My first day 'in theatre' I found myself sharing a toothbrushing moment with a big beefy bloke. To accommodate the women at Camp Bastion, a sign hung outside the unisex tent to indicate when there was a 'female' present. That was meant to keep the blokes out, and give us some privacy.

But, of course, there were always cross over moments, where you'd find yourself waiting to storm the bathroom with the other girls, to stop the constant stream of men lining up for their ablutions.

And there was always the off chance of a tooth brushing moment, with a stray who'd miss the swinging of the sign.

I checked with him, to make sure he didn't mind me frothing at the mouth, as he stood bedecked in his towel, and he said, "I don't mind... I'm a metrosexual."

I laughed and asked him what he meant. To which he replied, 'I like women, AND I use moisturiser.'

Welcome to the Marines.

It ain't exactly a women's world. Females (they seem to insist on addressing us using the zoological form) are a rare species. The marines don't include women among their front line fighting companies. The women both in Camp Bastion, and Lashkar Gar, are with other units, or play support roles, or both.

There are few enough of us that, whenever our paths cross, there's usually a smile of acknowledgement. I've learnt all kinds of things in our late night chats in our all girl rooms. (Apparently, formal uniform for mess dinners is particularly ugly.) It's not the life for me, but I've found myself admiring these gutsy courageous women.

Julian* and I have just returned from a patrol around Lashkar Gar. We were delivering invites to a meeting of local notables later in the week. Extraordinary landscape on the edge of town - caves a la Bamiyan.

The soldiers were swamped with children. They sometimes deliver footballs, and school supplies... and the kids have come to expect goodies. I think Julian and I were a disappointment. Empty pockets.

Hilarious efforts at delivering a piece to camera - ie the bit where we speak directly to camera. I'd start to speak, and then the kid next to me would step into shot and do the same thing. I guess we do appear faintly ridiculous.

We're pulling together a piece on hearts and minds, and reconstruction, in Lashkar Gar on Thursday.

*Julian has just read this and says you won't know who he is. He's Julian Hadden - Channel 4 News Asia bureau cameraman extraordinaire - and travelling companion for this sojourn with the British military.