Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

       Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and all the best with the coming 2011!

Maidan Square NY Decorations

In 2004 Maidan Square was were Orange Revolution took place. In Nov and early Dec this year constant demonstrations took place on Maidan as people protested against the new tax code. To stop protests the government decided to put lavish Xmas and NY decorations. So the square is full of Xmas trees. See on  

Driving rules

Driving rules in Kiev are flexible. Interpretation of traffic sings significantly differ in Kiev than for example in A'dam. For some drivers red light is optional. Parking on pavement is a rule. Not stopping on zebra is common.

Recently when driving with Kees on one snowy winter morning Kees suddenly told me: "You are not allowed to drive on this road when there is snow. Do not you see a sign?".
Of course I saw the sign. I even took a photo of it. What I have not expected is to hear such a comment from Kees who spent six years driving in Kiev.
Seems one needs only few months in a civilization to forget bad driving habits acquired while in Kiev.

Dangerous dog walking

On Sunday, Dec 26th around 13 hours, the ex-Interior Minister - Mr. Yuri Lutsenko was arrested. The arrest took place near the Lutsenko's apartment Kiev's Pechersk district.

Mr. Lutsenko was walking the dog with his son when a van appeared from which eleven Alfa specnaz operatives jumped and put Mr. Lutsenko in the van and drove him away leaving the shocked son with the dog.
On Monday the General Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case against ex-Minister Lutsenko on suspicion of embezzlement in which they cited he gave his driver an illegal payment of 40,000 UAH (EUR 4000). Additional prosecutor explanation about detention is that so far Mr. Lutsenko avoided prosecutor's demands to familiarise himself with the evidence of the case against him which is about 25 volumes big and Mr. Lutsenko cannot obtain photocopies of. Under such condition anyone would  have difficulties getting acquainted with the matter.
But given his slow "familiarization" with his case Mr. Lutsenko will be detained for next 2 months. He shares his cell with two other persons.

It is amazing that an illegal payment of EUR 4000 needs 25 written volumes for building the criminal case around it and that for same EUR 4000 eleven Alfa operatives jump out of the van on Sunday morning while the person walks a dog.

For more on the arrest:
http://news.liga.net/photonews/NF100589.html
http://news.liga.net/news/N1037702.html

Circus

Last week a fight in Ukrainian Parliament got some wide coverage. Five people were injured. There are few fights in the Parliament every few months.

Following the fight last week - this week Roman Vintoniv - the journalist of the TV channel "1+1" decided to go into the parliament dressed like a rabit. His explanation: "If the Parliament decided to be a circus, one should dress accordingly".

Bubik

I travelled to Zagreb last Monday. Due to heavy snow in Europe over the previous weekend most of the airports were closed and flights cancelled. I was to fly from Kiev to ZG via CDG. On Monday CDG opened for some flights including Kiev but my plane was few hours late. On the airport in Kiev I spent time with Valeria - a cheerful 5 year old. She told me everything about her flying to some city she did not know the name - only there is a lot of snow there. Valeria travelled with her mum - Irina, and her teddy bear - Bubik. I learned a lot about Bubik. In few hours we waited on the airport we became close friends. Valeria loves skating and showed me a dance she does on ice. I was impressed. I am convinced Valeria is the future olympic skating champion.

Due to delayed AF flight I would not be able to catch a connecting flight from CDG to ZG the same day. After some conversation with AF they rebooked me on a flight to ZG via Vienna.

In the Vienna's airport restroom I found one young lady sitting betweens two sinks and working on her laptop. Some way to work.

Irrespective of few hours waiting on the airport - cannot complain much. It could be much, much worse.  I actually had almost very good time thanks to Valeria and her blue teddy Bubik.

Pensioners Morning Routine

Every Sunday morning at 10.00 am pensioners gather in Shevchenko park and exercise - irrespective of the weather. They are mostly dressed in yellow - seems to be their club color. While they exercise - they put old soviet style music on.

Visit from Budapest

Kees and Catharina came from Budapest this weekend. Catharina and Igor walked in the park:

Dec 19th

Amazing City Snow Cleaning

Snow storm has not bypassed Kiev. The storm started on Friday evening. Saturday was mostly nice but in the evening started to snow again and have not stopped. But - in the city snow has being cleaned. After last year mess it is such a delight to see snow being removed. 

The most amazing thing is that the park is wonderfully clean. I just could not get enough photos of park paths being walkable.   

2010 NY Party

The office had the NY party last Friday. The theme was rock&roll. Everyone dressed up. We danced well after midnight. Kees came from Budapest. Great party:-))

2010 ING NY Party

Back to travel moments - Doors on the staircase (3)

Still have few stories and photos to share from the trip to Kamenets Podilskyi in November.  I stayed in an excellent hotel "Cleopatra".
Had one of the largest rooms in a hotel - ever.
But I was intrigued by a door on the staircase. As one can see on the photo the door is half on the floor landing and half hanging over the staircase. I cannot figure out was it build with the purpose or this some wild idea of some creative architect or builder.

Winter sunset sky

 

Saturday Party

There was another gala party on Saturday. This time the purpose was charity. During the evening we were enetrtained by three bands. I most enjoyed "Zhiguli" whose repertoire are songs from soviet's movie classics. We had great table with fun people. Lucky Olga won the food basket in a raffle. Great fun: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/SaturdayParty?authkey=Gv1sRgCLe8-cCl66-OLw&feat=directlink

Farmak's 85th Anniversary

On Friday I attended a party to celebrate 85th anniversary of one of our clients. The client majority owner and CEO is a formidable lady who took over the company in 1991. In the afternoon I and two of my colleagues attended the official opening of the new production line. The inauguration was attended by the PM. 

In the evening we attended a great party. The speeches while short were full of emotions. Main themes in all speeches were vision, excellence, persistence, quality, co-operation, support. Pride. 

The dinner also had an entertainment part: prima balerina was dancing famous Swan by Saint-Saëns. National Opera prima dona was singing various Ukrainian songs and arias from Ukrainian operas. There was a winner of the national TV talent show. At the end we were all singing and dancing. 

Had fabulous time. Very happy I was invited to attend. Pics at: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/FarmakParty?authkey=Gv1sRgCMCk7KnHwpf9jwE&feat=directlink

CD-R/DVD dispenser

This week on a visit to a client's office saw at the building entrance a strange object: a CD-R/DVD dispenser.
Have not tried if it works. Prices look reasonable.

Glier Choir Concert

Sometime in June I made a post about Zoa Alexandrovna Tompson and how her Glier Choir won International Choir Grand Prix in Serbia.

On Dec 9th her choir celebtrated 10th anniversary. The Glier Choir consists of students mostly 17 to 19 years old. Zoa invited me for the anniversary concert. The Choir was also presented a distinguished Shevchenko medal for achievment.

I enjoyed the concert immensly. Also made few photos and clips.

The favourite was "Коломийка" (Kolomyjka).

It's a folk dance song and I danced with a camera while recording it.

It was great concert. At the end - to celebrate 10th anniversary - there was a huge cake - in shape of a choir.

City's Chief Changed by Decree

No post for some time.
Last two weeks of Nov I have been in A'dam. Upon return to Kiev had difficulties with Internet.

While I was away in Amsterdam Kiev had a major change: the President ousted eccentric mayor Chernovetsky "Kosmos" from his post as the Head of the City Administration.

Chernovetsky "Kosmos" remains the mayor - but without any power.

The post of the mayor and Head of the City Admin are separate in Kiev. The mayor is elected by popular vote and then appointed as city administration chief by the president. Upon election in 2008 Chernovetsky had held both posts. While the president cannot fire a mayor from the post, the president can by decree revoke his appointment of the city's chief. So Yanukovych signed a decree removing Chernovetsky as head of the Kiev city administration and appointed a loyal top local official Alexander Popov in his place.

The mayor's power comes from the position of the Head of the City Administration and as this power was taken from Kosmos - he is now as good as Kiev city mayor as any other Kiev citizen.

Since the presidential decree Chernovetsky would carry out "representative functions" and Mr. Popov "all management decisions".

Similar thing Medvedev has done to Luzhkov - Moscow city mayor.  It is unclear if Yanukovich was inspired to sign a decree following ousting of Luzhkov or by the first snow in Kiev. Some rumours say Yanukovich - as well as millions of Kiev citizens - lost confidence in Kosmos management ability after last winter disaster when city suffered heavy snow fall but no one cleaned snow for almost three months.

Next to appalling mismanagement of snow and ice clean up last winter, Mayor Chernovetsky will be remembered as:
- heading most corrupt city administration in the city history;
- starting bizarre schemes as charging for parking spaces at cemeteries;

- auctioning his kisses;

- auctioning his meetings for (allegedly) thousands of USD;

- recording a song;

- writing a book "How to become a Millionaire";
- giving a press conference in a pair of swimming briefs;
- performing "babushka" type of exercises to prove his mental fitness;
- having Rolls Royce shipped by private charter plane in October 2008 as his Maybach was three years old.
 
And let's not forget his daughter being robbed of EUR 4.5 mio in Paris - while shopping.

Following the change in the city administration the park is amazingly clean with park workers removing snow from walk paths and generously spreading salt to prevent slipping on the ice.