Kitchens....

It seems so long ago since we first made that fateful decision to leave Trawden, thinking that if we didn't get over soon, it might all be over in 5 weeks and we'd have nothing to do. I can't believe how badly we got that one wrong. 

So today, once more at 07:30, we found ourselves working in a kitchen. In Kharkiv. Memories of working in kitchens 2 years ago in refugee centres in Krakow. Cooking thousands of meals.

And today, with the same efficiency, we worked in a kitchen in Kharkiv. This kitchen makes over 1000 plus freshly cooked meals to be sent out to hospital, schools, churches and villages. A kitchen 2 meters by maybe 3.5. A kitchen that just got on. 

Everyone knew what they had to do.. we slotted in. It was a real pleasure for us to be there. Peeling onions, chopping parsley, potatoes and cabbage, and then the beetroot...

We had a break about 09:00, sat around a table, had coffee, tea and cake with the other women. And we conversed, with our limited knowledge of Ukrainian and Russian. And it was lovely. Again, humbled to be part of this.

Then we went onto the bread making section. Again, a smooth operation. Everyone just getting on. A range of international volunteers, young and old, as well as Ukrainians.

I am shortly due to go to Odesa and was hoping to take some aid to our friends in Kherson. Thanks to the kindness of Hell's Kitchen, who gave of the products in their warehouse, I have a vehicle loaded with flour.

So that was the morning to early afternoon. 

We had made arrangements with a 16-year-old translator, who is also a "Master Baker" at Hell's Kitchen, to visit the Kharkiv children's library in the afternoon. The intention was for Fiona to offer free conversation classes for adults. We were met with the same warmth and appreciation as ever, both by library staff and a man who vigorously shook our hands, several times, thanking us for the help that the UK continues to give to Ukraine, which seems to mean such a lot to Ukrainians.

Of course, this being Ukraine, photos had to be taken. Fiona's is now a proud member of the children's library, having withdrawn two English grammar books!!

As always, there are humorous moments in Ukraine. Yesterday we visited the Botanical Gardens, a large semi-wild park area. A small section of this park appeared to be a place for men to pose. I won't go into details... however, there is a mirrored area, in front of which a mid to elderly man in swimming trunks was practising his dance moves!

On a more serious note, yesterday Ukraine celebrated the Christian Orthodox Easter, hoping that there might be some peace on this day. It was not to be. Rather than church bells ringing out, Russian missiles killed and maimed civilians in Khayand elsewhere. As we walked through the park's woodland, the beautiful sound of birdsong was juxtaposed with the sound of bombs exploding in the near distance. 

We are grateful for your continued support.

To make a donation:

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

Or, if you live in/near Trawden:

2. Use the Ukraine collection box in Trawden community shop.