Unfortunately, there is currently no internet access in Siminoc so we are unable to bring the weekly diary to you. As soon as the phone system is restored we will publish a full update.
In the mean time everyone at Growing Care wishes you a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.


18th December 2011

Hello Everyone
I am so sorry that I haven't written to you in such a long time, it has just been one thing after another here, and I honestly don't know where the time has gone. We flew into December and I really can't believe how fast Christmas has crept up on me this year, although I probably say that every year this year 24 days before Christmas has felt more like 4 days before Christmas. I am not going to even attempt to do the normal format for the diary as my time is being stretched to the maximum at the moment so I am going to give you all a brief run down on what we have been up to and news from Siminoc.
So first off we have had some very bad weather not in the way of snow but high winds and rain and very cold temperatures and then it did a complete turn around and went back to lovely weather during which we had to still light our fire meaning we were sitting with the windows open of an evening. Today though it has turned cold again with rain and wind. At the moment we really don't know what the winter has in store for us and by the looks of it neither do the weather people as the forecast changes daily if not hourly, so we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.
We have had some major internet problems meaning we were off line for just under 2 weeks and we are still having problems with it now when we lose it for a couple of hours or a day, now we have heard many stories on what this is and its just a case of choosing your favourite, weather conditions, malfunctioning equipment, technical problems and my personal favourite, people stealing the cable, none of these are very helpful and it has been rather annoying to say the least. During the time we had no internet we also lost power for a couple of days, that was fun !!!! Although we have been lucky we haven't lost water yet so fingers crossed. We have been without the car for two weeks making life extremely difficult for shopping and the preparations for Christmas but we have it back now and it has an MOT so all is good.

So what have we been up to.....
Well like I say Christmas one of the busiest times for us and that is what has taken up our time, preparing for Christmas and Winter. These preparations have become a bit more hectic this year with Jake around as it is his very 1st Christmas, when it has just been Woody and I we have tried to make an effort for us but truthfully we are happy just to relax Christmas day, the tree normally goes up Christmas eve or Christmas morning and preparations for us are thin, but with a young man so amazed by the lights and tinsel we have had to get in top gear and get organised. Sunday's have very much turned into our family day to do Christmassy things together. The rest of the week has been blind panic sorting all the boxes and parcels and working to deadlines.
The first deadline was the post office campaign for Christmas and we managed to deliver 50 toys of various shapes and sizes, for them to distribute. And a blanket and hat distribution to some of the families, during the very cold spell of weather we had.
In amongst all the Christmas sorting which is far from finished and I predict a lot of late nights next week. I have been sorting Clothes for Pastor Dan, running around town trying to sort paperwork for the accountant, oh and have I mentioned the bright idea we had of having 12 tonnes of wood delivered all at once ( note to self completely stupid idea and next year more manageable sized loads would be better), we are still trying to find the time to store this until delivery to the families. I have also been stocking the freezer up with soups and stews ready for when the cold weather hits. There have been some running repairs to the base that had to be made, along with all the normal animal work, they don't care how cold it is they still want looking after and trips to the lucerne. We have all battled the festive flu luckily for us it was at staggered times, and visiting to some of the families has already started. During the evening after Jake has gone to bed, I have been sorting Christmas Cards and presents for the UK and the little boy himself. I can tell you I am going to breath a very big sigh of relief after Christmas, but like every year it is going to be well worth all the work to see all the children's face's light up with a smile including our own.
So just a little note about Jake, he is doing really well growing a great deal and is at the moment in the middle of what we think is a growth spurt as there is not a time when he doesn't want food. He is the sparkle in both our eyes and we are very, very happy, although be assured he is no angel there are times he is a right pickle and tonight's bedtime is one of those times.
We have a lot left to do and next week is packed full of things that need to be done and again deadlines to meet, the main deadline being its Christmas Day on Sunday ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! I still have to get the pigs to slaughter, do all the shopping for the food parcels and some shopping for Christmas gifts, carry on the sorting of gifts and clothes, and then pack everything up ready for Christmas eve delivery and we still have to sort some Christmas bits out for ourselves ahhhhh!!!!!!! It is certainly a juggling game this year and I am really just hoping all my balls don't come crashing to the floor but I am luckily one of those people that works the best in the middle of madness, hecticness and chaos.

So what has been happening in the village……...
Unfortunately, we have had some very sad news and this has taken a fair bit of my time up. One of the families that we support came to me with some very bad news, their baby boy who was soon to have his 1st birthday, had been taken to hospital and unfortunately died just a short time later. It is a very sad time and the Mum is outwardly putting on a brave face, but inside hurting a lot as we can all understand. I have made visits to them and helped where I can but I think at the moment the family are just in need of time and a thought or a prayer, if you could. It is going to be a hard time for them this Christmas, but with two young girls they have to keep going.
As horrible as this may sound and I know it does, unlike in England where this would be a great shock and it would effect a lot of people, over here it does seem to almost be the norm. Child death is a lot more common over here what with the medical care, the living conditions and the over all health of people, and in some ways the very silly traditions/advice about bringing up a baby, for example you will very rarely see a baby without a hat on, even during the summer and even while they sleep. When the Mum came to tell me, my heart broke and a tear rolled and the ability to speak became hard, yet just a few days later she had picked herself back up and carried on with life, now I am not judging anyone on the grieving process as it is very much each to there own and I know this, but I went home had a good cry while having a huge cuddle with Jake and prayed to keep the family safe that the little boy would be in a happy safe place, and for Jake to continue to stay happy and healthy. It was a hard time, and difficult visits, the house was so quiet. I have no pictures of the visit but I have included a picture I have given the Mum of them together.
More news that is not great but promising, the friend I have that has a tumour, has been undergoing some herbal treatment, he is still in pain and is still unable to walk but the headaches have eased, which the family are taking as a good sign. The doctor dealing with his treatment has extended the course from three months to six months in the hope they see better results if you could spare a thought or prayer for them we would be very grateful.
The preparations can be seen within the village and around the towns and the commercial aspect of Christmas is definitely joining Romania, which is for me in some ways a shame. While keeping in touch with friends on a social networking site I have seen so many comments about the nightmare of Christmas shopping and presents piling high and then walk around Constanta town (which has changed dramatically since we first arrived here) to see the shops looking very much like the UK shops with toys, sweets and decorations and then I think about the families we will be visiting, with no grand Christmas tree or decorations some still living by candle light and for most the gifts we take being the only gifts they will get, and its not just here its all around the world even in the UK. We are so lucky to be here and see the magic of Christmas unfold before our eyes when we take the gifts you have either donated or helped donate to the children and I look forward to it every year.

Which leads me to my big question......
Do you believe in Father Christmas????????? Because I know I do and if there is any doubt in your mind stop back next week to see what we see. So my last request to you if you believe in Father Christmas is in the busy week leading up to Christmas I would like you to pause and ask dear old Father Christmas if he could give one more child a Happy Christmas, and not only that but lets not forget the reason for the season.
A big thank you for all your kind donations, that makes our work possible.
I am going to leave you now wishing you all good luck for the week ahead and so I can get back to all the preparations for Christmas, IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN...................