Pre New Years Eve 30-12-2009

Im sitting here laughing as I type this blog. This is such a strange place! Today, Sasha, (Lada & Iurii via phone) and Dima & I were trying to find a place to go for NYE celebrations to eat before midnight. We didnt want to have NYE at any of our places as it means preparing meals and cleaning afterwards. We figured Pushka would probably be OK & I would get to see the Aussie flag flying at last! Pushka closed on NYE. What about Adriano's I say.... Closed NYE, Chateau? Closed NYE! Nothing is open on NYE!!!

We finally ring Chateau (the pub style Chateau on the square where we watched the soccer. Its on the square, so its good for midnight too), and yes they are open, but need up front payment $650 UAH or about $90 AUD) which is not bad. So on the way home from work, We drop off Dima, pick up Lada, drop me off & I go home. Sasha and Lada go on to Chateau to pay the money for food & drink for tomorrow night. No problem.

So, I am sitting at home reading my book, and the phone rings. It's Sasha, and there is quite a bit of noise in the background, so I assume they have decided to stay and eat and drink. "Merrin, he says, they want us to order food now as the will not be able to cope with all the orders on the night. I will read the menu to you and you can tell me what you want". "No problem I say". As soon as I say this, I remember that the menu was quite extensive so before he gets too far I say, "Sasha, Just order me chicken"! I can see my IS guy laughing at this blog right now as we are all so sick of CHICKEN!!!!! I tell Sasha just to order for me, including appertisers and salads & I will fit in with everyone.

Back to the book and about 10 minutes later, the Phone rings again. Its Sasha! "Merrin, we have found something we think everyone will like for the main meal, duck with apples! One kg or 2 kg." "Thats fine Sasha, I am happy with duck".... This is too hard I think to myself as I go back to my book.

Half an hour passes asnd the phone rings again.... You got it right..Sasha! "I'm so sorry Merrin, but they want us to order drinks in advance!" Geezzzz...... "Ok I will have beer". "Merrin they will supply beer and Champaign, but what else do you want to drink" ? Shit..... beer is enough for me!We are thinking Irish Whisky?" "Sasha, I will drink what every one else drinks", " But you can have wine, spirits, etc".  "OK Sasha, pick a bottle of Chilean Chardonay".... I hear talk in the background and then Sasha comes back,"Yes Merrin we can do Chardonay from Chilie"..... "Sasha, you are going to have to carry me home I say."

Needless to say, I think this NYE will be one that I will remember for a long time.... And I do intend to remember it. Yes I will have a few drinks, but I want to take pictures and live NYE in one of the coldest, oldest but frienliest places I have been to. Stay tuned & you will find out how it pans out.

Bad news today. Katya, who organised my flights back to Aus, e-maild me and said the my last leg home from Kyiv to Kharkov on the 16th had been cancelled and here are your other options. Basically they were, catch an express train from Kyiv to Kharkiv (6 hours on a train after 28 hour flying, not bloody likely), overnight stay in Kiev then fly out 21.30 to Kharkiv, more expense and an extra day, or an overnight train from Kiev to Kharkiv ariving 6.30 am.......This is not good!!!! So I ask Katya if I change dates of travel, does it make it any easier to select airlines and times. Katya comes back with a few other options & i finally settle on the best one I can find. Fly 17th Jan from Melb to KL, KL to Heathrow, hop on a bus to Gatwick, fly Gatwick to Kiev then Kiev to Kharkiv on the 18th Jan at 10.30pm. Now this all works well within two days if the weather is good and no flights are cancelled!!... I hope the boss doent expect me to front up to work the next day !!!!

Anyway freinds back home, world wide and family.... I wish you all the best for your NY celebrations.

My message to my friends for 2010 is appreciate the good things you have and take nothing for granted

xm