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Friday 22 October 2010 17:24 from Bill
The HGV's arrived back in the UK after docking in Dagenham at about 11am this morning. We arrived at the Cobblefret terminal early yesterday afternoon so took a taxi into Middleberg for an afternoon sightseeing in this beautiful Dutch town. It was market day and the town was very busy. We then returned to our trucks before going to the nearby cafe for a substantial dinner. We boarded the ship at about 11pm and to our horror they had left dinner out for us which none of us could eat. None of us know what time the ship sailed as we were all in our cabins asleep.
14:22 from Bev
The last three trucks, Robin Hood, Sea Dog and Gonzales now on terra firma ! Arrived at Dover 12pm and have gone our separate ways . Robin Hood currently on A127 in 'auto larje ' having a good wash and spruce up. One of the lads is from Pristina. Busby home too. Great trip and no doubt planning will start soon, Chas has a list of actions to follow up on, but first sleep !
Thursday 21 Oct 2010 21:21 from Doreen
Update...Robin Hood, SeaDogs and Gonzales have stopped at Gent, getting ferry tomorrow. Heavy traffic around Brussels so delayed about an hour. Busby on 10.20pm ferry tonight and HGV's on overnight ferry to Dagenham. All now looking forward to getting home safely after a successful and very worthwhile trip. sleeping in the back of the trucks has been cold, but reminds us that some of the people we have met in Kosova will sleep with no heat throughout the bitter winter.
Wednesday 20 Oct 20:04 from Bill via Chris
Okay, Malcolm, today's report from Nibsy...
They left at 0800 again and spent the day driving through very heavy rain, but got to Eifeltor, just short of Aachen, where they are spending the night. They still look on schedule for the 0100 ferry from Vlissingen on Friday morning.
The 13 schools & 3000 children they have helped this convoy brings their GRAND total to 73 schools and 30,000 children - pretty fantastic, don't you think?
14:56 from John
Sea Dogs broke down at our favourite place in Austria. Nick fixed it after getting parts in Vienna and now on our way again. ETA Friday evening.
Tuesday 19 Oct 2010 21:43 from Bill (via Chris)
Here I am again with another progress report from Bill.
They have stopped for the night in Austria, just short of the German border. Frantic and Sea Scamp, who were with them, have gone on to Calais. Bill & co hope to be on the 0100 sailing from Vlissingen (Flushing) on Friday morning.
So I'd better vacuum the carpets and make the beds!
17:08 from Charlie
Had a very good day today in Gonzales. Late start as all trucks had to be loaded first. We were joined by Tracey in the cab and went to a Eulex training ground where the Albanian families met us. We started to set up our distribution when an Italian policeman came to ask us how long we were going to be as they needed the area we were working to carry out a riot control exercise. In a very short time tanks, armoured car and various other military vehicles appeared. We hastily finished the distribution to 10 of the families and moved 100m or so to another open area and completed the final 39 families aid drops. While we were laying out our food and clothing piles we were able to see and hear the exercise taking place with sirens and riot shields and mock rioters. Back to the warehouses fairly early and we are loaded for tomorrow.
Tuesday 19 Oct 2010 10.07 from Chas via Tom
Just exchanged texts with Chas. The convoy stopped overnight in Nis and are now on their way up through Serbia towards Hungary. Frantic and Sea Scamp have gone on ahead with the HGVs. They are all aware of the unrest in Paris and the fuel shortages created, they will keep in touch with news bulletins and will ensure that they top up before they leave Belgium - just in case France is shut! Thanks for all the txts on this subject but Chas was keen to let everyone know that they have it covered.
00.30 from Bill via Chris (Mrs Bill)
Bill asked me to let you know that they left Kosovo at 0800 this morning (18 Oct), had a bit of a hitch at the border, crossed Serbia and made it into Hungary with just 3 minutes to spare on the tacho regulations!! He thought you would want to know...
Monday Oct 18, 2010 20:32 - from Karen
After a bumpy ride, both on the unfinished road to Pristina and the plane, the airborne crew are now safely back in the UK. Special thanks to all the wonderful local people who helped us and to all the brilliant drivers who we hope have a safe and hassle free journey home. Over & out.
16:29 A quick update from Busby - Dawn
We went to the Police Station to get the papers for the break in the other day. They were very kind and helpful and translated the document into English for us. The Sergeant took a fancy to Denise and gave her his Kosovo Police 2008 diary, I got a badge and we really enjoyed the experience while we waited for the Commander to come rubber stamp the document as he is the only person with a stamp.
Chas has been checking out what the period up to the February election in Kosovo (recently announced) would mean for our charities. It could be a major issue for MTS and will massively affect their work if funding has to cease.
Some of the convoy went to Pristina to see a family identified by MTS as in the top 250 worst families in Kosovo. They originally lived on the Kosovo/Serb border in the war and as their house was burnt down they fled to Pristina. They temporary occupied a burnt out house and have had to live there since. There are parents and 4 children and a baby born since the war and extended family. They live in a hovel with no water, electric, sanitary facilities and those who went to see them were in tears. One person said 'animals couldn't live in such awful conditions'. We then dropped off the last bits of aid to MTS to deliver to those we could not get to and did not see. We also had some computers to another NGO to drop off. We all then went to the border to cross to Serbia and are now in Nis for the night and will progress onto Hungary tomorrow.
From Bev
17/10 Robin Hood - long but good day. Bev went out with Sea Dog and Tracey to 51 Albanian families, good drop and sun shined! Stopped for coffee on way back to warehouse in Skanderaj and saw wedding going on and popped in to see cake and celebrations. Chas with Shakila, Sarah, Dawn , Graham, Bob and Arsim went up to Leposavic Roma camp and made drop there to all 48 families and school. Back to warehouse and changed crews and Bev, Mary and Diane with Shakila, Graham and Chas went over to Shtime Institute to drop off medical equip and supplies and say hi to Burim which was fab. Got back to hotel at9.30 for our final dinner altogether :-(
Sunday 17 October 2010 20:47 from Charlie
Last distributions have been completed and Gonzales has been power washed by the car wash across the road from the hotel. Where in England could you get a 7.5ton truck washed outside and cleaned inside, be given a drink and an Arsenal badge for the windscreen all for ˆ8?
Tomorrow Gonzales and Sea Dog will be going to Pristina to put the last remaining aid that we were unable to deliver into the Mother Theresa's warehouse so that they can get it out to other needy families. Then begins the long drive home.
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