Life. Death. Love.

Greetings from snowy Kyiv, dear friends and followers!

A Dear Guest came to Kyiv this weekend. It is not Rishi Sunak although he came with excellent news and unprecedented support. And we are so grateful to all English people, they have been our true friends since the beginning. But I am saying that my dear daughter came this weekend.

This was a long-awaited visit. She hoped my hubby and I would come to her on Christmas, but it didn't happen, so she said she would come to us.

She postponed her journey because of the cruel bombing of Kyiv on Dec 29th and Jan 2nd, and I didn't blame her as I felt terrible afterward. The number of people killed in Kyiv due to a rocket attack on Dec 29 has increased to 33 people, recently another body was found under a destroyed building. Besides, I think I know why I haven't been hearing air alarms lately. It seems that one speaker near us is no longer working. I can risk my life and that's my responsibility, but when it comes to your child, that's different. We weighed everything and decided that the Russians needed time to accumulate missiles for a big strike. Also, half of the 6 launched missiles did not reach their targets during yesterday's morning attack. So it seems that now the risk is lower. But still sounds crazy, I know.

Every time she comes she lights up my being... ❤️ My hubby is also in Kyiv and she is so happy to catch him too. She always says how much she misses him, although he is her stepfather, and every time I think how lucky I am that they get along so well.

As usual, we walked a lot around downtown, taking, having fun and taking photos. She's got a new phone for her birthday which was less than a month ago, it's cool indeed but so big and heavy.

Since she was a little girl, she always loved snow and never missed her chance to take pictures near the main city Christmas Tree.

We stopped off in the shopping mall, to warm up and look around. Their Christmas decorations are still there.

I know Nat loves all this stuff a lot, she said her Christmas tree will stand until spring, at least. 😁

And she might leave the lights until ... next Christmas.

As for me, I couldn't resist this sweet white fluffy rabbit. I wish I could adopt him.😊

The good thing about having an adult daughter is that you can go out together and have a drink somewhere in a bar you like. There was a time when I used to go out with friends or my husband. It was like ages ago. I can't remember when I last had a pizza or burger in a restaurant. Bars are even more expensive. But ... we live only once ... Not everything is measured in money, and not always.

My neighbor from below came by yesterday late in the evening. He brought some sweets so that we could remember his father. He died on January 10. He was 90 years old. His last friend died on January 1. Do you have a similar custom? When a close family member passes away you give out candies to your colleagues, and neighbors (who were not at a funeral ceremony) and say "Please remember my ..."

His father was a good man. He conquered many mountain peaks when he was younger. Only this one fact is worth admiring for me. I remember he was always cheerful and active. He loved his old car, he was able to do many things with his own hands. And he liked how I parked my car, hehe. Although his memory was weak, he could remember me and asked my name every time.

In March 2022, at the beginning of the war, of all our neighbors, only I and my neighbor with my mother and father remained. He said the parents were too old to flee. When his father got to the hospital because of a heart attack, I donated blood for him. And so he died... At the age of 90. On the other hand, it's better when a son buries his father than vice versa. Sorry for that but it's life.