Dan and Pris Gollan

Following a false start to the new school year, the kids all get into the books today.  It is 6:45 and all is quiet.  The three girls are still in bed.  No doubt, Elle will be trotting out any moment.  The tummy-bug Pris, Angie and Jesse picked up has moved on and they are all back on their feet.  I noted that the reprieve was a welcome one.

The last week has been full of laying pavers for the lads and I.  It has been fun working with them.  I sure notice my lack of form though.  It became a joke when I kept on groaning as I got to my feet every time after 30 mins of being on my knees!  The ol’ bones ain’t what they used to be…  (Now where did that phrase come from?)

Kolya has moved in with us – not sure how long for, but it is a major family change for all of us.  Today, he goes off to the recruiting office to see if he has to join the army.  They summoned him not long ago so depending on your perspective, it doesn’t look great.  He could pay $600 to definitely avoid it.  But his conscience won’t let him pay.  He has a bum knee, so he’ll probably be rejected on those grounds, but nothing is definite here.  We’ve enjoyed having him stay and are hoping the army tells him to forget about army service. 

I’m due to go back to see the docs sometime over the next week or so.  I feel good so hope for a good report.

It was funny last week when we went to hand out packages to the new students (we put together 400).  One of the kommandantka’s (lady who looks after a dorm of kids), has known me for several years.  As different guys came up to me and shook my hand heartily she laid into them loudly decrying their lack of consideration for a sickly man!  Yikes!  Poor guys.  They were glad to see me but had no idea that they needed to be gentle – NOT.

Today, I’m going out to help Sergei Chaban lay a foundation for his new duplex.  He and Lena are building onto the back of his mother-in-law’s place.  Sergei began working with the police several months ago and I don’t envy him the pressures that come with the job.  I’ll save this entry and post a photo when I get home later today.  No photo.  The thought never crossed my mind while I was there.  Instead, I’ll post one with Igor and pavers.  We enjoy working together. 

The news of the day was that this evening Bruce’s youngest son, Noah, fell a couple of meters onto his head while in Kiev.  He cracked his skull and is now in hospital.  Bruce and Deb are with him, getting an MRI at this moment.  They think Noah is stable, but the docs want to check his head out to see if the bleeding has stopped… I think.  The kids are with us for a couple of days.  May God give B&D peace and keep little Noah going!