At the start of last week I did a very small favour for an older Ukrainian couple. After chatting with them for a few minutes I discovered that they had been in the UK for a couple of months and that they came from Odessa. To any film fan like me that means Potemkin Stairs and Sergei Eisenstein! I didn’t like to ask but assumed that they had escaped the war, and made it out. I have come across a few Ukrainian people this last year, usually they are younger mothers with children, sadly without husbands. The church opposite flew the Ukranian flag for several months.
It turns out that the husbands name was Andrew (maybe Andriy or Andrii in Ukrainian), and that he made photo’s in the street when he was younger. As I speak not a word of their language it was not possible to get into specifics, but I did catch Practica, and think I understood a larger bellows like camera. My imagination wondered if it maybe a “Afghan Box Camera”?
A few days later, Friday 13th (!) was St Andrews Day in Ukraine and I met them again. They made the effort to track me down and presented me with a bag of home made walnut cookies (above), in thanks for my little favour. I have to tell you I was quite moved! I meet many people in my work, a minority few are a pain, most are consumed in their everyday life, interaction is limited and are therefore entirely unforgettable. A small minority, on the other hand are wonderful and when that happens, despite the world going mad, and people being awful to each other, this small, tiny, few, restore my faith in humanity!
I’m eating a couple with a cup of coffee as I type this and I can say they are delicious!
Where ever you are – may you have peace!
S.H.O.U.T. 