Good news stories

It can be tempting to always highlight the bad news and overlook the good. Because Kharkiv continues to suffer daily bombing attacks. Trump has won the US election, the consequences of which are uncertain but likely to be difficult...although the Ukrainians I've spoken to just shrug and say that they can't do anything about it and have to carry on, with life and work.

So this will be a good news blog!

On Wednesday morning I took the Metro underground train to the north of the city, to my Yoga class. Being able to attend a live class in Kharkiv is a pleasure, although the challenging exercises not so much!

Then I travelled by Metro to the end of the line in the south of the city: a district with a sprawling mass of apartment blocks, some not in very good condition, probably dating from Soviet times. But at some point a decision was taken to paint huge murals with exotic wildlife themes on some of the apartment sides. You can sit in a nice cafe and drink a good cup of coffee, in a fairly rundown area, with a view of a giraffe!...an inspired vision...

I travelled to this district to help out with camouflage netting again, in the cold lobby of one of the apartment blocks, in between the lift (or elevator) and doors to people's homes. As always, there was a lot of chatter and laughter, and food and a dog who kept trying to eat it!

The netting requests are for early snow colour, i.e. when it first snows and you can still see the ground beneath. This photo shows that the camouflage really works - you can hardly see Eva working on the other side!

I brought along the tiny teddies that Mary from Trawden (England) knits and sells, in support of Ukraine. Some will be distributed to children and there is a request for some to go to soldiers, as amulets.

This is the first recipient...

I'm so grateful for the continued support of the Trawden community, as well as family and friends. I've used recent funds for tourniquets and bandages for soldiers, and continue to make a monthly donation to the Kharkiv charity, Adults For Children. I've also given some money to Hell's Kitchen itself, which relies on donations; unfortunately, financial support has recently reduced. My Mum has funded most of the cost of shatter-resistant plastic film to cover the windows in Hell's Kitchen, which will reduce the risk of damage from flying glass if there's an explosion nearby. 

A small group of us volunteers, both here and abroad, is involved in collecting used (in good condition) laptops, computer screens

(especially large), etc, to send to Ukraine.

Franklin, of Hell's Kitchen, continues his tireless fund raising - now for thermal underwear, propane gas canisters (for cooking), and hand/foot/body self-warming pads to help keep soldiers warm, as temperatures plummet. Local volunteer aid drivers have already delivered some of these items to specific units. Alongside the deliveries were boxes of oatmeal cookies, baked by Franklin and some volunteers, who had only just arrived in Kharkiv but were willing to get stuck in straightaway.

Speaking of getting stuck in, you never quite know what you're going to be asked to do as a volunteer in Hell's Kitchen. As well as the given tasks of cleaning/chopping veg, washing dishes or rolling dough balls, you could be called out of the kitchen to form a human chain to unload deliveries. Or, if you're big and strong, carry a cauldron of soup to the oven when one of the Ukrainian ladies shouts "Help!" - a word they've learned in English. Or, like the other day, help to stabilise an oven about to fall off it's stand!

Our foreign volunteers deserve a mention. Some adapt quickly and well to living in a war zone, and pick up the role and the tasks required quite easily. A very small number are overwhelmed by constant air raid sirens, the sound of explosions, etc. Some need step by step instructions in the kitchen and find it difficult to work at the pace required. But, as one of our current volunteers reminded me, everyone has come here - to a city not far from the frontline that's regularly bombed - when many others haven't. And some have made incredibly long journeys, as far away as New Zealand.

We have great support, particularly from Liuda, who makes everything run as smoothly as it can. When she arrives every morning she comes around the entire kitchen, and gives every one of us a hug and a greeting. It's a small touch that means a lot. And, as previously mentioned, she makes sure that all the volunteers have a chance to eat, drink and relax together once a month. The last such occasion was Halloween, when we had a party to remember, including a guest appearance from a celebrity!..

...and a mystery guest, who the majority of us could not identify until he revealed himself at the end of the night!

Someone suggested that I would make a good witch!

Liuda, on the right, is a wild dancer but, as far as I know, I was the only person to do a broom dance!

...other than fellow-volunteer, Patrick!

To make a donation, please:

Open PayPal and, when asked for email, enter sunflower_house@hotmail.com