A convoy story - getting there despite all the odds.

Sending an aid convoy to Gaza may sound like a romatic notion but for many of the Viva Palestina team just getting to the ferry, any ferry, has been a trial of endurance. Below we give you a glimpse of what one convoy team had to go through just to get to France. After all these tribulations we can only say, "Well done Zaf, Almas Ali, Razwan and Daniela for all your perseverance. Viva Palestina!"

What a day. A Convoy to Gaza - 14th Feb 2009

· Woke up at 4am, loaded the car, left at 5am for Maidenhead
· Arrived at brother Razz’s house for 7.45am
· Bad news the vehicle to Gaza has broken down. 8.42am
· Brother Almas(mechanic) tries to fix it
· RAC man comes and gives the bad news; the van is not going anywhere!! 10.46am
· Brother Razz rings around for another vehicle to buy.
· DETERMINED GO TODAY NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE
· Went to view some vehicles, two were not worth the risk, the 3rd one looked promising.12.24pm
· The brothers (5 of them) make a decision to buy the 12 seater minibus with disabled access (Alhamdulillah) 2.11pm
· Time is running out, need to be in Ramsgate before 6.30pm
· Leave maidenhead at 4.30pm
· Missed ferry at Ramsgate, need to seek alternative ferry. 5.42pm
· Alas, ferry to Calais from Dover leaving at 8.45pm
· Quizzed by the police at Dover, missed the ferry (police are a joke)!!! 8.30pm
· Arrived in calaise just after midnight (absolutely shattered)
· Long drive to Paris
· 15/02/09 Arrived in Paris 7am, booked into a hotel
· 11am woke up, set off to Bordeaux to meet Convoy, 600+ miles, probably arrive late tonight.

AUTHORED BY ZAF – I DROPPED ALMAS ALI TO LONDON & STAYED WITH HIM UNTIL THEY FINALLY LEFT FROM DOVER. I WAS ACCOMPIANED BY MY SISTER RAQUIA ALMAS AND MY WIFE SADIA.

Our day in pictures