Monday 24^th March
From Michelle 22:50
Flying crew of Michelle, Linda, Claire, Ollie, Ed, Tim, Sharon and Jerry all safely back in UK
Saturday night entertainment was great and welcome relief from convoy daily tasks. Sunday we said goodbye to Artics, Nibsy and Pejay, then off to do drops.

I went to two Roma camps with Force Nine (Alan and Hilary) with Ash and Arsim, also with Robin Hood - Chas, Jackie and Anna. Originally two separate drops, but as they were so close we did the drops together. First one was past Pristina, so back on familiar roads for me. Their home was next to old power station, the other side of the train tracks. Very good drop, 70 families, lots of children, people who really needed us, quite hectic. Jackie was speaking Italian to some of them as they had been refugees in Italy. Had a chance to see inside the homes, and play catch with the children and those roaring footballs! Next to the 2nd drop, 22 roma families, again a good drop, lovely people, and had a chance to give my clown which my mum Jan had knitted to a lovely girl with her Dad. Great to have so much food, and shoes.

Sunday night was an early one for the drivers, but some of the flying crew were up late enjoying the Peja beer for our last night!

Monday, a mixed day - some out on last minute drops, others sleeping in, cleaning trucks, and I was helping at warehouse with some others, Arietta is taking some aid to the local hospital (with some of our flying crew who are staying on a bit longer), Ian has gone to buy lots and lots of flour from Pristina to distribute, Irish KFOR came to collect some of the food to distribute, (we've also worked with Red Cross and Mother Teresa Society as usual this week). Heard from mountain police that Mountain is closed!! Today there has been an awful lot of rain and snow.... Discussions on which route to take home, as they can't now go the same way as Nibsy etc. Flying crew left with Jeff to airport, and Trucks were getting ready to leave at 1pm...
Very tricky drive to airport - lots of heavy rain and snow... I can only imagine how awful this must be for the Kosovans in this weather in their homes of tents, corrugated huts, and so on.. no heating etc

Made it to the airport with time to spare! Flight left late due to high winds, lots of Kosovan school children - teenagers on board, first flight for many, off to Oxford Studio for English language project.

Now in South Norwood and my journey home to Cumbria continues tomorrow
Thoughts are with the trucks on the road.. and thank you to everyone for supporting us and reading the web!

Monday from Bev
Robin Hood made a drop to Peja municipality with schools equipment, football kits etc, along with a large quantity of high-vis materials donated by 3M. This project will be implemented through schools training children in road safety. We heard on Thursday of another boy(11 years old) killed as he played on his skate board. No street lights, pavements, lights on bicycles or cars or concept of traffic, leads to many RTA's as kids walk miles to and from school each day. In the building there was an art exhibition - the first of it's kind in the region. We had a quick private view - utterly amazing, then the snow started again!
From Dave with the heavies 06:11 Tuesday
Stayed just south of Zagreb. We had heavy snow overnight, but are now heading for the border with Slovenia.

Sunday 23^rd March

From Dave with the heavies at 11:36
Through gate 'K5' the Kosovo / Montenegro border. Snow at the side of the road but none on the road itself. Road clear. Heading down off the mountain to Podgorica.

From Dave 21:18
Nibsy, Mr Flibble, Late Entry and Peejay have stopped just before the Montenegro / Croatian Border. We are now out of the mountains. No problems have been encountered.

Saturday 22^nd March

From Steve 21:45 Today
Despite charging, Steve's blackberry still doesn't seem to work in Kosovo so this is his telephone report. He says that all the crews are well and although tired are in quite good spirits. During the last two days there have been deliveries to the Pec, Dakovica and Prizren areas in the south west of Kosovo. There have been trips to outlying mountain villages as well as city collective centres. Aid has been delivered to Roma, Albanians, and Serbs. Steve was interviewed by the Kosovan TV today and he has had a film crew following his team around all day. The edited programme is due to air on TV tomorrow. He suggested that there was talk of a series!! Robin Hood had further accelerator problems today.
As tonight is the last evening together for the entire crew, some of the talented members and some of the less talented crew are putting together a concert night featuring among others Anna on the guitar joined by Ed for the vocals. After a tremendously hard few days aid distribution this traditional opportunity to let off steam is well earned. It is planned to make distributions tomorrow in the area between Prizren and Mitrovica.

The heavier section of the convoy, led by Nibsy will be setting off for the UK on Sunday at 1100 and the 7.5s and airborne crews will be leaving on Monday afternoon. The route is still being debated and advice will be sought as to whether the Rozaj pass into Montenegro will be clear of snow or should an alternative into Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania be considered.

Belated text from Bev re Saturday
Good drop in Gyakova to 40 Albanian families, one of whom had just arrived in Kosovo from one of the Albanian villages which had been destroyed by the explosion the weekend before last. In the evening, Tina had organised an evening of entertainment. Anna, Alan, Ed and Jeff all took to the floor with their musical talents! Elvis was also in the Hotel - our very own Paul. A fantastic evening. Two Taffs modelled the new range of Hope and Aid nightwear!

Hilary and Coxy auctioned off some of the gifts they had received from the Hader Centre raising 200 euros from convoyers for them.

Friday 21^sr March

Update of Robin Hood's day from Bev 23:30
All trucks left hotel for the days drops and to rendezvous with interpreters en route to Prizren. Although snowing all night the roads were clear. Robin Hood lost its acceleration and had to rejig team around and called a mechanic who mended the cable. They didn't want to charge us because of the work we are doing, but gave him a token amount. This caused us a three hour delay but then did 40 family drops in remote mountain location. Our first being at 3:15. These were of a range of ethnicities and were very pleased to see us on a bleak day with our aid.
Arrived back at 9 pm to be followed by other convoy crews. Roll on tomorrow

From Linda 20:10
I never got to go to the Hadar Centre but the team that went loved their visit and brought us all back hand made personalised pictures made with lots of love and care from the children.
I went with the Grumpies to deliver to 72 Serbian families in the mountain area. I have to say that we have tasted the most amazing home made banana raki :-) a distilled alcoholic beverage strongly aromatized with anise-seed.
Linda care of Maggie, Coxy, Graham and Lumie

from Linda  0700

I look outside at the snow covered ground and I wonder just how many layers of thermal clothing I can manage to practically squeeze into to stay warm. While thinking this my mind wanders back to the widowed mother and her four children that I met last year who had no doors, no windows, no beds, no hot water nor any warm clothing for her or her teenage children and I remember just how important this trip is.

PREVIOUS REPORTS