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    Valvata - Bernard Reynolds

    This anecdote is about the tanker Valvata and is written by Bernard Reynolds.

    Valvata Part 1. My wife & I had many adventures on the Valvata 1965/66. The best one was when we left the ship at Khor al Amaya at the entrance to the Shatt al Arab river. Seven of us left the ship homeward bound. We had a two hour launch ride to Fao and then had to travel in two taxis across the desert to Basra. This was in February, belief it or not the desert was flooded - yes flooded. All you could see was a shimmer of water not a sign of sand anywhere except for the muddy tack that was supposed to be a road. We slithered and slewed our way for 6 hours with the taxi driver hoiking (spitting) out of the taxi window every 5 minutes. We arrived at Basra airport hotel at about 9 pm. It was a beautiful colonial style building no doubt destroyed by now.The next morning we flew to Bagdad and had to stay overnight for the following days flight to London. Coming out of Bagdad airport to the taxis Shirley suddenly starts shouting "It's Brian, it's Brian". Brian was a chap from our local pub, he was of our parents generation. He was in the Dam Buster Squadron as a rear gunner. We were very privilged to have known this man. It was great seeing him on TV in a repeat of the anniversary of the raid. It brings tears to my eyes talking about him. He says "what hotel are you staying in"." We said the Bagdad International"."So am I see you in the Bar".After checking in Shirley & I went to the bar Brian asks us what we would like to drink. I explained that we could't return his hospitality as we did't have any money this being the days before credit cards and no one ever has a sub in Iraq. No problem he says, I'm on expenses. We then went into lunch, Brian said his business contact would be joining us. An Iraqi Colonel turns up, he and Brian discuss their arrangements for the following day. Brian then turns to this Colonel and says "My friends & I would like to go to a night club tonight". I whisper to Brian that we hadn't got any money. Shut up he says. After our siesta we met up in the bar with our ship mates. We pooled our money to buy a round. If you take todays cost of a pint at £2.50 a beer there it cost £20. Brian appears and buys everyone a couple of rounds. Our Colonel turns up at 9 pm and whisks us off to this night club.

    Translate to English translate | Sunday, November 22nd 2009, 17:14 | Valvata | Bernard Reynolds

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