Alchemausterity II

Alchemilla

@Fortune_Smiles how long did you have your guests and what did they do when they left you?

Fortune_Smiles

Alchemilla said:

@Fortune_Smiles how long did you have your guests and what did they do when they left you?

Our ladies arrived at the beginning of May and went home the beginning of July so they were only with us for two months.  Their husbands were already working as volunteers for the Army delivering cars, medicines and other supplies to the front line.  But then the Army started conscripting people from the streets so our ladies wanted to go home and spend as much time together as a family as they could in case that happened.  There is also an elderly grandmother who is in poor health and can't travel.  If the boys had to leave there would have been no one to look after her.

It was a tough decision for them and their husbands didn't want them to return.  However, although they were safe here, they were missing their loved ones desperately and the younger of the two was becoming properly depressed.

We are in touch and exchanging photographs and messages regularly.  Their husbands have escaped conscription so far.  They want to stay in Ukraine for as long as they are able.  We'll help them of course if they want to return but I don't think we could host them again.  They both needed special diets and the money from the Homes for Ukraine Scheme didn't even touch the sides.  They have dropped off the Scheme now because they've gone home and we couldn't afford to host them without that contribution.

Fortune x

Alchemilla

@Fortune_Smiles that sounds like a great hosting success.

I know what you mean about the thank-you payments not touching the sides.

Our guests weren't fussy at all about their food, they said. The only things they didn't eat were paprika and mushrooms. Then every day they added a new thing to their repertoire, long pasta, short pasta, vegetables cooked in the aga, lasagne with too much meat in, or not enough meat.

Then adult guest announced she only ate meat and salad, and proceeded to eat a TON of meat every meal and enough hard boiled eggs to turn her into Mr Strong. Now she is existing on cookies, bright pink processed meat that would fail a DNA test and value cheddar.

I'm trying for zen-like calm as I have three days to go.

savingholmes

You were very brave and kind taking them on. Nearly behind you now. Wish the UGs best of luck and shoo them on their way to their next stop off.

Karmacat

Good Lord!  How extraordinary!  Just a few days to go - zen, zen and more zen like calm...

redofromstart

Zen, zen and more zen echoed!

Alchemilla

Good afternoon!

I have simple aims for today.

Support the children in making a guinea pig maze from cardboard.

Spa day for senior dog (brush and claw clip)

Do a bit of washing.

savingholmes

And were you happy with the outcome or was it a make plans and make God laugh day?

Alchemilla

savingholmes said:

And were you happy with the outcome or was it a make plans and make God laugh day?

Haha! Pig maze got made. It was met with a lot of clucking and sitting 

Senior dog spa got put back to tomorrow.

Today I've done three trips to Ukr family's new place. They are ready to be dropped off in the morning and start their new life.
We had some really great news this afternoon, the 11yo has his place at preferred and closest school where his Mum will be working.

DD2's birthday tomorrow 

Karmacat

That *does* all sound good hope tomorrow goes equally well.