Books and preparations...

....we leave on another aid trip tomorrow, which is taking a lot of preparation and coordination, as there are 3 vans going - 2 from Poland and us - for 3 - 4 days.

In the meantime, we have picked up the remainder of the books donated by Old Lion Publishing House, Lviv. These books will go to a number of schools in Gmina Community, Zabierzów, Krakow, where there are many Ukrainian refugee children. Our friend in Krakow tells us that the number of refugees crossing the border to Poland is increasing again - for many reasons, including because people in refugee camps in western Ukraine can no longer live in tents.

It is getting so cold now but our flat is still warm. We keep thinking of what it must be like to manage without heating, in places like Kherson and elsewhere.

If there is any interest in whether or not the annoying bleeping in the van has been fixed - it hasn't! After spending half a day driving around Lviv for a part, it turns out that this was not the problem! But we know what it is now and, hopefully, it will be sorted by the Wheels of Victory mechanics in Ternopil tomorrow. That or a big hammer, says Bob! This is also where we'll pick up the aid for our next run. We already have a number of wood burning stoves in the van, which will be much needed where we are going.

We're also taking the second box of these lovingly made (by a community in Wales) "trauma teddies." 

This is a concept we have not come across but I think I understand it. I remember a little girl in the food tent in Krakow at the beginning of the war; she had a very small soft toy, which she kept turning around in her hands and stroking - as if it helped her to be 'looking after' something even smaller and more helpless than her. 

If you can help, please donate in the usual way:

1. Open PayPal and, when asked for name of payee or email, enter trawden4ukraine@hotmail.com. 

2. Use the collection box in Trawden community shop. 

Thank you.