Thread by @HowitzerApprec1

Ahoy fellas! It has been a sad and difficult week. #NAFOfleet and #FellaRail would like to invite you for a gentle adventure in the top-left-hand-corner of Wales. Departure will be around 17.00 UK time.

To join the story, please donate to a Ukrainian cause - we suggest the Flyin' Fellas but the choice is yours - and post your reciept and your fella as a reply in this thread.. u24.gov.ua/news/nafo_squa…

There will be a trip to the gold mines, a meeting with a mysterious motorcycle club at Tywyn Beach, and possibly even a guest spot at the Eisteddfod.

Not so long ago in the top left-hand corner of Wales there was a railway. It was called the Merioneth & Llantisilly Railway Traction Company Ltd.

In a shed in a siding was the engine of the Merioneth & Llantisilly Railway Traction Company Ltd.

His friends called him Ivor.

Now in the mornings Jones the Steam, the engine driver, would come down the hill.

But what's this? A special visitor has come a very long way to ask for Ivor's help.

Mr Oleksandr Kamyshin from @Ukrzaliznytsia needs Ivor to collect a valuable gift from Mr Dinwiddy the miner.

"We'd better have a cup of tea, bach" said Jones the Steam. Ivor filled the kettle straight from his boiler and Mr Kamyshin explained the problem.
Mr Dinwiddy wants to give his gold to Ukraine to help pay for new hospitals. But gold is heavy. Maybe Ivor could bring it to Kyiv?

That sounded like something Dai Station would really think was Against Regulations. And how would the gold get from the mine onto the wagon?

Mr Kamyshin said not to worry. He had a crack team of fellas to help. @i_kLeffmann and @Owl_Pie2 would take care of the signalling.

Ivor, Jones the Steam, Mr Kamyshin and the fellas headed up the line towards the gold mine. @MoiW17, @Phoenixfire709 @NelltheWeaver and @malleegirl57 rode on the wagon

Up the line, Dinwidddy the gold miner was talking to @lord_drinksalot @A_Moonbeams and @Abbeth.
"See these cupboards - I could buy the whole of Wales, England and Scotland. But I want to give it to Ukraine. What's the use of having a bit put by if you can't help your friends?"

"There's a problem, though," said Mr Moonbeams. "If people get to hear about it there will be a goldrush."

Ivor didn't like the sound of that. People coming and digging up the valley?

"Wait," said @HedinLenah. "We will disguise the gold as coal. No-one will guess."

"Good morning Mr Jones!"
"Good morning Mr Pugh!"
"Is it coal you are wanting?"
"No, I'd like some gold bars please!"
"We've only got coal, Mr Jones!"
Well, that's what Mr Pugh thought but @i_kLeffmann @maggenpie and @Owl_Pie2 had been busy. Down the chute tumbled the gold bars.

The gold bars were in one wagon with a layer of coal on top. The other wagon was coal all the way down. The fellas were hot and covered in coal dust. Ivor knew just the thing. He blew his whistles. "Oh yes, Ivor," said Jones the Steam. "Let's take the fellas on an Outing."

But hang on, fellas! Ivor is the First Bass for the Grumbly and District Choral Society! He can't miss choir practice. Try and blend in, and pay attention to Evans the Song as he conducts.

Fellas, we will leave Ivor and his friends here for the night, rehearsing for the Eisteddfod.

Please tune in again tomorrow tea-time for the next part of the story when some new fellas will join the adventure.

#ThisistheRailWay
#NAFOfleet

Ivor the Engine. There he is, look. On his way to Tywyn with a wagon full of coal, a wagon full of Dinwiddie the Miner's gold that he has donated to Ukraine, and two wagons full of the fellas that Mr Kamyshin brought to help load it. They're going to the beach to bathe.

What's this? It looks like a motorcycle club has also come to the seaside for the afternoon. It's @bopandy1 @LilaNatalijka @intelSkunk @maria_ranta @Sausel2 @Muttley76 and Marv from the [REDACTED] MC. Don't they look fine with the sun gleaming off their chrome?

Ivor was a bit nervous - he doesn't know any bikers. Were they friendly? But look - they've been collecting Easter eggs. "Excuse me, Mister the Engine," said @bopandy1. "We heard you were going to Kyiv. Would you take these Easter eggs with you to give as gifts to the children?"

After their hard work lugging the gold around the fellas couldn't wait to hit the beach. @maggenpie @i_kLeffmann & @Owl_Pie2 quickly changed into their bathers. @A_Moonbeams rolled up his trouser legs. @lord_drinksalot was born beach-ready and @MoiW17 perched on a nice warm rock.

Look! An ice cream cart. @NelltheWeaver is buying for all the fellas! Thank you Nell. It looks like @Phoenixfire709 and @HedinLenah have come to help you carry them. You'll have to be quick, they look like they might melt.

The fellas have a long journey ahead and it is time to make a start. Ivor blew his whistle and everyone climbed back into the carriages.
But something was nagging at Jones the Steam.
Something didn't look quite right.

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear.
Dai Station would be very unhappy about this.
It is definitely Against Regulations to lose one of your wagons.
Especially the one that is filled with gold.

"We'll help you look," said the bikers. And they scattered far and wide, scouring the hills and the sheepfolds for a little green wagon.

"We'll help you look," said the Souperfly drone team. And @goblin__soup, @Therm02, @UkraineStand4, @czeburashkaHS and @MingtheMercil15 took to the skies.

"I'll help you look," said @SueSamirax11 , picking up a metal detector and riding out out on her beautiful horse.
But no-one could find a little green wagon, full of gold, with a layer of coal on the top.

What will I tell Mr Kamyshin, fretted Jones the Steam, walking up and down the beach.
@s0ap0peraqueen and @RusalkaNYC drew close to shore. "Ahoy, fella - are you in bother?"
"Just a bit," said Jones.
"Have you asked your engine where the wagon has gone?"
Well that was an idea..

There's Ivor, sitting patiently on the esplanade.
"Now look here, Ivor," says Jones the Steam. "Do you know where that wagon has got to?"
Two toots on the whistle.
That's yes!

Where did the wagon get to?
Who is winning the sandcastle contest?
Will those Easter eggs make it out of Tywyn?
We'll find out tomorrow.

#NAFOfleet
#Fellarail
#Thisistherailway

If you are enjoying this adventure please give a donation to a Ukrainian cause. Our help and support is needed now more than ever.

There is still plenty of room for more fellas if you would like to join the story - post your donation proof and your fella below!

Ivor the Engine. There he is, look - just about to start the long pull out of Tywyn. And there's Jones the Steam, and all the fellas, and the bikers and @SueSamirax11 on her horse...and the Souperfly team. All about to follow Ivor to...well, to wherever he's going to take us.

Goodness! Ivor has brought everyone to Smoke Hill. Look out, Souperfly team! We don't want anyone to get roasted. What on earth would the missing wagon be doing here?

Oh look! There is Idris the Dragon. He lives in Smoke Hill with his little family, Olwen, Gaian and Blodwen. But what is he doing? It looks like he has turned the volcano into a blast furnace. Careful, Souperfly Fellas - keep that drone out of the flames!

Oh! No wonder no-one can find the little green wagon and all the gold. It has been melted down with the help of Mr Dinwiddy and Bynon Smith. It's been made into a fancy carriage! @cjk_tn and @kattzStory's dear friend MADDOX have brought medical supplies to carry in it.

What a clever idea that was of Mr Kamyshin's! But perhaps he should have told Jones the Steam as well as Ivor and saved everyone a lot of bother.
Now the carriages are loaded and everyone is ready to go - but what is this? Evans the Song has come with a special invitation.

Mr Evans explained that The Grumbly and District Choral Society would like to honour their special guests with an impromptu Eisteddfod.
"Do you know Ще не вмерла Українa?" Idris asked the fellas. "Mr Kamyshin has been teaching it to me. It's one of my favourites."

People came from all over the 12 valleys to sing for the visitors. @mrs_cassidy11 and @CherylCK4 presided over the meet. The choir sang Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. The guests looked very solemn at the mention of Wales's "brave warriors, fine patriots, Who shed their blood for freedom."

With friends in the carriages and out at sea, and Mr Kamyshin at the controls Ivor set off on his long journey to Kyiv. The fellas sang Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished. And high and clear above their voices rang out the voices of the dragons, singing out their confidence in the ZSU.

Ivor lives in a world where friends look out for each other, care for the vulnerable and welcome the stranger.
We all want Ukraine to enjoy that peace again.
Please give. Even if it is only a few pounds, Euro or dollars. NAFO is many, and many small gifts will make a big change.