The following morning I rose early, had breakfast and re-checked my kit ready for the 08.00 leave. Having met the platoon commander and getting a brief overview of the patrol, we were to move North along a road with one section moving to the West along compounds which have been used for firing points. We were heading for Green 1, a junction of both road and canal and a point which I was told Taliban used regularly. The first twenty mins were the worst. It is the uncertainty of not knowing when it will happen which plays on your mind. Almost nothing did happen. I am sure that as soon as a contact happens, you soon forget about the sickly fear and concentrate on more important things. We held a mins' shura [consultation, meeting] with three Afghans and moved back to the FOB. It really is true that they have nothing. The children are all smiling with beautiful faces. The men are more guarded and generally stand-offish. However they are willing to talk which goes against all the briefs I have been given.