Thursday 12th October - Kiev special school of arts for children with impaired vision

Thursday was a much happier affair. Somehow I'd jammily managed to cobble all the kitbags together, thanks to people lending me their mobiles and also by just bumping into folk.

The Embassy kindly provided us with a minibus onto which we loaded around 20 kitbags, along with several TA - Chris Turner, Big Al, Tartan Sheep (Lynsey Menzies), Mr Sheep, as well as drummer Gordon Brown and his friends.

After another quick tour of the school/home Gordon drummed us into a large room where all the children were sitting. That was followed by an impressive concert by the children, including a brass-instrument display by 4 lads who it turns out have won many awards.

After a nice speech by Galina we had a peak at the dining room, which had been prepared for a party for the children….have to say the food looked terrific.

The Crack of Dawn TA turned up just as we were leaving but they got a tour after us.

And that was that. Half a year of organisation, fundraising, exasperation and eventually some success, topped-off with the usual mix of sadness and happiness. Happiness to be able to help, but sadness at seeing the situation of these children.

Oh well.