A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 20 December 2022 - T for Konotop and a cave house

 Hello lovely ladies,

It's nearly Christmas. I'll be getting on a plane in a few days to celebrate with my mum in Holland. The shops are laden with goodies and even I (we don't do presents) have got a few gifts in my suitcase. 

I can't help thinking of the people in the Ukraine. My postcard today comes from Ukraine:

The card was sent by Inna, who lives in a small town called Konotop. She writes: "I like reading, traveling and I collect porcelain dolls, but...Russian army invaded in to Ukraine. We need support of the whole civilized world now so much."

The stamps are impressive:

The Order of Danylo Halytsky (Ukrainian: Орден Данила Галицького) is an award of Ukraine. The Order was instituted on February 20, 2003, by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to honour the military men of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations created in compliance with the laws of Ukraine, as well as public servants for significant personal contribution in building of Ukraine, thorough and faultless service to the Ukrainian people.

Danylo Romanovych is one of the greatest and most famous rulers of the ancient Ukrainian state Kievan Rus. He was an excellent strategist, diplomat, military leader and great state builder and together with his brother, Prince Vasylko, succeeded to keep the state, coping with the Mongol invasion and defending it against the attacks of the western neighbors. King Danylo created a state that extended from the present territory of Poland to Kyiv and the Black Sea coast.

More info on this amazing king (that I had never heard of) here

The card was sent to me by Inna who lives in the small town of Konotop:

Some photos of Konotop:

Counterclockwise (from upper right): Shukhiv Tower, Myr Cinema, Ascension Cathedral, Konotop City Council Building, Monument of Horse, Konotop railway station and tram.

Wikipedia writes:

On February 25, 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the city was reported to be under siege by Russian forces on their way to Kyiv. Ukraine later stated that it had lost control of the city. The mayor Artem Seminikhin stated on 2 March that Russian troops who had entered the city had warned him that they would destroy the city if the residents resisted them. An agreement was reached under which Russian forces accepted not to change the city's government or deploy troops, in return for which the residents would not attack them. On 3 April, Ukrainian MP Olexander Kachura stated on Twitter that all Russian forces had left Konotop Raion. On 4 April 2022 Sumy Oblast's Governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyi stated that Russian troops no longer occupied any towns or villages in Sumy Oblast and had mostly withdrawn, while Ukrainian troops were working to push out the remaining units.

The card was posted on the 29th of June 22.

Now for a bit of fun: I was invited to dinner with friends the other day. The hostess and her husband are English so she cooked an English dish (pork casserole with dumplings) and managed to obtain some crackers to make it christmassy.

Of course we had to explain the concept of crackers to the Spaniards, and the fact that they were supposed to don the 'hat' and read out the lame joke out loud.

Our friends live in a cave house and their kitchen is gorgeous!

Of course Blogger put my photos in the wrong order, but here we are pulling the crackers:

Today is T-Day and I need a drink to qualify. Well, I think I spot a can of beer on the table.

Another photo of the lovely kitchen:

That is it from me today. 

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a 2023 in health and peace.

Hugs,

Lisca