I Rarely Cry....

[gness]

.....but I did today. A fantastic lady U runs our village book/gifts/crafting and free hot whiskey if you have the sniffles shop.
Some weeks ago 30+ Ukrainians arrived here. Mostly women and children. U decided to make her shop a place of welcome. Ordered books in their languages, crafting materials and invited them to join us.
I was asked to teach some ladies to crochet. They in turn are to teach me to make felted slippers.... :-)

One is trying hard with English and a bit of Irish but mostly it's Google translate and lots of hilarious miming. A's demonstration of how she adopted her son and didn't give birth to him was a hoot.

Today was the first day no children were with us. They're in school. The ladies were a bit more emotional, I guess not having to stay strong for the children as they do when they're together.

I've become close to two. A pregnant mum who was a hairdresser, and also a granny. They showed me photos of their lives before. The beautiful fashion shop the gran worked in. The wedding photos. Their homes. Then the men left behind. Photos of their brothers, sons, friends.

I was fine til A started to cry and asked me if I knew what would happen to her...to them all.

I wish I knew. :-(

[Redhelen72]

Oh my heart breaks for those families.
Thankfully there are people like and your friends xx

[barry1010]

Some people are going through a horrendous time and it is heartening that there are so many kind, helpful, ordinary people doing so much to make their lives better.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for a lovely post, Gness.

Perhaps you could make your guests feel even more welcome by
(a) teaching them some Irish dance moves ; and
(b) getting Dave to perform the hopak for them? ;-)

[ToraToraTora]

you should show them some Brian Blessed videos :)

[Patsy33]

It's great that there are good, friendly, helpful people here, to help others in these awful circumstances. These women try so hard to be strong for their children and family. Then reality hits them, not knowing what the outcome will be. It must be so surreal. Heart breaking. It's enough to push any decent human beings to tears. All very upsetting.
Well done Gness, to you and friends for making them feel welcome and cared for.

[sunny-dave]

I think what gets to me is the utter normality of the lives they have been torn away from - comfortable, warm, happy and just like us in so many ways.

Now they are thousands of miles from home, with little to call their own apart from the clothes they wear, and reliant on the goodwill of strangers.

Everyone here is doing the best we can to help - but sometimes the sadness in their eyes is all too much.

[-SharonA-]

I feel so sorry for them but it's good to know they're being made welcome.
A sad post.

[Lie-in King]

Well-played to you & the village. Sometimes there are no words x

[gness]

It is heartbreaking and there are just no words. People everywhere are helping...but wishing it wasn't needed.
The women are strong beyond belief, so kind too.

Chris. That's made my eyes go funny! I did clear the kitchen for Dave to join in but he seems to have disappeared. I have an idea though. We have a very active Men's Shed. They do a great, fun performance at our village talent show. I will show them the video as a suggestion for this year's offering. Those waiting for new knees, hips and other bits will not be excused.
They do love Irish music and like it played as we craft in the shop. I haven't let on yet that I dance. At my age it'll take more than the one hot whiskey.

Not often I'm grateful for my poor eyesight but not being able to see TTT's new avatar is a blessing....Blessing, TTT, not bloody Blessed!

[Tilly2]

A lovely story, Gness and I can see why you cried. x

[Peter Pedant]

O god I know ( papa was a POW in the east)
No soldier will leave Azovstal alive- that is why they are fighting. The soldiers that surrender will 'disappear' - into a 'filtration camp' in the USSR and then nothing more is heard

I am not sure why the beeb are so coy about this

Civilians deported - big question about whether they should go to Russia ( and disappear see above) most are in Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine)

Surrender and die in a Gulag
or die in Azovstal

1940-45 The stories of the Germans malreating the Russians and then 1942-45 The Red Army maltreating absolutely everyone
are all true.....

And BEFORE.... Ukraine was a big grain exporter, rich as a result and had a western style of living....

[sandyRoe]

A very moving post. :-))
Are the chaps dancing the Hopak in Buenchico's link wearing yoga pants?

[nailit]

Whats PP on about?
Seriously?

[jno]

PP is on about what the Russians do to their enemies, Nailit. Seems pretty clear to me.

[anneasquith]

As an aside G. . a wee greet does help sometimes.

[DTCwordfan]

Well we know what Dave is getting for Christmas this year.... can understand the emotion involved though...

[Peter Pedant]

Whats PP on about? Seriously?

1) my dad was a POW in poland (that if you look on the map is 'East')
2) Germans did nasty things to the Russian after they invaded ( Germany invaded Russia that is) 1941
3Like killed 29 m ( yup twenty nine million) russians
4. Russians did the same to the germans 1943-5 - but not as many
5. and it going to happen to the Ukrainians 2022 - as it has happened before

Can Nailit read? seriously ?

Hard words: a filtration camp is a gulag is a concentration camp is a death camp. A death camp means a lot of people die there.

[gness]

Thank you all for your replies.
I've just heard that the large hotel a few miles west welcomed 100 Ukrainians last night. Busy times ahead...especially if they want to learn to crochet as they sip hot whiskey.... :-)

I didn't smile though when I also heard that A's daughter....about twenty years old..... has decided to return to Ukraine on Sunday. She wants to care for her elderly granny who remains there. :-(

[tonyav]

WOW, well done all in gness's village, I can understand the tears.