Trees, dogs and war

This is a long post!

Today whilst out walking Kasper through a spinney of beautifully coloured trees I could finally catch the aroma of autumn on the breeze which must come from the fall of decaying leaves but it’s a pleasant smell of the season.

In discussion with a friend who is an orchardist he tells me that there is such a thing as a Gin Tree! I was not convinced and after some research I was able come across a Gin & Tonic tree being developed in the UK and they are predicting sending out 100,000 in the autumn. I was hoping for a tree that fruited little gins!


The war in the Ukraine is reported on daily but it is interesting to have our own Blip insight to what is going on via Max Blazer who is reporting via Blip from Mariupol home. I have transcribed his latest report below which makes a harrowing read, please follow him on Blip. You can read his latest journal below or you can click the link and view Max's picture too.

54th day of the war
The photo shows the city center, where I lived almost all my life. The city had its problems, very polluted air through factories, many aggressive people, traffic jams and harsh climate. But I couldn't even think that such a fate awaited Mariupol ...

We have been living under constant air alarms for almost 2 months. Now it is perceived as normal, many people have even stopped going to the bomb shelter. War has become a part of our lives

When our heroic military sank the cruiser Moscow - the air alarm almost does not stop. These days will definitely go down in the history of our victory.

I already feel much better, today I was even able to go outside. The trees are blooming and sometimes it seems that everything is fine, life goes on ... only the ringing of the air alarm returns to the harsh reality.

In Mariupol there is still no communication, water, light, gas, shops are not working, you can not move around the city. I repeat all this because it is very difficult to imagine how in 2022 you can live without the benefits of modern society. Many of my friends have never been in touch and I don't know if I will ever be able to hear them.

What is happening in Mariupol now?
Mariupol turns into a ghetto. And this is no longer a figure of speech - this is reality. The city is closed to entry and exit, and the existence of people is made dependent on the occupiers.

MANDATORY FILTRATION FOR EVERYONE

Filtration has become mandatory for everyone in Mariupol. It doesn't matter if you have ever left the city in the last month or not - you have to register, leave your fingerprints.

This is important for the occupiers because they want to control every person who stays in Mariupol.

RESTRICTIONS OF MOVEMENT

The occupying power introduces a checkpoint system in Mariupol. Everyone, if he wants to move around the city, must receive such a pass in the so-called "ROVD".

This city is famous in the Left Bank district. But in other areas, people still have no idea where they need to go to get a pass. So far, the ROVD is not working there. It is impossible to get to the Left Bank.


PEOPLE DISAPPEAR

People are disappearing more and more often in Mariupol. Especially males. We were approached by a woman who said that yesterday her 56-year-old husband came out of the basement on the Left Bank to fetch water. Suddenly, two Russian servicemen approached him, hit him on the head with a butt and dragged him somewhere. The woman still does not know where her husband is now. She is just in despair.
And such cases are not uncommon.

SIMULATION OF RECOVERY

The occupiers and collaborators, who agreed to cooperate with the enemy, are trying hard to make it clear that Mariupol is coming back to life.

That is why in one of the schools traitorous teachers are trying to restore the educational process. But even today it is obvious that what is possible in Melitopol is impossible in Mariupol. Because the city is destroyed. The city has no light, heat, water, food, medicine. And without this, what can be the training? There is nothing to feed the children.
That is why Mariupol is trying to restore medical care. But this is also impossible. Because how can you restore the work of hemodialysis, if you need unique drugs and most importantly - water, which is not in the city and will not be soon. How to restore hospitals if they are almost completely destroyed by aerial bombs. The occupiers deported almost all doctors to Russia. Therefore, one therapist who was brought from Donetsk and who receives appointments once a week at the regional clinical hospital is not a doctor. This is bullying.

And in Mariupol the work of baths was resumed. Just don't laugh. The bath was arranged in a large tent. The person is given 10 minutes: 5 minutes to undress and 5 minutes to pour hot water on themselves. This is such a civilization.

And if you have money left, you can get a haircut for an additional fee - scissors. Stone Age service. The liberators brought us, the people of Mariupol, a medieval civilization.

EXPLOITATION OF PEOPLE

In Mariupol, people are forced to work on dismantling food debris. There is really no other "money" in the Russian Federation. Russia has even owed money to its military contractors because the country is in a pre-default state.

But collaborators and traitors need to be shown a picture of a "liberated" city, so they will blackmail people with food and actually exploit them.

NEW MILITARY THREAT

Mariupol is completely closed for a week. The occupiers do not let or release anyone. Even the DNR's own volunteers, who have recently brought bread and water to Mariupol, have said they will not travel again.

A total sweep began in the city. People are searched, demanded to surrender weapons they do not have. Because, obviously, despite the total filtering, inspections and the ban on free movement in the city, the occupiers are afraid of Mariupol. They are waiting for a shot in the back from behind every house, from behind every wall.

We will definitely win this war. Glory to Ukraine!