The day was predominantly spent at Danilov Monastery with Tonya, a 6 year old girl and her mother. It’s an incredibly sad story that somehow when you know the facts you realise that what ever our problems we have they pail in to insignificance.

So we met them at their apartment lying south west of the red metro line and after a short bus journey. The block was built in the 80’s and we were invited in for lunch. The girl, Zlata, has a form of cerebral palsy which the family believe was due to her mother being affected whilst pregnant and held as a hostage in the Dubrovha Theatre in Moscow. Continue Reading »

It’s only fitting that I capture the events and points that came out of the last few days in Beirut and the flight into Syria.

Cessation of activities during the one-day strike did not cease and as such the commotion that built up on Wednesday evening continued into Thursday. Continue Reading »

Where the city has its heart is not downtown. This area is almost virginal with access denied to all but a few vehicles, like the equivalent of the City of London’s ring of steel.

The offices and shops are all new, rebuilt after the civil war destroyed them all. The remains of a church stand out as a skeletal frame as if the reformation had passed through and Henry VIII’s Cromwell had removed any glittery artefact and left nothing but bare walls. Continue Reading »

There is a high presence of military and police located around at strategic points. Not a single member of these forces are female or do not carry a heavy arsenal. The police travel round in huge Ford 4 x 4’s with lights flashing continuously. The army in covered jeeps, or trucks with bench seating in the rear. It’s curious that there are so many but this country has been unstable for many years. After all you would too if your neighbours were Syria and Israel. The full spectacle became evident when the General Strike occurred on 7th May and many roads were blockaded with burning cars and tyres. Continue Reading »

I hadn’t intended to write a journal on this break as I assumed I would be too busy on a short break. What’s happened on this trip has become a bit of a surprise.

What struck me the most is the complexities of the people and their acceptance of the norm. To them not having a President seems almost to be acceptable but I guess to replace what is considered their great man is quite a task. Considering that he brought around some resemblance of civility. Continue Reading »