Sasha has since said the use
of Abacus is common in Russia
Local sights that we are now use to....
The trams! Finally
got a pic!
They really look like they have been in an accident and the panel beater hasnt done a good job.
A tram that waters
the tracks.
Why?
Cause they have water to waste and it keeps people employed and keeps the dust down.
Kharkiv also cleans the streets every morning in spring and summer with water! The water truck sprays the dirt and dust up onto the footpaths at 5am then the council workers come out at 7am & sweep the dust from the footpaths onto the street !
The bus with no
open windows
and people
crammed in
Now..... Everyone thinks that we have lots of kreepy crawly snakes, spiders, sharkes & things, But look what I found at the enterance to the factory at Kharkiv........... and look at the pincers on this thing!!
He is about the size
of a packet of twenty's
cigarettes! Click on
the pics to enlarge
I put my ID badge on the ground to try and give you an estimate of the size of this thing. I also tried to goolge it but I couldnt find anything like it, not this size anyway! I was going to pick him up & put him on my shoulder...... but Eee, I thought better of it.... Im not that stupid!!!!
The pic doesnt do him
any justice, he was huge!
Australia V's Germany in the world cup! No more be said, but if Australia bows out, I will be supporting Germany as far as they can go! Sorry Mishka, no Poland to support. Here are some pics from the night in the pub that we went to. You will notice it wasnt busy!
Pre dinner drinks
Friendly Rivalry
Not happy Mishka!
Ok, so we lost badly... very badly, but as I reminded Christina, we beat them in the Hockey! So we are even. Maybe we should watch the swimming next as we have a bit of rivarly in the pool as well. A fun night, but I think we finsihed at 1am in the morning & I had to be up at 4am !!!! No wonder I am tired!!
Christina and I did a spot of walking last Sunday to Gorky park. It was a lovely day but we walked for ages & we were exhausted afterwards.
Monument from
the street
The enterance to
Gorky Park
Gorky park in
early Spring
And during winter
We are into the final countdown and parties are being organised left right and centre. We started last Tuesday night when on the way home from work, Mishka got word that Marsha and Anya were having a celebratory drink at Stargogod (pub), so we dropped in to meet them. A huge feast was had of good tasty meat and a few soothing ales. On the way home, I mentioned that my second ever half bottle of VODKA in my apartment needed to be finished before I left Ukraine, so Marsha and Mishka came back and helped me finish it! I honestly hate the stuff but totally understand why it is so popular here when it is -27 degrees! This weekend is huge! Starting Friday night, a bit of a get together at Dima's new apartment, followed by a trip to a restaurant to eat and watch Switzerland vs Honduras play in the world cup. Saturday is free to recover (I think... but you never know), then Sunday we are going to the country side for a BBQ, kick the footy and throw the boomerang, via Mini bus (so we can all drink), then Monday, we are going to Stargorod so the STA's can officially say farewell and thank you to our Ukraine friends. Tuesday night we have our official "GO LIVE" party hosted by Uncle Phil. Somewhere in between all this , I have to pack up the apartment, clean it and get organised to come home! From Wednesday.... we all start to go home ! :-(
Agh! Mad panic! Today, Friday 25th, 8.30 am I was informed that the movers would be here today to pack up all my stuff to send home! I was expecting them to come on the 29th June! First we all had to go to the bank to get all our money out (that took 3 hours) then the notiary office to get power of attorney for customs clearance of our goods. I got home around 3pm and madly started emptying my cupboards and tring to decide what to keep for the last few days. Its quite warm here so I need some summer clothes, but I need to take some winter clothes with me in my luggage for when I hit Melbourne. Its now 5.30 pm and the movers are in Christina's apartment & about to hit mine! What a day & I haven't eaten a thing all day!
Ok, 6.15 and the movers have gone! My life is in one box 79 kg. I hope it makes it back to Australia, getting out of Ukraine is almost as hard as getting in, with all sorts of paperwork required! The apartment is empty and not homely at all. My laptop and TV( in Russian and hardly works) are the only amusments I have.
Reality is setting in. I really to have to leave Ukraine and my friends...... I think it is going to be an emotional few days until the 1st of July. I almost had a moment in the notiary office today with Sasha and Michal, but I managed to suck it up & control myself........ after all the hard work of late, we are all so tired & I dont think it will take much to tip us over the edge emotionally.
This time next week, I will be one flight away (KL to Melbourne) from the land and people I love.
Final blog is nearly written! .... might squeeze on more in before I post the final one on July 1st.
The first female Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard...... well done.
xm
I was intrigued by your beetle. It looks like the male Lucanus Cervus I found on wikipedia. Have a look and see.
ReplyDelete