Treats from Ukraine

 I haven’t seen much of my lodger this week. He has been working long hours and catching up on his sleep when he can. Meanwhile on Thursday when I was with my neighbours opposite, who host a Ukrainian family having a coffee, they had a delivery. Three huge bags which looked very heavy. These are a regular shipment from Ukraine, from friends and family of my lodger and my neighbours Ukrainian family. Heaven knows what tortuous journey they take to get here. Anyway yesterday although my lodger was working, he finished early, so we had our first dinner together for over a week. Before then I was shown some of the goodies that came over. Here is a shelf of pickles and jams

We then had dinner, my lodger cut up some of my bread into little squares. There were then slices of lard which is laced with garlic. On the plate there are slithers of garlic, one of which you put in your mouth. You then take a slice of the lard, place on the bread and eat it. It was my lodger’s dad’s favourite snack he said. It was incredibly salty!

After dinner, we watched another GBBO and my lodger brought out the cherry brandy. It’s made by him, this edition just before he came to the UK. He makes it with moonshine from a friend, he said you had to be careful where you get it from. It’s about forty percent proof. In the cupboard is a box of their chocolates, and we had some of them too.

Finally before we both retired, my lodger brought out some tea, fruit tea using different fruits and flowers. We were to have hibiscus tea, which was very refreshing. 

It’s quite amazing really, it’s really interesting, I can’t imagine what it was like before my lodger was here. We both have privacy and shared time together, I have heard he is happy here in this house. The language is a barrier, but one that can be surpassed. We will be over at my neighbours adding to the huge numbers they  are having on Christmas Day, I think eighteen people! I plan to make some things to ease the burden on them, maybe we will need our oven too. I am sure it will be memorable and will be a lot of fun. I just hope, that next year, my lodger’s wife and daughter can get over here, I am sure he misses them terribly. 

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