What next in Afghanistan?

The one constant at Camp Bastion, and indeed every base in Helmand Province, is the noise. Generators are the lifeline that keep this place running - refridgerators, air conditioning and lighting are the essentials. Then there are computers and kettles to be powered and, perhaps more bizarrely, the Royal Engineers' homemade swimming pool to keep clean. (I resisted the temptation to strip off and plunge in but only on grounds of decency. The water felt lovely).

At Bastion there's also the sound of helicopters that are taking off almost around the clock on various operations. On this particular morning at Patrol Base Kalang we are woken up by another noise - the hammering of tent poles and scaffolding. The rather ramshackle shower unit where I had, just the day before, washed with bottled water in the company of several dozen astonished frogs was no more. The lads were slowly taking the entire base apart ahead of its closure later this month. The HESCO bombproof walls will probably stay and, as the Afghans are a very resourceful nation, I'm sure they'll find use for whatever is left behind.

This area is now considered so safe the British army no longer need to be here. I sensed some sadness among the soldiers who've called this place home for several months and have got to know the area well on their patrols. The local children will certainly miss their fix of chocolate, sweets and pens too. And I'm going to miss the dozens of soldiers we met who genuinely face real danger every day but who enthusiastically spoke to us and allowed us to film them doing their jobs. And to all those we've featured on Anglia Tonight and who will consequently be crated by their colleagues (forced to buy a crate of beer) - I'd do it in Afghanistan if you can where the non-alcoholic variety will be a lot easier on your wallet.