A police chase...Ukrainian style.

So, we first go back to yesterday. A long journey via Ternopil, from Kyiv to Lviv. A much longer journey than usual due to special loads on the roads, occasional blizzards and general hold ups. At one point there was a 1-2 mile tailback of stationary traffic, which, with the best will in the would, have taken an extra hour to get through. 

Suddenly, on our left hand side, a police van appeared and pulled up....I thought we can't be getting another speeding ticket - we're at a standstill!! They must have seen our humanitarian red cross signs on the van and beckoned us to follow them. Blue and red lights flashing. Who were we to demur?. ...however, don't imagine a slow, safe passing of stationary vehicles, on an ordinary road. Vehicles were coming towards us....the police vehicle hurtled through at between 50 and 60mph, with us in tow. Cars scattering as they went. It was totally crazy. How we didn't crash into someone is beyond us. About a couple of miles down the road, all traffic holdups passed, they put on their hazard lights to say goodbye and went on their way. You really can't make it up.

Today, a day of doing ordinary things. Haircuts. My coat needed a repair to a rip in the pocket. A seamstress here did a wonderful repair. Buying some fruit and veg from our local market. A little bit of work in the afternoon, sorting out aid for our next couple of trips. Making further contacts.

Our Polish friends are on their way home to Krakow. The weather is challenging though. Heavy snow started to fall and it's getting much colder. They are exhausted. We wish them a safe journey.
In the evening we went out for supper to a restaurant...a really nice Italian one. Life goes on....a finger up to Putin. 
However, it turned out to be quite an emotional experience. Our waiter, a good English speaker, knowledgeable about wines, (actually recommended a red Sardinian wine...we were amazed)
A lad, 25 years old, had got his call up papers and would be starting his training in March. He said that his 2 friends had been called up in autumn and were already fighting around Bakhmut. That this guy would shortly be risking his life and, it seemed, with little fear, was both truly amazing and sad at the same time. His name is Max. May he stay safe.
We find occasional murals in Lviv...we saw this today and thought it was particularly good. 
Ordinary things in an extraordinary situation. 

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