Update for 12th April
from Malcolm
Easter day was a very good day with lots of rural drops. Our UK police friends have been a great help with distribution and support. The hotel has had several powercuts in the last couple of days, making it difficult to keep in touch.
Following a mention in this Easter convoy diary on 9th April about sewing machines, we have already had one donated to go out on the next Autumn convoy. Many thanks to Alan.

From Liz on JSL
JSL signing in ....AT LAST! , We have had a marvellous time, a wonderful week and a BRILLIANT experience.....so far! I still have the long journey home, sharing the drive with Jerry to contend with. I knew before I came that I would enjoy myself and I wasn't wrong and am looking forward to next Easter already.

From Jerry on JSL
Well the practicalities now, the exhaust broke off just as we came to the Kosovo border Tuesday am - maybe something about the poor roads, but when taken apart, it was evident that it had been corroding for some time. A local garage did a fantastic job welding it back together and then Bill and Paul spent a couple of hours under the lorry putting it back together again. Just as well it was a non driving day, since then all OK Liz's second driving day had lots of unmade roads - she did a fantastic job and plans to take her HGV test when home - in her dreams.
Today we managed to visit the first Collective Centre, visited with a surprise second delivery. We had to decline the coffee offered as it was late pm, we did accept first time, fantastic coffee, and lovely people. I have joined Coxy in supporting one of the girls with her schooling and English in particular. Fortunately, Liz and I know a very well qualified English teacher who specialises in foreign students.
Can't believe the week has passed so quickly and people have put up with me!!!!!!!
PS Happy Easter to all. Love Jerryxxxx

Update from Jackie
This has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. My best life experience borne out of witnessing the misfortune of others? What an absolute misnomer. The team has been fantastic. There is such a wealth of energy and strength here. I am so lucky to have been a part of this and it will be only the first of many visits I intend to make.
My thanks also to Bill and Norman who introduced me to Kosovo in the first instance. You are wonderful, selfless men.

From Dave
Today was Sunday. Up at 6.30 for an 11.00 start. Radio check. Aid check. Personnel check. Tyre check. Another radio check.
I was with Ken and Jill, aka Toy Boy, for a delivery to 64 people. The best part of the day was giving sweets and toys, and helping the locals with their wheel barrows.
Time for another Peja.

From Anthony , Dave's room mate (amid speculation)
I spent time with Jerry and Liz today and caught a lift home with a UN truck, I like being around those men in uniform.
Night, Anthony. Come on Dave, time for bed.

Update from Robin Hood
Robin Hood went to Leposavic Roma Camp in North Mitrovica. After getting away from the Hotel Palace (again!), we drove north through a customs border crossing for approx an hour. After meeting with Belgium K-FOR and a local interpreter we went into the camp of 37 families. The camp consisted of a warehouse, with chip-board partitions with the rooms approx. 6ft sq which facilitated approximately 6 family members in each case, Each room was immaculately decorated with great care, and all family members removed their shoes, if wearing before entering. We were greeted with warmth and appreciation which we would like to pass onto to everyone who supports us. After giving out aid to each family, we then had a walk around the old warehouse and surrounding shacks and were delighted to find a hut which was the camps' school, at the back of the camp for the children. The classroom was small but extremely neat, the blackboard which illustrated from what we could assume was things which were dangerous, these included illustrations of scissors and grenades which really brought home the surroundings. The families all shared communal washing facilities.
We had the equivalent of an extra few families and were pointed to collective centre next door. Which catered for 5 elderly individuals in five separate rooms with communal washing facilities, these persons were of Serbian descent and living in challenging conditions, they were delighted also to receive the help.
It was then back to the warehouse and then back to the hotel for our final dinner altogether.

From Jan
I have had an absolute brilliant time, this is the last evening - Happy Easter - lots and lots of love, Mummy, Granny, Janxxxx PS the reason you have not had a text message for two days is because I have misplaced my phone. We set off tomorrow, Monday, lunchtime, after one more 'drop' tomorrow morning. Astrid, please let Ian, Sally, Wendy and Ross know that all is well, but I've lost my phone.... Jan XX :)

John (Eulex Police) I was teamed up with the Grumpies, great name, along with Michelle, Carolyn (as in Lyn) and Arijeta, dropping off to a village just outside of Skanderaj, the name of which escapes me. What an experience!! In all my 25 years as a police officer I was just so overwhelmed. To be a part of Hope And Aid Direct for the week was an honour. All you guys and girls have mine and Martin's utmost respect. The emotions we experienced were unbelievable, so much so, that, along with Lesley, we are already planning for next years Easter convoy in one form or another.

Saturday 11th April
Chas, Bev and Dave in Robin Hood. We had a good day and teamed up with Grumpies, Graham, Coxy and Bernie and Martin from the Eulex Police. We were hugely assisted by Arsim and Fatos and we did an aid drop to 94 Albanian families at a central location just outside Skenderaj. The recipients were extremely patient as we prepared the aid. The kids were amazing with the toys that they chose. There were just a few tensions with the last families but it was all resolved and everyone was happy. It was a full day but we managed to load all trucks again for tomorrow thanks to the warehouse team.
Went out for a lovely meal with everyone involved this week, in Pristina. A fun night - thanks to Bill. However bed is well and truly calling now.

John and Martin (Eulex Police Force), who are helping with the distribution sent this message today. 'We are both enjoying our time with some wonderful people out here and it has been such a humbling but a very rewarding experience. It has been our pleasure to assist your team in any way we could from driving from the hotel to the warehouse to humping endless bags of flour, rice, pasta from one van to the lorries. We have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.'

John (Eulex Police) I was teamed up with Celtic Warriors, ol softies at heart, along with Lumi, smack bang in the centre of Skanderaj.

Friday 10th April
Robin Hood and Jacqui. We went with Grumpies and Top Gear to two Roma camps, Osterode and Cesim Lug in the Mitrovaca area taking aid to approximately 111 families. It was a very moving day and they need so much.
This evening was a change of heart with a 'This Is Your Life' for Johnnie Evans' 60th! With special guests of two Tina Williams showing up! And lots of great messages.

Malcolm & Elaine, Top Gear. Today has all been about tears and laughter. Top Gear, Grumpies and Robin Hood went in strength to do drops for families at the Oesterode and Cesmin Lucs Roma encampments. We managed to give aid to lively, charming groups of families throughout the afternoon. Many sad stories yet even more smiling children's faces despite the lead poisoning that many of them are suffering from.
Tonight we were joined at dinner by our friends from Mother Theresa Society, the British Police who are serving here with Eulex, Arsim, Gezim and our other 'in country' helpers who have willingly given up their time to translate for us this week. The star of the evening was John (One Taff) Evans who received a special 'This is Your Life' presentation from Michael (Chas) Aspel and Eamonn (Frank) Andrews. The real star was John's missing convoy partner who was played first by a surprisingly luscious Graham (Grumpie) Crame and then, to everyone's delight, by the real thing as Tina (two Taffs) Williams made a special appearance in Kosovo for the week-end. - a memorable evening for all. Tina would, we are sure, wish to thank her two daughters Natalie and Sophie who made her flying visit possible.

Bernie We were accompanied to the Roma camps in North Mitrovica by a French Press Association (AFP) photographer who had heard about the candlelit vigil the children of the camps had held two evenings previously demanding to be saved from their toxic location. We provided food for 156 families living in appalling conditions. Among their number, we discovered a number of families who had been quite recently repatriated to Kosovo, whose children do not speak the Serbian language. We also found one Albanian man and his family, who were taken in by the Roma after he had received death threats to the family. The man was hugley helpful in assisting many others.

April 9th
Toyboy had a very good day today - two drops in villages, and the day's work finished with a glass of home-made red wine, sitting in the sun at the house of the village representative, which made a very satisfactory end to a worthwhile day. We are hoping for more of the same for the rest of the week!.... Jill

Bev After a couple of briefings the whole team were busy today - another great day in the warehouse by all the crew there and all the trucks were out and about today with their interpreters from MTS, UNHCR and other good friends of ours. Robin Hood, including Mike Parry went out with Arsim and Fatos to an Ashkalia Community of 64 families today in Mitrovica. The journey to the community was quite interesting and tight in places!... We arrived to a fantastic community all waiting for us. Because of the lack of space and open-ness of the drop, we made up family packs on the back of the lorry and each family representative came to us to collect their goods. It was a great day, very hot in the back of the lorry making up the packs and sorting out to order of the family make-ups where we could. Unfortunately they had a lot of teenage boys who we couldn't cater for, but tried to make up with the rest of the packs. After 4 hours of distribution we headed back to the Palace Hotel for a well earned cuppa and on the way back to the warehouse stopped to help a 'fellow' local trucker mend his puncture. Then back to the warehouse to help re-load our trucks for tomorrow's drops. All finished by 7pm and then back to the hotel for dinner and drinks. We had a great day with Mike in all his glory!, and very much look forward to starting again tomorrow am !...

Message from Dave and Anthony.... At last we are allowed out of the warehouse and have done our first aid drops, which were a really worthwhile experience, thank to the old hands for their support.

Report from Grumpies..... Yesterday we visited the charity 'women for women' in Pristina, took them sewing machines, fabrics, cotton, knitting needles and wool. This charity helps single women to fend for themselves. They train women in needlework etc. and how to garden (grow seeds), bee-keeping, being just a few activities. we had a discussion with the principle and during the discussion it was discovered that they would like some old fashioned sewing machines (manual), because some of the women who they deal with haven't got electricity. So Coxy will be creating a wishlist for the next couple of convoys to supply what has already been suggested including a few electric machines.
Today, after doing a drop for 49 families in Mitrovica, we went up the mountains to visit a young girl called Fattlumi. She lives with her family in a collective centre, sharing a room with her extended family (6 others). She is an extremely bright girl, speaks very good English, but often cannot afford the bus fare of 18 cents per day to attend school in Mitrovica centre. So we are helping her by financing her bus fares, we have also financed new glasses as she had broken her existing ones which she has to have to correct her eye stigma. If possible we will endeavour to finance her transport to school. She sends her love to Claire and has given Coxy and Graham her email to give to Claire as the email we have had doesn't seem to work. She has access through her school.

Report from Busby (Jan). The journey was great, what an experience. 2500 km, 4.5 days. Crossing the border from Hungary to Serbia and Serbia and Kosovo is quiet an eye opener.
You really get to know the other 13 people you are travelling with, and what a fab lot they are. At the warehouse there are now 30 of us, but as we all have the same targets we are a happy crowd. We have obviously, as my family and friends will understand, have taken over the kitchen. So far no challenges (just a lot of claps!). Today, Tom, Jackie and I went on our first drop. First drop 27 families. 2nd drop 6 families, 3rd drop 11 families (all Albanians). A humbling experience, we should never ever complain again. I packed for snow and cold, temperatures are up in the mid 20s and no sun-tan cream, sandals, hats, tee-shirts etc. The British Police force in Kosovo are hugely supportive and protective of us and have also supplied me with new tee-shirts. Love to everyone, Big hugs to family and friends Jan XXX PS. to Liz, a BIG thank you for all the refreshments all thoroughly enjoyed. :)

Johnnie, One Taff and Dritton, abandoned Celtic Warriors today in order to go to the local market and buy lots more food for us to distribute... They also went visit Branka, Two Taffs personal friend in Kosovo whom they have been supporting hugely. Branka sends her love to Tina and was very pleased to see Johnnie and Dritton again and look forward to their next visit.

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