Life has been a bit chaotic lately

 Tanya and I left Zhovti Vody at 5 am March 6th and arrived in Canada March 29th. We moved into our apartment in Regina April 11th and after 6 weeks of living out of a suitcase, it felt wonderful. Since then, we have been busy getting Tanya's documents in order. Today is the first day we can relax. 

Everything is quiet at home. Too unimportant to bomb, there will only be danger if the ground war comes that far which does not appear very likely. The Russians are getting their asses kicked militarily thanks to veterans of 8 years of war on the Donbas, training by the best Special Ops troops in the world, American, British, and Canadian and arms supplied by those same countries and many others. They are still bombing civilian and military targets around the country but are being slowly driven back in the ground war. 

Someone compared Zelensky to Churchill which is true. No one could have led Britain through the dark days of the war but Churchill, though he was a more or less failure in most everything else. Zelensky was not a good president, though he did try, but when the war came, his training as an actor and comedian made him perfect for leading the fight. "I need ammunition, not a ride".

We are in contact with friends and family every day. Our taxi driver friend and his wife are looking after our house, yard, and pets. His taxi business is dead as there is a shortage of gasoline so we pay him. He sends pictures every once in a while. Lucky loves him and the cats sleep with him though we still miss them and worry about them. Our next door neighbours also help watch the place. Tanya misses her flowers needless to say.

Over 4500 people have moved to Zhovti Vody from the war zones. If we had known then what we know now we would not have left. But since we are here we are staying until we can go home safely. When is the question. "Next year in Jerusalem". Now that Ukraine has gone on the offensive and Russia is starting to run out of battalions, it may be over soon. 

Or not. Putin is quietly preparing to conscript large numbers of soldiers, though I am curious how they will be armed. Corruption in the Russian military has been a great help to Ukraine. Shoigu and Gerasimov should be awarded medals by Zelensky.

Tanya had two years left on a 10 year multi-entry visa so coming to Canada was simple. Once we landed in Calgary, she then qualified under Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (visitor visa and work permit). She has a three year temporary residency and a three year work permit good for any job anywhere in Canada. Once we got to Regina she had to apply for a bank account, a Saskatchewan Health card, a Social Insurance Number, and a picture ID card in lieu of a driver's licence. She also had to take a medical exam required by Immigration. She does not have Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, or what ever they tested for. We won't get any feedback.

She started English class last Monday and by end June will complete Beginner Level 3 and 4. Three hours classes and 4 hours homework and study four days per week. Her class has about 20 students from all over the world. I help her with her homework as needed, mostly checking. She is doing quite well.

Our apartment is furnished in Early Canadian Attic. People have been vary kind in donating furniture and kitchen appliances etc. Regina Buy-Sell, Value Village, and Dollarama filled in many gaps for not much money too. Coincidentally, we are back in exactly the same flat we were in when I was here for surgery four years ago. The owner is Ukrainian and the building manager is the only person left who was here last time. We are two blocks from a grocery and pharmacy and half a block from a bus stop.

Our trip from home to Calgary needs a blog post of its own so will save the gory details for another time. If you want to follow the war closely, sign up for the daily newsletter from The Kyiv Independent or follow them on line. They have great independent journalists and set their own editorial policy.