Siminoc Diary for 7^th February 2010

Hello Everyone
So another week has passed and I bet you were all hoping for some photo's that didn't have snow, well its not going to happen I'm afraid we still have snow and as I write to you the snow is coming down hard outside, we are starting to wonder when it is all going to end. But on with the diary.
Monday
We woke to a sunny morning, but it was still cold. It was a quiet day today and with morning jobs out the way, we continue to move snow and bring more wood inside, the wind starts to pick up and it is bitterly cold all of the snow we were clearing was blowing back and covering our tracks, so we decide to stop for a break and to warm up with a nice cup of tea. We head inside and while waiting for the kettle to boil we start filling the saucepans to heat the water for the animals feed, we sit down and almost out of no where the strong wind had changed to strong blizzard, more snow. It snowed all night and it was coming down thick and fast, by the morning all our hard work of clearing snow wasn't visible. After evening feed we shut down early and had an early night hoping the snow wouldn't be too bad in the morning.
Tuesday
We woke to another good layer of snow on the ground. Morning jobs start but the fire lighting had to be delayed, the fire has been losing parts of the base for a while now and today it all but fell apart. A quick phone call to Flori, to ask for Gigi's help and in about half an hour Gigi was here fixing the fire. It was only a temporary repair job and he has agreed to come back during the summer months to alter and fix it properly, he tells us the people that put it in were not very good and he has had to fix several other peoples fires within in the village, including Flori's. Now it was the wait for the cement to dry before we could light the fire it really wasn't a good day for the fire not to be working. Woody and I had to leave Mum and Dad to light the fire as we had to go to Constanta. We left early afternoon with our fingers crossed that the bus would be running, and luckily it was, it was running late but at least we could get to Constanta. We had to see Tori and do some shopping it was hard work with more snow over very icy pavements. We got home at about 6pm and were glad that the fire was burning nicely, we were cold. After warming up Woody headed to feed while I was on the computer booking flights for Mum, Dad and me to return to the UK, I will only be staying in the UK for a week but I wanted to make sure Mum was settled and everything was ok.
Wednesday
It was an early start this morning, after the morning jobs we had to go to Murfatlar to hand in some paper work and it was decided that we would do some more shopping while we were there. We finished quite quickly and were back home just in time for a late lunch. Mum had some bad news for us while we were out she had been on the computer and had been looking at the weather forecast for the next 15 days she informs us we will have a very bad weekend, Snow on Saturday and a high of -12 during the day on Sunday dropping to a low of -23 during the night. It was decided to get prepared, all hay that we needed for the weekend needed to be inside, a good stock of wood inside, well basically the only thing we wanted to go outside for was water. So the plan for Thursday and Friday was set. Luckily we had stocked the dogs and cats up with enough food until Tuesday next week when we were shopping yesterday and our food stocks were good. Hopefully we would not need to move over the weekend. During the afternoon we started getting organised and clearing space to bring a large amount of wood in and I also started some washing if it really is going to be that cold again we would all need some extra clothes in case needed. After feed and with the thought of a long couple of days ahead of us we shut down early and headed to bed.
Thursday
After morning jobs it was full steam ahead with everything we had to do before the weekend. First stop was the shop to stock up on some bits we hadn't got in town or Murfatlar as we knew we could get it in the village, but over the weekend we didn't even want to venture to the village shops. We brought about 6 bales down from the haystack with the intentions of going back tomorrow for the rest that we would need. Logs were starting to be stacked in the hallway. A quick phone call to Dan to arrange animal food, we head to his house to deliver the money and the list he would be with us tomorrow morning. Everything is taking twice as long as normal at the moment because everywhere has a layer of ice about 10cm-20cm thick. Woody has slipped on the ice several times. We get home just as it is getting dark and it is time to start the evening feed and organising dinner. We had done as much as we could today, and tomorrow would be just a busy with the preparations for the weekend.
Friday
Another early start, all morning jobs in full swing, and while I was collecting more wood I notice Dan had tried to come up Collena's road, it hadn't worked and he had to reverse down the slippery hill and he then came up Tica's road he could not get to the gate and we had to unload the feed on to the corner, then the ladder invention was used again and it has now been named the 'Sladder', we loaded the feed onto the Sladder and pulled it to the front gate, from there it was a short but by no stretch of the imagination easy walk to the hallway where the barrels are being stored. When Dan arrived Woody had not finished feed so after we got all the feed in it was a rush to finish feeding and watering the animals. I was making a tea when woody came down and said he thought Pepper would be having her little ones in the next couple of days she was showing signs of labor. We sat and had a late lunch and just before we headed back up the haystack and to collect more wood, Woody went to check the animals I heard a shout and went to find out what was happening, when I got up there I was greeted by the first of Peppers babies, she had caught us all unaware we didn't think she would have delivered them that quickly and within about 10 minutes the second one was with us. It was a quick alteration Minty and Astra were moving into the Nursery pen, with there babies they were old enough now, this free up the birthing pens one for Pepper and one for Xsara who we think will be soon joining the motherhood group. By the time we had done all of this the afternoon was gone and it had got dark and was time to feed.
So much for the well planned days ha-ha. After feed we noticed that the Peppers two girls had not fed, on closer examination we find that Pepper is not producing the quantity of milk she should be. We had quite a few problems with Pepper last year and she didn't take to motherhood well, we hoped it would not be the same this year, but only time would tell. Late evening it was clear we would have to help her with her babies we did one feed then and then a very late feed we don't want to interfere too much as it will cause her to reject them but they needed a boost. After a long day and a close watch on Pepper and her babies it was time for bed.
Saturday
We were awake early and very anxious to get up to the animal house in fact that was the first stop of the morning, We were both glad to see that Pepper girls had made it through the night, Pepper was also looking well although she was still not being an attentive Mum like our other sheep are. It was time for the morning feed, but this now it was just the two baby girls then a cup of tea and then back to the routine jobs of the morning. While drinking tea, we all suddenly realised it wasn't snowing, phew we still had to get to the hay stack and get some more wood in, but first it was morning jobs. During the day between 3 hourly feed for the baby girls it was, back to getting things ready in case the snow came hoping it would stay away for as long as possible. By 3pm we were tired and glad everything was done and we were prepared now where is the snow?????
The water went on for the animal food and while I started on dinner Woody took a walk down the shop, he had found some biscuits he liked and wanted some more. Evening feed went well and everyone behaved themselves and the evening came and went with no snow. The animal house now gets shut down at 1am this as the baby girls last feed until the morning. We are quite lucky as Pepper is still feeding them we are just having to top them up so Pepper can manage through the night. We shut down and collapse into bed.
Sunday
Another early start and again straight to the animal house to give the little girls there first feed. They are pleased to see us and jumping around quite happily. Back for tea and then on with morning jobs. It hasn't been a very busy day apart from the feeding of the baby girls and at about lunch time the snow started and it was coming down hard, it has been snowing on and off ever since, while writing the diary I have been watching the news and the snow has been causing havoc all of Romania the airports are closed, the Motorway is closed trains are either not running or very delayed, in the mountains there have been avalanches, and there were so many accidents on the news I lost count, the police are issuing warnings if you don't have to go out don't unfortunately people are not listening. The emergency service and snow works are doing there best to restore order but at the moment its not working and we are just hoping the snow will ease soon. It is now coming up to midnight in Romania and I am at the moment not brave enough to move the curtain to find out if it is snowing at the moment or not. The last job of the night will be in about 45 minutes when the baby girls will have there last feed, then everything will be shut down and we will brave the snow to crawl into bed.
Mum is doing well, her knitting skills have pretty much returned to normal, she has just finished a birthday present but I can't say who it is for on here. Her walking is a lot better and she is now able to get round most of the lounge unassisted. She is starting to make her own coffee and as long as the kettle is not full she is also managing to make a tea. Her speech is still improving and she has been playing on some games on the computers. I think she is looking forward to returning to the UK and seeing family and friends.

From a very tired and snowy Siminoc I am going to sign off and start getting things ready for the last feed of the night.
Until next week
L8RZ Peepz