Life in Ukraine - The law does not have to make any sense

We have been without a car for over five months now.  Our Kia Carens had 150,000 km on it and was in excellent condition with about $1500 worth of maintenance (mostly suspension related) plus new tires in the past year.

Front view of damage

About three weeks after his brother's untimely death, Andrei tried to make a clean sweep of it.  He and a friend were going somewhere at night in our car.  I made an agreement with him to look after maintenance, put gas in the car for his use and pay his share of repairs until he could afford to buy his own car. My Tanya was NOT in favour, let it be said, for the record.

Andrei said he was going 75 kmph and a tire blew when he was turning the corner.  That put the car into a skid which blew both tires on the driver's side and hit a tree at an angle. The front door post fortunately took most of the impact but the car is pretty much a write-off. Good thing Kias are built solid. The policeman at the scene, a friend of Andrei's, agreed and absolved him from all responsibility for the accident in his report.

Andrei had a couple of broken/cracked ribs and his left knee was badly banged up and may yet need an operation; not enough to warrant hospitalization at least.  His friend was thrown across in front of the steering wheel into the windshield, smashing his arm in three places and also breaking a vertebrae.  He was taken to hospital in Krivii Rih. Neither of them were wearing seat belts, though it is the law.

There was no insurance and even if there was it would have done us no good.  For a couple of years we carried insurance that basically would fix the car if we were not at fault.  We had one claim and by the time we made trips to Dnipropetrovsk and all the red tape, we could well have paid it out of pocket.  Saskatchewan style no-fault insurance with ample liability coverage is either unknown here or priced so high, no one uses it.

Andrei's friend had two operations in Krivii Rih to repair his arm and his back.  He is walking again but his arm did not set right and he needs further operations in Kyiv.  Andrei paid for the operations in Krivii Rih, as far as we know.  The operations in Kyiv will cost $4000.  We have no further information than that, though we have asked repeatedly.

The car was towed to P'yatikhatki. Because someone was seriously injured a criminal case was opened and professional investigation experts were called in.  In order to stop this procedure, you have to have enough money to buy off the chief prosecutor for Dnipropetrovskaya Oblast. Lawmakers make stupid laws because they know that they themselves will never be subject to them.

The official investigation of the accident said Andrei was going too fast for road conditions (100 to 120 kmph at night in fog) and did not see the corner in time, and threw the car into a skid which blew both tires. (This sounds a little more plausible to me as I know Andrei but that is neither here nor there).

If Andrei's friend signed off that Andrei is not responsible for his injury and for all future medical costs then the case will be dropped.  So the car sat in the police compound for over two months, waiting to see if the friend recovered from his injuries.  When it was obvious that he would not recover and would not sign off, the case proceeded further and mechanical experts (for which we paid their gas bill from Krivii Rih) came to examine the car to ensure that there was no mechanical reason for the accident.  For example if the tires had been poor, my Tanya, the car's owner, would suddenly have been on the hot seat.

The car was eventually released with a clean bill of health and towed back to Zhovti Vody where it sits in storage.  We cannot do anything to it until the case is decided which could take a year or ten years for all we know.  It will depend on Andrei's friend's recovery.  if he is unable to use his arm for life (especially if no one has $4000) that will impact the severity of the judgement against Andrei. The car may be again called into evidence if the case goes to court ie if Andrei fights it.

The documents about the case are 80% complete but there have been two murders in P'yatikhatski Raion and the local investigation people are busy with that.  Next week they will send the documents to Dnipro to be completed by someone with some spare time.

In the meantime our car sits. We could sell it for parts or if the frame was not bent, it might be reparable given that labour is so cheap.  But the longer it sits the less it is worth.  One learns about the law the hard way, it seems.

And then there were only two

Lina moved back to her flat about three weeks ago and on Sunday, took Krastoka home with her.  And Vovochka, not Bonifatsy (Bonya).

She kind of liked the evil looking little runt with all his antics and curiosity.  She also felt we would have a better chance of finding a home for Bonya or Tigritsa.  Krasotka was glad to be home after almost 4 and a half months away.  Vovo explored everywhere and settle right in.

Bonya and Tigritsa did not do so well the first few days as they kept looking for their mother.  Especially Bonya who tended to be a bit of a Mommy's boy anyhow.  Tanya became the comforter and he would climb on her lap to go to sleep.  Tigritsa was more independent.

The kittens stick pretty close to us.  If we are upstairs, they come upstairs and if we are down stairs they come down again.  But they are actively playing together and curl up together for naps. I bought them four little ping pong ball toys with rattles inside.  They would play keep-away with one of the balls at a time until eventually they ended up where all good toys go - under the couch where they can't reach them.

Tigritsa could play circles around Bonifatsy as she was faster and more agile.  He is bigger and slower.  She performs flawless jump spins and jump somersaults while he is mostly Thump and Bonk. He loves to climb and jump down - thump - and is constantly running into things - bonk.

They play outside in the morning while we drink our coffee on the landing.  Kuchma is usually around and will give nose-to-nose greetings if pressed but mostly ignores them.  Bonya wants to play with him so badly.  Yesterday he pounced on Kuchma's tail.  Kuchma spun around and cuffed him into the middle of next week.  Poor Bonya.

Puh-lease, we are TRYING to sleep

Bonya the carpet climber

Tigritsa is not to be outdone

Spring Dance Festival

The 2013 Spring Children's Dance Festival was held in Zholti Vody over the weekend.  Tanya and I went Saturday morning to watch Masha's performance.  The theme of the first groups of dancers seemed to be traditional Ukrainian and Russian dances.  The costumes were beautiful and certainly a great deal of effort had gone into the training of the kids who appeared to range in age from about 5 to 17 years.

Masha did the same routine as previously, a solo Turkish dance, but in a brilliant yellow costume and she had several new moves.  I asked Tanya why she danced solo and it is because she loves to dance but her left leg, a problem since birth, will not allow her to do the fast footwork, splits etc of the traditional dances, so they give her one with less footwork.  At any rate, she was invited to a competition in Kyiv.

We only stayed two hours and after Masha was finished we took her for pizza.  I asked Masha when she was going to Turkey to live in a harem and she laughed and laughed.

Not knowing anything about choreography, I supposed many of the groups could be doing the same routines as last time but just in different costumes and different music.  They are complicated enough routines that it would make sense.

A word about the red boots.  These were THE height of fashion in "the olden days" and the Cossack warrior who could bring his girl a pair of red boots was certain to win her heart.  The things you learn from watching Ukrainian cartoons.

The MCs

Masha performs

Ukrainian costumes and dance

These gals are steppin' out

Too cute for words

The Finale

Red boots

Russian costume and more red boots

Ukrainian costumes and dance

Life in Ukraine - The Vegetable Market

The wet market in Zhovti Vody is located behind the shopping centre Devyatya (Nine or Ninth) and has a small outdoor market attached to it.  We do not often buy meat at the wet market, preferring the quality at the grocery supermarket Velika Kshenia "Big Spoon" but we often buy vegetables and eggs at the little market as the quality is good and the price is somewhat better than "Big Spoon".  One person owns two stalls there, employing two sales staff and kept busy all day long hauling boxes from his truck to keep their stands full.

Tanya, pictured below, is my favourite to buy from, mostly because of her personality.  She has been there for all the years we have lived here and NEVER stops talking to her customers, NEVER stops moving and ALWAYS suggests further purchases.  There is always a line up at her stall. She could make a fortune selling cookware at an exhibition.  I asked if I could take pictures to post on my blog and she agreed.

Tanya wanted to pose for one picture

Hard at work, bagging, weighing and keeping a running total on the adding machine

Customers bag their own from boxes close to the front of the stall

Produce comes from Turkey and Crimea mainly.

My New Toy

Yesterday I bought a brushcutter (translation of Motokoca), a heavy grass and brush cutter run by a 2 cycle motor, complete with harness to help lug it around.

The shoulder harness snaps on halfway between motor and handles

It comes with the 10" blade shown for heavy grass, weeds and small brush; a 10" carbide tip blade for larger trees, up to 4"; and a fishline grass cutter.  All for less than $200.  We had been needing one for a few years now and finally made the plunge.

We planted grass seed about five years ago under the trees all across the back of our yard.  The package showed a nice green lawn but the seed was actually wheatgrass, both slender and intermediate.  These are bunch grasses, not creeping rooted.  The grass grows 2 feet tall which is fine if we are cutting hay but if just left to go to seed, it looks like no one cares.

So a month too late to try to turn it into anything resembling lawn, we are mowing it down.  The hay will go for the dogs to sleep on this winter.  I cut under the walnut trees across the street from us and half the back yard on 3/4 litre of gas.  The brushcutter and I ran out of gas at the same time.

Tomorrow at 6:00 am I will finish the back yard and start on the abandoned garden behind Babushka's old cottage.  If I cut it back about 2 or 3 meters along Tanya's kitchen garden it will keep weeds from spreading into the garden...we hope.  Our neighbour's two goats can keep the rest of it down. Then I will do Babushka's yard, to keep it from looking like a jungle again.

Next spring I want to get a lawn mower.  Between mower and brush cutter we should be able to make our grass look like something other than a hay field.

Looks like something the goat chewed.

Uncut.  Tomorrow morning's chores.

Why Athletes Can't Get Regular Jobs

Not fair to all athletes and some seem to be fictitious but still very funny.  Thanks to my brother Stan at The English Cowpath for emailing these.

1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model:
"I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me."

2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say:
"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,"
Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:
"He treat us like mens. He let us wear earrings."

5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann:
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."

6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh :
"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."
(Now that is beautiful)

7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:
"You guys line up alphabetically by height."
And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle."

8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison:
"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton."

9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker:
"That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."

10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota:
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is."

11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:
"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt.

12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
"I asked him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?'
He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"

13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D:
"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."

14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford:
"I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious."

15. Former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips,
Phillips responded: "Because she's too ugly to kiss good-bye."

Life in Ukraine - Local transportation

There is never a time, day or night, when there is not someone walking on the streets and roads of our town and countryside.  They are not walking for fun or exercise.  They are walking to get from point A to point B.  Because they have no other means of transportation; because they cannot afford a taxi; because the public transportation, good as it is, only goes to certain places.

They are carrying something.  Usually shopping bags.  Or pushing or pulling something to help carry the load.  Old baby carriages, strollers, home-made wagons.

There are bicycles.  Not for fun or exercise or status but because the rider could afford one, usually long ago, from the looks of the bikes. They also double as transportation for goods; i have seen three large bags of vegetables tied onto a bike and the owner pushing it along.  There are some new bicycles, too, but no fancy multi-multi gear speed bikes, mostly wide tire mountain type bikes to deal with the roads.

Sometimes you see pictures of families loaded onto a scooter with small ones precariously balanced.  The pictures are usually titled something like "bad parenting".  No, these people are making do with what they can afford for transportation.  Those with a little money will buy scooters; those with a little more money will buy motorcycles, like the ones we rode in the early 70s. The safety conscious may have helmets.  If they can afford them and gas too.

Taxis may have regulations and standards but I expect they are honoured more in the breach.  Standards and regulations add to cost if you don't mind what you ride in.  There are two taxi "companies" in town.  How they are organized, I don't know.  But they have central numbers and dispatchers. There are also lots of freelancers on certain days.  You buy a taxi light for the top of your car and hang out where people need rides.  Like grocery stores.

The rates are dirt cheap.  Some cabs have meters, most do not.  There are sort of zones and rates are similar within those zones.  But you always ask first.  From our house to downtown is about 6 km and costs $3 plus or minus. Gasoline is the same price here as Canada so go figure.

The cars are usually old beaters, bought for a couple hundred bucks and maintained and repaired by the owner.  Ladas, Volgas, Samaras, sometimes a Moskvich or a Zhiguli.  Once in awhile a newer Daewoo or ZAZ, both made in Zaporizhzhia.  There is one relatively new BMW in town with a taxi sign on it but I think it is a free lance.  Of course in the larger cities the cars are newer, nicer and the rates higher.

Public transportation in town and to the surrounding countryside and villages is not as frequent as it was in Soviet times but still runs often enough to be very useful.  The buses and minibuses are also old beaters, bought from the larger centres as they bring in good used from Germany or elsewhere.

The farther out from the large centres you get, the older the cars are.  We have more old Ladas than Dnipropetrovsk which likely has more than Kyiv.  And in the villages, old beaters got to die.  Our town has a good mix of newer cars, more every year though I have no idea how they are paid for as the economy is the pits.  Mostly lower end stuff like Ladas, Daewoos, Cherys, Aveos in that order but better brands too.  And of course those that can afford it go all out for conspicuous consumption.  Black cars with black windows.