Contacting Home
When your away, contacting home can really change your mood. Here are a few ways
you can make that contact. Show this page to your family and friends so that
they can use it to get in touch too. All links open in new windows
Blueys - You can get these from your local Post Office, or from the J1 cell on
your det. They are just blue envelopes that fold out to around A4 size. You can
write all you like in them and send them back over land or sea. They can take
weeks to get to the destination though.
Parcels - Just like in the UK most places you can receive parcels. The BFPO
site will have more information on maximum sizes but its normally no more than
2kgs, and it may even be free. Its good for sending those home comforts we all
miss out in Theatre.
Eblueys
- An electronic version of the Bluey. Quite simple really; just create an
account (you will need your address and BFPO number) and complete the form
online. You type your letter in, it gets printed in the UK or selected
operational theatres and delivered within a day or two. The envelope is sort of
like a Pay slip so you know your message will be nice and private
Skype - Video chat to any other computer or smartphone that has Skype for free,
or voice chat to any phone number (for cost see website). All you need is an
account (free) and an internet connection (lots of places now provide WiFi as
part of the Deployment Welfare Package). The other end only need an account for
video calling.
Mobile Phone - For a detachment in Europe or the Falklands it may be worth
getting a local sim card to work in your phone, making it cheaper to contact
your friends and family. Note that taking you mobile phone to Afghanistan is not
permitted. Your network operator may also offer cheap packages for the area you
are deploying to
Facebook - Almost everybody has an account, and its so quick and easy to keep in
touch. Just remember not to say too much in the public forum about where you are
and what you are doing. 'They' are watching you...