Serendipity....

I have always liked this word. The Oxford dictionary defines it so: "the fact of something interesting or pleasant happening by chance."
Many times in my life, this has happened. And it continues to happen here in Ukraine.
I can't even begin to think of all the things that have happened by chance here, which have led to positive outcomes. People we have met, wonderful experiences.
But sometimes, maybe, chance needs a little push. We have always sought to make ourselves visible and approachable. Sticking our heads around corners, going into buildings, speaking with people and trying to make connections. And many positive and pleasant things have happened because of this. 
Often we haven't a clue what the outcome of a certain course will be. In a country at war there are many variables. 
But these serendipitous moments have been incredibly important in allowing us to do our work. Some less so but still nice. In walking around a park in Lviv yesterday, we came upon a rugby field, with people practicing......a little lad trying goal kicks, for example.....eat your heart out, Owen Farrell.



I watched with pleasure, seeing youngsters and adults continuing to do ordinary things. I hope that some of them were able to watch the rugby premiership final the previous day. Wish Sale would have won.

Today is our last day in Lviv. We depart for Odesa tomorrow, via a further aid run. Who knows what unexpected fortuitous moments there will be? We were also able to pick up more Ukrainian books to take with us. This was, again, a chance opportunity, which led us to get to know a bookshop owner.

To finish our time here, another little moment of Lviv life. We follow a news channel here and, amongst the really challenging news, there's reporting of the everyday....including various court proceedings....sounding much like our magistrates court....
The case that made us chuckle was of a young couple, getting carried away and making love at a tram stop. The young man was fined the equivalent of about £2. The woman wasn't fined.
This reflects a similar occurrence the previous week, when a woman was fined and the man wasn't....
What we can't quite work out is how they decide to fine one and not the other? Also what is it about tram stops...?
And so, pondering this, we start on the next stage of our time here. We suspect a more challenging one.




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