More Queues

This is what actually happened today - I think I am up-to-date!

Today we went back to the tax office to collect some paperwork that we applied for last week, with the usual 100's of pieces of ID and various documents. We got there just after the lunch-break and stood in a kind of queue. Eventually the doors were opened and the queue disintegrated and reformed in a tiny tiny office, with four counters. Only two of the counters were open and serving different purposes. We queued at the first with our ID to collect the forms, whilst being elbowed and pushed by other people desperate to have their forms looked at. Eventually Larissa made it to the counter and discovered that one of the forms had been left behind at the zoo. She explained this to the lady, who told her off and agreed to give us the paperwork anyway. We were extremely relieved. Unfortunately the lady only had the paperwork for Steve, mine had not been processed yet. To get the document Steve then had to queue at the other counter and sign a small piece of paper. I have to do the whole thing again another day!

We also had a big productive meeting with the Zoo Director to discuss our recommendations and to consider how our work is going so far. She is very pleased with us! When we first arrived at the zoo we made a gift to the Director of a first edition copy of Gerald Durrell in Russia. It's very nice to see the book displayed on her desk!

Had a lovely lunch at a small pizza restaurant near the zoo. We would like to go there again, but you need to book a table, and my Russian isn't up to doing that yet.

In the afternoon we had a photo session with a local journalist who will be writing an article about the zoo and what Steve and I are doing in Kyiv. I'll try to get a copy.