HOT DOG DIARY 2007

Wednesday 3rd October.

Spent all day in the warehouse unloading all the trucks and re loading for the next day's drops. Hot Dog kept all our family food boxes onboard ready for distribution.

Thursday 4th September

Hot Dog with Doreen, John & Linda drove independently down to Prizren in the south of Kosova to visit the Hader Centre. We visited the centre 2 years ago when they were based in an upstairs room of a house in the town. Hader is a multi ethnic centre for mentally handicapped children and young adults. They have a patient list of over 150 persons, 5 of which are homeless and live at the centre. After 5 years of campaigning the centre principal Resmije Krasniqi secured government funding for half the cost for construction of a purpose built centre. She then sold her house to fund the remaining cost. We met Resmije outside the town and they escorted us to their new centre overlooking the mountains. Our welcome was amazing and we were given a tour of the building. In one classroom the children were learning their alphabet and in the therapy room various activities were taking place. We were then shown up to the office and provided with coffee and doughnuts. The children were lovely and lots of photos were taken and lots of handshakes and hugs. We unloaded the boxes of craft materials, books, paper, pens, paints, food and family boxes that were all gratefully received. A specially requested wheelchair donated by Hedge End Park Ltd was also handed over. We also made a small donation to the upkeep of the centre. The staff at Hader are all really dedicated, the children were all clean, tidy and polite. A great deal of love and care was evident. How the centre achieves so much on such a small budget is amazing. After 2 or 3 hours, it was time to leave. The children sang us songs and, as we were about to leave, each child came out bearing us a small gift that they had made - candle holders out of broken bottles, pictures made from cardboard, leaves, hot glue and spray paint, and knitted mobile phone pouches. Tears were welling up in our eyes and we all felt very emotional. Good by Resmije and all at Hader - we will be back next year!!
Driving back from Prizren, we were amazed at the number of German, Turkish and Swiss KFOR troop vehicles on the roads. To pass the time, Doreen and Linda waved at each one to see if they could get a reaction - lots of waves - great fun.

Friday 5th October

HOT DOG together with TOP GEAR went to the MTS warehouse in MItrovica to do an 80 family drop. After getting organised, 18 / 20 family boxes were laid out at a time and with the aid of our helpers, Linda, John, Ollie and two French KFOR soldiers other items were added to make up a generous amount for each family. Malcolm went off in a MTS pickup and helped some individuals to take their aid home in Mitrovica. After he returned, I took the pick up with four ladies in the back seat and all the aid plus about five children in the back, to their homes in Tunnelli Parc a village about 15 mins drive away. We dropped them off at their homes (there was no way they could have carried all the aid home by themselves). As we passed a little shop, the last lady wanted us to stop so she could buy us a drink. She obviously had little or no money so we refused. She directed us along a long mountain track with a sheer drop down one side and eventually asked us to stop. There was no sign of a house. She then led us down an almost hidden path that led steeply down for some 100/150 metres where she had a little house perched on the hillside. After taking all her aid down the track to the house, she invited us in for a coffee. There were 2 rooms in the house with an electric cooker in the entrance way. She lived there with her two sons (about 8 and 12) - her husband was killed in the war and she lives on a minimal social security. The house was clean and tidy and through our interpreter, I asked what she needed most. "Rice, Flour, Oil and Pasta" she replied. She was upset because her sons had no chance of a future as they could not afford secondary education. "There is no hope for them" she cried. I was again very emotional when I left and drove down that very narrow mountain track.

Saturday 6th October

HOT DOG loaded up for 50 families and proceeded with Ollie and Nina to the French KFOR base where a group of French soldiers unloaded into a container. Lt Col Brun assured us that all the aid would be distributed by their patrols to families up in the hills who could only be reached by Landrovers. HOT DOG then returned to the warehouse to load hospital equipment destined for Pristina Hospital. Unfortunately, the doctor due to meet us didn't turn up and we were left with a loaded lorry and nowhere to go. A decision was taken to load some extra food into a MTS minibus and Doreen and I took it to a couple of families we went to yesterday. The families were really surprised when we turned up un announced at there homes with extra supplies and were really grateful.


Sunday 7th October

HOT DOG together with TOP GEAR drove to Pristina Hospital with the medical equipment. They were constructing a road outside the unit where we had to drop off the aid and the workmen kindly stopped work so we could get the trucks to the unloading point. Doreen describes the hospital as being 50 years behind NHS hospitals ! Back to the warehouse and load up all the remaining aid into HOT DOG and BUSBY to deliver to the French KFOR with whom we have built a very good relationship. We are confident that everything left with them will be delivered to very deserving families by the French troops. Back to the warehouse to load our personal gear (air beds, sleeping bags etc) ready for the long journey home.

Conclusions
A very worthwhile trip and the team delivered aid to lots of very needy families. We need at least one extra day in country to be more effective. Slightly disappointed that I only did one distribution - but it won't stop me from coming again.

John Desty

HOT DOG