Today we've been mainly doing doors!

In fact yesterday and early today we have been concentrating on completing the fitting of locks, handles and hinges on the rest of the doors. All 8 are now completed so we have moved on to fitting the frames and doors into the apertures in the walls.

We managed to fit 2 complete frames and doors today which also included filling in the gap above the frame with metalwork and polystyrene foam to conserve heat.

It's a relatively slow process to fit the frames and doors, as Rob posted the other day, we are being very careful so that we don't make any mistakes or damage the doors or frames.

 Today has been lovely here in Odessa, with brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies, it has been quite windy but out of the wind it was really warm, we took advantage of the sun at lunchtime to sit out and have a cup of tea.

Later there was a brilliant sunset

We have really been made welcome here and feel that we are part of the Church family at Grace Baptist and particularly part of the families of Peter and Lydia and Alex and Marina who are looking after us during our stay.

Sunday Worship at Grace Baptist Church Odessa

We've had full day today, arriving at the church just after 9am this morning, the service started at 10am and we had an american, Alfie, translating for us. There were 3 sermons and plenty of singing.

 

We left church just after 12.00 and went to have lunch with the children in the shelter, which is situated next to the church building. After lunch we spent time playing catch and basketball with some of the boys. We managed over an hour playing before it was time for a rest while the children watched a video.

After tea, again with the children, we went to the evening service, this time without a translator so it was interesting trying to keep up with what was happening and being said.

Back to work tomorrow as we start our second week here, time is going very quickly, it doesn't feel as though we've been here a week already.

A day out in Ukraine

Today was a day off, we were originally going to spend some time at the children's shelter but that was not possible so we went out with Alex and his family and two of the lads from Transition House.

We went for a long drive (stopping off on the way for a walk on a beach) to the Akkerman Medieval Fortress which is situated about 50 miles from Odessa at the town of  Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. It is the biggest fortress in the country, and a unique monument to the defensive architecture of the 13th -15th centuries. Despite its age and the historical events to which it was a first hand witness, the fortress managed to preserve its original structure, and today it is considered to be the best preserved medieval fortification facility in Ukraine.

The Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi fortress was founded on the ruins of the ancient town Tyr. The reason for the fortress’s construction was the need to protect the town from the constant invasions of its enemies. It is awe-inspiring with its power and size: the total length of its walls is over two kilometers.

For two centuries, the outpost served as good defence for its owners. In the late 15th century, however, after a prolonged siege, the fortress surrendered to the Ottomans. The Turks renamed it ‘Akkerman’ (which means 'White Fortress'), and ruled the territory for over 300 years. In the early 19th century, the Russian Empire claimed the fortress as a spoil of victory after a Russo-Turkish war. Over time, the fortress lost its defensive importance. For over a century, this impressive historical and architectural monument has been protected by the state.(see http://discover-ukraine.info/places/southern-ukraine/odesa/177)

On our return journey to Odessa we crossed the border and came back through Moldova.

Tomorrow we will go to Grace Baptist Church and hope to spend the day at the shelter with the children.

Friday 7th March

Well we have reached the end of our first week and we are continuing to make steady progress with installing 8 doors. Today, we were shown how to fit a  complete door by Sasha the builder (see picture below) and then we continued to fit handles, locks and hinges to 4 more doors. As this work is going to be 'on show' John and I are taking our time, making sure we don't make any mistakes.

The first of 8 doors installed

Here we are with 'The Doors'

Tomorrow, its planned for us to spend some time with the children from the shelter, then on Sunday we shall be going to church to be reunited with our friends in Odessa.

Rob

Thursday 6th March

Well the weather cleared a bit today, it's been cloudy with some sunshine, but still cold. Rob and I have been busy again today.

We have been working on the new doors that arrived yesterday morning, fitting locks, handles and hinges and also preparing a frame ready to fit tomorrow. We both commented, that even though we have fitted doors before at home, it's different when you are drilling and chiselling someone else's nice new doors and not your own. However we managed okay without any mishaps.

Our first door

                              

Now the frame

We are now looking forward to fitting the frame and hanging our first door in Transition House tommorow, which is a bit of a milestone really after all the work we have done plasterboarding ceilings, it's great to see the rooms getting near completion.

Wednesday 5th March

Hello from a very foggy Odessa, the fog hasn't lifted at all today, but that hasn't worried Rob and myself as we have been hard at work on the second floor.

We have been fabricating steel channel into the top of some of the doorways ready to plasterboard over to infill the gap above where the new doors will be fitted. Peter managed to order some doors today and they arrived mid morning and were swiftly moved up to the second floor to await fitting later. By the time we finished work at 6pm we had completed 5 doorways.

We have quickly settled into life at Transition House and into our apartment on the first floor. Yesterday when we were out we bought a kettle so that we could make our own tea & coffee whenever we like without worrying Peter and his wife. Our area is very nice and comfortable, which is a testament to the good work already carried out on the house.

Entrance into kitchen/dining area

Kitchen/dining area with cooker and washing machine,

there is a sink around the corner

My bedroom

Rob's room

We are looking forward to soon seeing similar rooms completed on the second floor. We will upload some more photos tomorrow to show how the work is progressing.

Time now for a cup of tea and a sit down!

Tuesday 4^th March

Rob and I arrived safely in Odessa yesterday evening at 2125 local time (1925 in UK) after a long journey. We left home at 0730 to travel to Birmingham airport and almost immediately encountered heavy traffic which became worse as we travelled closer to the airport.

We arrived at the airport later than planned due to an accident on the motorway causing the long tailback, however we were still in good time to check in okay.

Our flight to Istanbul was pleasant and soon we were boarding our connecting flight to Odessa, however we did not take off as planned due to thick fog at our destination. Finally after about an hour and a half waiting on the aircraft with concerns that the flight might be cancelled, leaving us stranded in Istanbul for the night, we taxied and took off for a very quick flight.

We passed through the border security in Odessa without any problems and were met by Peter and Alex. It was a real joy to see them again.

We are staying in an apartment at Transition House, we each have our own room and there is a toilet/shower room and kitchen dining area as well.

Things here in Odessa seem to be quiet and there is an air of “life is carrying on as normal” with little outward sign of the troubles in other parts of the country.

Today we have been out with Peter and Sasha looking for doors to buy for the 2^nd floor. It has been frustrating as we have visited a number of shops but they either had  no suitable doors or doors but not the edging or fittings, so the search continues.

Further updates to follow.