a case of jet power most of the way, followed by a tactical landing in a Hercules... interesting stuff when everything is blacked out. I was very glad to step onto Iraqi earth, I can tell you (I am not a particularly good flier).

The day me and my team arrived, there had been a missile strike and there was an information lock-down... three people were killed. A missile had found its way into the accommodation and they were lost whilst off duty.

It makes you very aware of the dangers. In ten days out there, my splat map was up in the hundreds... that is a count of the rockets/missiles that had landed on the base.

I saw many a brave soul and many a scared heart... and plenty of fearful eyes. Yet through it all, everyone got back up to their feet when the sirens gave the all clear and carried on. That is what we do.

Have a heart tomorrow. Go to a Remembrance service. Listen to the names of the fallen being read out. For everyone we lost, there were many left behind to grieve.