Thought i’d post a few videos from Baku, made by Adnan (aka FuserLimon). I found these searching YouTube for Baku, and instantly interested in his video “Sexual Revolution or Death to Israel” (2nd video down on this page). After a few messages back and forth over YouTube it looks likely that we may meet up in Baku. Looking forward to this as not only does he make interesting videos and wear *genius* jumpers, but because he is now working with the youth group “OL” in Baku; an organisation helping the youth and orphans in the city (see the last video for more detail on this). Adnan is also going to the Wales game.
Putting Azerbaijan On The Map
I will preface this video by explaining that Adnan studied in America (*I think*).
Baku Graffiti
This was filmed within the last week.
The Armenian Church
Azerbaijan and Armenia are still technically at war, Nagorno-Karabakh War. Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia meet in Prague ‘today’ to discuss the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, BBC news story here.
Thank you to everyone who turned up for our charity game on Sunday at Conwy Utd; we just about managed to get a team sorted to play against Moelfre. I knew just 3 players from our usual Wednesday night lads in our “team”… this *was not* our team, which led to an inevitable defeat… 8-2… Still, everyone chipped in and everyone had a go at the football scratch cards (thanks for getting those Keith) in the clubhouse afterwards and helped raise just under £100 towards Gol, and our drive.
Big thank you to Ken “from Pen” Jones for organising the game, the pitch, and sorting the proceeds.
Everyone who played and donated in the clubhouse (that’ll be everyone then!) will have their name on the car… ah, the car: Latest is, it’s still mis-firing. The power-steering failed the other day, this was down to a broken fan-belt, now fixed; having a new one of those is further piece of mind. But the mis-firing is a real worry. Jeff, our mechanic friend, assures me the car will be back in working order Friday. If the car isn’t fully firing by this weekend, i’m beginning to think to get something else… but, this may not be an option; border guards and checkpoints en-route are all aware of the Saabs registration to wave us through. Switching car now, may be too late.
Neil Dymock, Gôl trustee and main organiser of just about everything, suffered a setback of his own this week; seems the rules of obtaining visas for Azerbaijan have changed. Neils flight to Baku, scheduled for last weekend, to sort accommodation and get some contacts over there failed to get past the embassy in London. There will be no reconnaissance mission. Our visas are still not sorted, but assured by Friday we will have everything in place. Oh, and has anyone thought to get tickets to the match?
Two and a half weeks until we roll out, things are getting tight, lots to do…
For an hour Saturday afternoon, myself and Rich took the mic, donned the headphones and broadcast to the locality from Tudno FMs studio at John Brights Tŷ Hapus. A warm welcome from host Gary Carr before the live broadcast; a whirlwind of music and sport updates with the help of a young lad, Finn; a talented young footballer by all accounts, on trial with Manchester United, Liverpool and Wrexham.
It’s got to be said how well Rich got across the purpose of the drive, Gôls charity work, spelling out exactly what we’re doing this for. Before going on-air he told me he’d just come in now and again letting me lead the conversation, fair enough; the opposite happened. I wish we had an audio copy to put up here. Geldofesque Rich, Geldofesque.
Afterwards I managed to catch all 3 Llandudno goals v Guilsfield in their 3-0 win, and wandered into the clubhouse, pleased to hear they had Tudno FM on, with Gary still plugging Conwy to Baku. Thanks Gary, and for your donation; “Carr will be on the car”.
Next fundraising/awareness activity is this Sunday, 3rd May, at Conwy Utds Morfa Ground, 2.30pm. We have hastily arranged a charity football match. We have gathered a ramshackle squad of 14 from our regular 8-a-side Wednesday night games to face Anglesey league side Moelfre, in a post-season friendly, everyone welcome. Thanks again for all donations made this far through all the various routes you have managed to get to us!
Car update: Having been handed back the keys for the Saab on Friday I managed to clock up 2 miles of spluttering around Conwy, the mis-firing mentioned in my last post got worse. It’s currently back with our mechanic. Thanks Jeff you’re vital to this drive - though I really wish you weren’t *this* involved in a mechanical capacity at this stage.
I’m off to find a Hungarian phrasebook; “I will not buy this tobacconists, it is scratched”, had to include it:
