SCAREDY CAT

 

Another 2 boys came to stay with us on Wed 11th July, this time only for half of their 4 week stay - Unfort, due to work commitments etc.. we were only able to host them for half of their visit to Scotland, so we shared them with another family - Something I later came to regret! lol

Sasha & Igor - both 11 years old, well, with the exception of Igor that is, who celebrated his 12th birthday on the 16th July - both boys were from Tsel, a small military village in the Osopovichi area of Belarus

They were by far the best 2 kids we've ever had to stay - not that there was anything wrong with the rest!

I know, I shoudln't really say that but there was just something about them; they were s happy & easily pleased and even though the didn't like punk music (eh? lol), they seemed to settle in really well & felt at home in no time - we all just connected with each other from the start!

 

Sasha & Igor

 

During their visit the charity had arranged a 5 mile sponsored walk in fancy dress which took place on Sat 21st July, begining at Saltcoats along the sea front to Seamill here in Ayrshire

 

It was a great day, the kids loved it & we drew alot of attention from passing motorists - but I must admit the best part of the day for us oldies was when we finally reached the end! We headed down to the beach & fired up the BBQ, washed down with, may I say, a well deserved can of Tennants! (don't worry the boys are just pretending - not like we're gonna let them pinch any of OUR beer! haha)

  

I don't know exactly how much the chairty raised that day at this point (I had the flu so missed the last meeting) but Marie raised a whopping £133, whilst we managed to raise approx £80 - don;t know about James so will need to chase him up the next time I see him - I just hope he's put that knife down! lol 

 

The kids had the usual full itinerary of outings arranged through the chairty so were never bored!

This is them at Loudon Castle Theme Park on the new Barn Raiser ride - I know I enjoyed it, great fun! lol

 

 

 

Blair Drummond Safari Park - I think the giraffe is after eating the boys hats!

 

 

 

Me with my boys!

 

As i said - I quickly came to regret only having the boys to stay for the 1st 2 weeks of their stay - as sods law predicts, it turned out the 'extra shifts' my boss had offered me during the school summer holiday (i do a school taxi run), was only the one extra day!!! Ggrrr!

Obviously the boys knew from the start that they would stay with us for half their stay & another family the 2nd half, but it didn't make it any easier!  They didn't want to go, and well, neither did I! But they had to, it was all arranged & Kirsty and her family were looking forward to having the boys with them.

  And as predictable as kids are they settled in in no time, mainly to do with the fact Kirsty has 3 young sons of her own and with that a playstation! lol

Still all was not bad, Kirsty was great, she sensed straight away that I/we had developed a strong connection with each other & I was able to help out when she needed it (Kirsty's 1st time hosting) & also let me see them often

 

But all too soon it was time to say goodbye 

 I can honestly say it broke my heart! I'm not embarassed to say that i fell in love with them a bit & was the 1st time I've shed a tear saying goodbye to any of the kids we've hosted  - Sasha & Igor didn't make it any easier by running away with my car keys & trying to block my way out the door - but i finally managed my 'escape' without crying in front of them, but once I started I didn't stop for a whole day! And I'm not the crying type! lol

 

I've got some video footage of the kids if you want to see them - it's not great, just wee clips of various bits n bobs & the end of visit party

www.youtube.com/user/koshkakaren

 

 

Still, it's not put me off & will look forward to next year when we'll do it all over again - somehow doubt the next 2 kids will be as 'great' as these 2 but then that's not what it's all about - ALL the kids from Belarus deserve a chance on life & that is what your doing - 4 weeks, even 2, isn't long but it does in effect add 2 years onto their expected lifespan by ridding them of all the contaminants (mainly Caesium-137) that have built up in their sytems due to unavoidable consumption of conaminated food, water & air.

 

 

 

 

page updated 21/8/07