The Russians are Coming!

Several years ago, Rob bought a DVD of a film called 'The Russians Are Coming'. A comedy, it tells the story of a small coastal village mainly populated with retired or near-to-retired folk. (Remind you of anywhere specific??) Well, one morning a Russian submarine is spotted off the coast and the subsequent mis-information and rumours make for a very amusing hour or so.

Well, this week we have had our own 'Russian Invasion' here in Jacobsbaai! And at the time it was not very amusing! Read on:

On the 11 October, we received a notice, forwarded to us from the Saldanha Police Station, and we read:

This information note serves to inform you that special operations, including SANDF, India’s, and Brazil's Military forces, would take place in the area used to be the old bombing site. The exercise would include the firing of live ammunition, and bomb blasts. Naval gun fire support would also be conducted from the sea side towards the area. This will take place between the 17 October and the 7 November.

SIX days warning!! (Some of our islands had in fact been used for bombing practice during the '60's and 'Tooth Rock' airstrip was used from the 50's to the 80's. But, there were no houses in those days!)

Before the houses were built. The airstrip is in the foreground.

Jacobsbaai now. The airstrip is behind the last row of houses. Pic thanks to Gail van Boom)

Now, take special note of the words 'live ammunition and bomb blasts'. It went on to say that animals and people with sensitive hearing should make proper arrangements. Well, apart from the noise, we live maybe one and a half a kilometres from the designated area, and some houses are only four hundred metres from being completely destroyed if someone in charge of pulling the trigger sneezes at that precise moment!
Even the words 'Oh s**t' do not completely describe the gravity of the situation!!

One of the old Military towers near the airstrip.

So, we leapt into gear, or rather Rob did. He contacted the local newspaper who knew nothing about it at all but promised to look into it. He contacted the local radio station who organised an interview for the following day, hoping to have someone from the Military to explain! He finally found a number for us to contact, a liaison number. So we phoned. And left messages. And sent text messages. And gave the number to neighbours who were also angry and surprised and alarmed by the whole thing!

Do you see a submarine? Keep looking!

And then I received a phone call from a Sub Lieutenant from Simons Town (our naval base in Cape Town), who was as surprised as we were when he read the notice! We had been given the wrong information completely! He had no idea how or why that information had been sent to us, and assured me that under no circumstance would live ammo be used. There would be smoke but very little noise. (I told him that our dog was very unhappy with bangs and that if anything happened to him I would hold him personally responsible). We ended up on first name terms with me being appointed the 'Naval Liaison Officer for Jacobsbaai'.........I told him I needed a hat and a badge! He promised!

Then, another notice was emailed to us, underlining and in capital letters the words NO LIVE AMMUNITION WILL BE USED. By now, half of the village had left messages on his mobile, and several people were ready to do battle with spades and pitchforks, with buckets for helmets, and their faces painted green! A second notice was emailed to us, and a lady from the navy phoned me too!
Then on Friday 17 October, the day it was all due to begin, one lone air-force plane flew over a few times. I said to Rob he was checking to see how many villagers were lying in wait with their buckets of rocks and old hand guns. Then off he flew and we have seen and heard absolutely nothing since then!

The entrance to Saldanha Military Base. (Pic thanks to Google)

We have Saldanha Military Base just round the corner, so we know that it is going to happen.

We just don't know when!!

Roll credits!!