Ukraine... To me this word means a great deal but to others...Not long ago it was seen as just one of many countries which emerged from the break up of the Soviet Union, many people unable to locate it on the map. Nearly everyone is aware of Ukraine now - a country of patriotic determined people, who no longer want to live in a desperate corrupt society but instead as a free and law abiding nation building trading links around the globe.

However, I would like to begin with my village, a beautiful little treasure, once a holiday destination for people across the border - Russians....

We pick mushrooms in the forest, we fish in the river and children pay freely and walk to school on their own, sometimes over a two mile distance. There are no bus services within the village and not every family has a car.

People keep pigs, chickens, goats and cows and work on their own vegetable plots to have food on the table.

But village life was great. There is a great sense of community and tradition and all that goes with such  a place - the gossip, the love affairs and friendship forged for life.

  There is also a sense of freedom. It is the on of a few places on Earth , where you can escape to be on your own for a while - to dream...