Background (cont.)
29th of September – "The BIG day" Stevie chaps me up around 9 and after a quick breakfast of black bread, fried eggs and coffee, Stevie gains access to the Left Luggage. We ascertain none of the bags are in fact missing, which brightens up the day. I head off with Mike and Ira to change the rest of the money at the bank, whilst Stevie and Colin Dudgeon get the bags ready and leave instruction’s with Bomber who is rounding up the Hibs supporters who wish to visit the Orphanage, along with the club officials and press. I get back from the bank and we split the £ 2500’s worth of Gryvnia between Stevie, Colin and Myself. We then load up Mike’s van with the charity bags with a bit of help required from the Hibs supporters milling around reception due to the huge amount of donated articles. We head off to Mike’s small office in town where he has a team of helpers waiting to divide up the bags contents for us. We leave the bags in their capable hands, agreeing to see them at the Sanatorium at 13.00. Stevie, Colin and Myself join Mike and Ira for the next round of Dnipro Supermarket sweep where we have just under two hours to purchase one Thomson TV, one LG VCR/DVD, 2 packs of Scart Plugs, 10 Children’s DVD's in Russian, 2 Kettles and a Hairdryer for the Sanatorium Staff, various Toys and Games including Russian versions of Scrabble, Twister, Jenga, Lego, Alphabet Blocks etc, 30 plus Winter Coats, a Table Tennis table, paddles and balls, assorted sports balls, 15 chairs (for reception and hall), Foam Mats (for kids to sit on in TV room), Chocolate bars for the staff, a Petrol Lawnmower for the Sanatorium Grounds, 100 Bed sheets/ duvet covers (large) and another 100 Bed sheets/ duvet covers (small), and a supply of Toothpaste, Toothbrushes and Soap. One hour and 20 minutes later the miracle has worked and we are loading the van and a hired truck with the gear, and then heading off for the formal presentation at the Sanatorium at 13.00. Colin and I must have had a bad pint of Ukrainian Lager the night before, as we both have a raging thirst and a slight ‘hangover’ feeling. A quick pit stop for Orange and Cold Water, we are refreshed and heading across the bridge to the sanatorium. As we bump through the woodland in the grounds, we notice two minibuses have arrived and we are delighted to find the Club have arranged to bring the sponsors, Grant Stott, David Hardie, and reporters and photographers from the Daily Record and Evening News. Also on site are my two brothers, Nick and Scott, as well as Glasgow based Hibee Jack Glancy and off course Bomber. Wes, one of Mike’s staff has arranged a small tour for the party and after some photos with the kids in their swing park, Stevie and Myself are given a very heart warming formal welcome from the staff and kids of the sanatorium. After a brief speech from a staff member, two of the orphans, dressed in Ukrainian National Costumes, present us with the Ukrainian Traditional welcome of a loaf of bread topped with salt, which signifies the basics of life. The kids then welcome us and pass us paintings and drawing they have done for us. A few photos later and the press leave us. We all enter the Sanatorium and begin the presentation to the staff and kids, telling them about who we are, who Hibernian are and what we have bought for them. In return we are given gifts of a traditional chopping board and a flask, which holds a half litre of local pepper vodka, which ensures there are more than a few tears, half from the emotion of seeing the kids, half from the excruciating strength of the nippy nip of vodka. We hand out soft toys and Hibs shirts to the wee ones, and Bomber spends time ensuring every kid gets a sweet and toys from the children at Sciennes Primary School. Once the assembly hall is cleared of most people, the orphans are brought back in we hand out special Hibernian FC bags to each of them which include western trainers, winter boots, a Hibernian Scarf and Hat, a new Hibs T Shirt, a soft toy or two, a bottle of Irn Bru, a macaroon bar, some fudge and tablet. The only downside to the presentation that a communication mix up means that about 10 of the orphans miss out on new trainers. However, details are taken and this small hiccup will soon be rectified. The visit is over for the day, we are all parched, sweaty but feeling great about what we have done. 12 of us squeeze back into Mike’s Minibus, which has a slow puncture and we limp out of the Sanatorium waving to the kids who are adorned with Hibs shirts and smiles from ear to ear! Back at the hotel, we get washed and changed and head out for a meal and a couple of beers, before boarding buses to watch Hibernian play FC Dnipro at the Meteor Stadium. Our new friends have purchased tickets for the match too, many attending a football game for the first time. Hibs lose 5-1 but play well and the Hibernian support ensure the players and manager know we will support them ever more. The buses take us back into the city and we all head of to the Japanese Restaurant on the river to drown our sorrows with cheap beer and vodka. After an hour or so waiting for food that never comes, a group are sent of to the 24-hour supermarket to get enough beer, crisps, ham, cheese and bread to party in the “Strachan Suite”. I get to bed around 6.30 am, buckled and shattered.