I ordered some magic tricks online from Alakazam in the UK and had the package sent to Kyiv. I got the box this week from the post office up the road, and I was so excited. For starters, you can get stuff sent to Kyiv and this is amazing to me. The war is not stopping the magic. Also, going to the post office this week was quite moving. The young guy there who I used to see at least once a month, from before the war, is still there, and he gave me such a big smile when he saw me enter the post office.

He looked excited to see me. Perhaps he thought he may never seen me again. Or anyone else for that matter. In the same week as I received this magic package many missiles struck different cities in Ukraine and there has been death and destruction again. The terrorism simply does not stop.

It is my birthday tomorrow so receiving this package from the UK this week was good timing. It was partly an experiment, to see if one can send stuff from abroad to Kyiv, and the answer is: yes you can. Yeah, life goes on here in Ukraine’s capital, but nothing is normal. How does one plan a future with so much uncertainty?

This week another member of our small film team, Jol, arrived in Kyiv from SA. It is his first time here and I am confident that he is having his imagination captured in a big way. Kyiv is a magical city.

This clip was taken at Respublika mall this week. It was good to see youngsters having some fun. It is very very hot again this week in Kyiv and being indoors at lunch time I guess is not the worst idea. All feels normal, and, well, good. Until the next air raid sirens go off …