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Convoy Leaders Note:
When escorted to the customs area at Podujevo in Kosovo, it is necessary to park the trucks in a compound next to the customs buildings, not unreasonably! However, whether parked there for five minutes or five days, they charge each truck €35 (£20) for the privilege!
I requested a written waiver of this charge from the acting Head of Customs to whom I was introduced, but was told that he did not have the authority to issue such a waiver as this charge was nothing to do with either the UN or the Customs authority - most curious since we were obliged to park there and this was clearly marked as the UNMIK (UN Mission in Kosovo) Customs clearance facility. I later learned that the buildings and parking area is owned by a private company, but used by UNMIK, (presumably under some form of rental/ leasing arrangement)
Our exit from the facility without paying was accompanied by much fanfare and waving of fists, and thanks to the deftness of several unnamed convoyers!
(It's interesting to note that it would cost less to park our trucks in Westminster for an hour, than to park in Kosovo Customs! Needless to say, the matter is not closed yet! - Chas raised the subject of Customs difficulties without being specific on local TV, as did the Head of Mother Theresa Society subsequently, and Chas had a meeting before returning to the UK with the lady in charge of the entire Kosovo budget - an explanation surrounding these charges, is awaited!)
The convoy then made its way straight to the warehouse to meet Lin (who had flown in a day ahead) and lined up the trucks ready for Wednesday. With that sorted out everyone made their way to the hotel for a well needed shower. The plan was to leave the hotel Wednesday morning at 7.30 am to get started.
The fire tender performed very well on its journey, clocking up a total of 1,823 miles. (Anecdotally, about one tenth of its total mileage since new) A representative of the Kosovan Fire Brigade met the convoy at the border and was truly delighted. A formal handover ceremony was organised to take place on Thursday with full TV coverage and dignitaries.
The warehouse owner thanked Hope and Aid Direct and all its supporters for not forgetting Kosovo and stressed how vital our help is. Many thanks to you, our supporters.

Wednesday, 12 April 2006 - A very good day. All trucks were unloaded, approximately 55 tonnes of aid. The airborne crew all arrived safely today and immediately got stuck in. The 7.5 tonne trucks, plus one Mother Theresa 10 tonne truck were loaded up ready for drops on Thursday morning. John Winyard became chef extraordinaire, which kept everyone going. The 40 ton drivers were given 40 jars of jam whilst waiting for the rest of the convoy to arrive in Hungary by a local lady who wanted to help; what an amazing gesture. These were packed into family boxes ready for distribution

Thursday, 13 April 2006 - After push starting the Mother Theresa 10 tonner, and Robin Hood, (neither for the first or last time) all the trucks were out today in the Gjilane region visiting a mix of families of all ethnicities. Direct drops were made to individual families and the collective centre. HaAD have been working with MTS and UNHCR
Quote of the day from the crew of Little Mother - Steve Hunter, Gaynor and Kirsty: they visited one Albanian grandmother who said "please don't forget me".
This was also the day when the fire tender was handed over in Vustrii. In the words of Charles Storer "they were cock -a-hoop". The Vushtrii Fire Brigade's newest tender, until today, was 40 years old, an old British Carmichael. Just to add to the achievement, Hope and Aid Direct supplied a new starter motor for this machine as well and a few days later were there when it was started up.
Naturally it would have been ideal and great for everyone if the whole team could have been there to see and join in the celebrations, but alas time in-country is short, and with 55 tonnes of aid to distribute, it wasn't possible. It was a privilege for Charles, Jeff, Jason and Richard to be able to represent Hope and Aid Direct and hand over the fire tender and with speeches, TV, and marching firemen, it was a very special and memorable occasion. The Vushtril and Kosovo Fire Service are very happy with their new addition and very grateful. This made today a very special day and a great honour for Hope and Aid Direct.

Friday, 14 April 2006 - Another very busy and successful day in Prizren. Hope and Aid Direct visited approximately 500 families in individual homes and Collective Centres. Nibsy went high into the mountains, 3 Km from the Albanian and Macedonian borders. Here the crew found a middle-aged man who was, unbelievable to us, sleeping in a dog kennel as his house had been completely destroyed in the war. Although he wasn't on the list for today, he received a good drop.
Everyone arrived back late this evening, so it was off to bed with an early start for nine hardy individuals who volunteered to start at 6.00 am for another full day's work.
Saturday, 15 April 2006 - All the trucks have been out today delivering aid to approximately 650 families in Peje. (Pec) Bay Leaves visited a collective centre of approximately nine families, one of the families consisted of six, with teenage daughters. Their total income is €22 per month and they live in one room. (If only this were the exception!) It just reminds us how lucky we are. Freemasons made a drop in Gjilane, again up in the mountains, to two old ladies who were particularly thrilled by a box of candles they received. Sunday will be our special projects day.
Sunday, 16 April 2006 - All the trucks went out today on special projects and got back to base 7.15 pm. One of the crews visited the three Skenderaj collective centres and while in the area found a fourth collective centre unknown to us previously. There the people were living in even worse conditions than the other collectives. Fifteen families are housed in an old toy factory and were being moved out in the coming days. They have no idea where they are going at the moment.
Two other crews, Robin Hood and Nibsy went to the Trepca mining complex. This involved crossing over from the southern Albanian area of Mitrovica to the Northern Serbian area of Mitrovica and passing through the much watched and police/military controlled 'no man's land'. Previous attempts by the charity to get to the Trepca Mining complex had inadvertently failed because although it has international scandal status because of the lead poisoning, when mentioning Trepca to the locals, they only know of it by the name of the company who used to operate the mines and whose buildings (also a collective centre) are located in southern Mitrovica overlooking the town. We have now discovered that actually the ex-mining workers and their families, as well as others who have been relocated to the same camps following the war, are, or have been located in five separate camps! They are Leposavic located 50 Km away, Zitkovac 5 Km away, Cesmine Luge and Kablare (some of which was demolished and relocated to the ex-UN base at Camp Osterode in North Mitrovica two weeks previously)
The five camps comprise some 500 families. Three were visited today, but the 1½ lorry loads, which included fresh local produce of fruit and vegetables that we bought locally, will be given to those in greatest need by NCA (Norwegian Church Aid). We were delighted to be met on entrance to North Mitrovica by Hassan who we knew well from his previous employment with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and who was now working for NCA. He advised us strongly, despite knowing our preferred method of distributing the aid ourselves, to let him and his colleagues distribute our aid during the following week because of fear of riots and jealousy. They are well known in the camps, and are trusted. We subsequently had a walk with him around camp Osterode and then the shanty town of camp Kablare and we completely accepted that to try and distribute our aid here would have been impossible. Hassan explained that asbestos was present and there were visible signs of ill health and extremely poor hygiene. On some of the shanty sites lead contamination was found to be 100 times permitted levels, yet close by, no abnormal readings were shown. The families there were very grateful for the aid and the fact that they had not been forgotten. All the government provides is wood for their ovens which were donated by another NGO. We will definitely go back there again.
Nibsy then went back to the camp they visited last October and took the wheelchair to the little boy Steve Hunter wrote about at that time. His photograph is on the website and he's wearing red, with a red hat. Today he was in much the same position as before and wearing the same clothes. He was so happy with the chair he'll now be able to get out and about.
There were three more drops to make Monday before heading for home.
Monday, 17 April 2006 - Mid-day: Sadly news was received today that another mass grave had been discovered in Skenderaj yesterday (Sunday), no further news, but as soon as we know more, the information will be posted.
On a cheerier note the airborne crew are on their way home and the convoy is now on its way to the border - ahead was a massive queue (how British).
9.30 pm - the convoy had just reached Belgrade where they would be spending the night. So far no signs of the floods we've all heard reported on the news. This morning on the journey to Belgrade four large distributions were made. Nibsy went to the Islamic Centre which houses 440 children, 380 of whom are orphans, 132 families are also housed there, all of mixed ethnicity. (Each family had been offered the accommodation on condition that they each fostered at least one orphan) Each child received a toy and each family received a family box. The other drops were to a hospital, 30 families near the border and a centre for the mentally challenged.
Back on the road at 8.00 am Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, 18 April 2006 - Convoy left Belgrade at 8.00 am this morning as planned and arrived at the Hungarian border at 12.15 pm. It was very busy there, but everyone was through the first stage quickly. Unfortunately, the convoy was then met by an extremely objectionable Hungarian customs official. He was both verbally and physically aggressive, as the dent from his fist on Nibsy proves. He refused to help with an English translator and his English speaking colleague, who Chas managed to find, expressed much embarrassment. Chas pointed out the damage that had been done and asked for €100 in compensation, which he knew, was futile, but gave him much satisfaction. Needless to say, the process would have involved getting the Police Chief to come to the border, statements and formalities, so discretion became the better part of valour! As Bev Storer said, "what a wonderful way to be welcomed back into the EU". It goes without saying that the man refused to pay for the damage to Nibsy's truck. (This guy was worse than a Jobsworth!)
As a small compensation for the above events, the crews stopped for delicious Hungarian goulash at a local stop, opposite a bike shop, and Chas took the tachograph reprobates who had fines to pay from the outward journey, to the Post Office.
Wednesday, 19 April 2006 - The day started well with bacon sandwiches courtesy of Chez Winyard of Naughties and Nice. The two 40 tonne trucks, Late Entry and Big Mother, together with Nibsy broke off from the main group to head for Frankfurt to make sure they caught their Thursday ferry from Vlissingen. The whole team got held up in a major Prague traffic jam for three hours, otherwise an uneventful day. Tonight's night stop was just outside Nurmberg.
Thursday, 20 April 2006 - The two 40 tonne trucks along with Nibsy were en route on the Ford ferry, Vlissingen to Dagenham, arriving Friday at approximately 3.00 am. Meanwhile the rest of the crew were at Bruges for their last night on the road. Tom (Conlin) had offered to buy the Slough crew lattés, fruit tea and bacon rolls. The rest of the crews planned to depart 7.30 am Friday morning and board the 10.30 am ferry from Calais to Dover.
Hold up of the day was a three hour jam around Frankfurt. There were lots of tanned left arms this evening.
Friday, 21 April 2006 - 1.00 pm and the crews were back in the UK, Robin Hood, Two Taffs, Freemasons, Culture Club, Naughties 'n Nice and Bay Leaves, all on the motorway going their separate ways home. Late Entry, Big Mother and Nibsy docked early this morning.
It was another great trip, great team and very successful. Hugely worthwhile drops were made to all our recipients in Kosovo. Everyone is looking for the next six months to speed by before setting out again.
Thanks to everyone who has given their support to make this trip so successful. THANK YOU.
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