Spent Friday evening at the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces Association Dinner. A very enjoyable event at the Army and Navy Club in London. The average age was about 80, and it was funny to look at my Dad and see him feeling young in the company.
Managed to set up the next round of interview for Jan/Feb and have come away with loads of extra research, contacts to make, and books to read.
My heart sunk when talking to chaps, who even at their age are still involved in places like Afghanistan, telling me that when troops are killed they cannot look the family in the eye because they don't believe the sons/daughters/husbands/wives are dying for anything.
One of the most interesting conversations came later in the evening. When Dad remarked [persons name] now that's a killer! Blew my mind. I mean what characteristics are required to be singled out as "the killer" in a room full of killers. How do you look a a room full of soldiers - all of whom kill for a living and say "him, he's a real killer." What trait singles that person out? Never really did get a satisfactory answer.
The total delight of the evening came when somebody turned to the old man and said "Nick do you remember when....[details omitted] and proceeded to tell a story I had heard many, many times. Growing up with Oman stories have been a constant delight and I have never tired of hearing them, but over the years you do begin to wonder how true all the elements are. Did it happen exactly that way etc... Not through any form of lying. But perhaps an enthusiastic embellishment or a fading recollection. Memory can change the shape of a room, the colour of a car, the order of events. To hear someone, unprompted, and without realising, confirm what you had always believed is a truly wonderful thing.
I am making this documentary because there are stories to tell, and those stories are true.
