I looked around, and thought, "how on earth are we going to live here?"   On looking out from the front balcony, it overlooked Maalla high street, newer buildings on opposite side to us with shops underneath and good flats, which after breakfast we decided to have a look at. It was all very strange to us, and walking around in the oppressive heat it was very hard to believe it was   Christmas Eve!!!  

After the Christmas holidays, the children went to their new school, mornings only they had the afternoons free. We spent most of our free time at the "Lido" in Steamer Point,  swimming and sunbathing. It was where most of the Forces people in the area went to. We felt quite safe swimming in the sea, as a shark net was placed at a certain point in the water, so we had no worries on that score. At the far end of the bay, built on top of the rocks was where the Governor of Aden had his house situated. It looked a beautiful house. 

The Lido swimming area. Government House on hill.

Steamer Point was where the cruise ships docked, and at those times the local shops would be very busy with all the tourists. On such days prices were quickly increased.

Living at Khormaksar in the married quarters was much nicer than living in Maalla, especially having air conditioning,  as in Maalla we just had fans on the ceiling.  One night we had a young chap come and baby-sit for us. After the children had gone to bed he turned the fan up higher to go faster, and almost got injured. A blade came loose and flew off, hitting the wall just above and behind his head. We came home to a very ashen- faced young lad.

There were less 'crawlies' in the new flat, which we were pleased about, and none more so than little Colin. One morning in Maalla he was in the shower before going to school, and he liked to spread his fingers over the plughole and watch the water trickle through.  Suddenly I heard him scream out. I ran into the bathroom and Colin was frozen to the spot, his hand over the plughole. He couldn't move. Two large feelers , were in between his fingers, then this very large brown cockroach, followed through. He was screaming again, and it sort of jumped around the bath. I got my 'flip flop' and was trying to hit it, and holding onto to Colin at the same time. Eventually I got it, and kept it to show Ken how big it was.  Needless to say Colin never made it to school that morning.

Ken worked on the Shackletons with 37 Squadron and sometimes had to go away with the aircraft. We didn't like being left on our own. The NAAFI shop was quite good and sold most things we needed. Traveling on the local buses was an education,  old and rickety, no glass in windows; just as well as they were always packed and it would have been very smelly to say the least.

The camp cinema was open air, which was nice and if the film was boring as I could count the stars in the sky. Films changed twice a week, and we went most nights. The kids loved going with us.

After being in Aden a year we went on a holiday to Mombasa, through the RAF, and stayed at "Nyali Beach"  in a little "Banda" hut,  palm leaves as a roof, across which wire netting was placed, inside to stop any monkeys and such from getting in.  From behind the curtain one day a funny rattling noise could be heard. I thought it was a rattle snake.  Ken gingerly moved the curtain and this huge thing flew at him hitting his chest. Janet and I were outside before we even knew we had got through the door, followed by Colin. Then Ken came out looking quite pale. The 'thing' was on the floor, ken had managed to kill it. It had great bulging eyes, quite horrible. [sounds like my mother-in-law!].

I myself had a nasty encounter with giant ants. I was crossing the grass and felt my feet stinging. I thought I'd stood on nettles but after sitting down on a seat I saw my feet were covered in big ants, and they were clinging on to my toes and biting. They had to be pulled off me, one by one. It was awful. Still, we had a wonderful fortnight.