Diary for 31^st January 2010

Hello Everyone
We have had quite a busy week here so I will get straight down to what has been happening.
Monday
A good start to the day and morning jobs were going well. The thermometer I had left outside overnight was showing a low of -12, and didn't go above the minus outside all day. Everyone was feeling the cold even in the animal house the water that is left with the animals overnight was frozen, a warm breakfast was needed by all. Discussions over coffee after the morning jobs had been done and we all agree that this has been the worst winter we have known, we have had the snow and minus temperatures but never both for the length we have this year. With still having no water inside, it has been decided to work as we are at the moment as we have not got the weather to try and fix pipes, so Woody and I are regularly filling 30 liter containers from the outside tap to keep inside. it is working ok and once a routine is built it will be no problem. I made a start on the washing pile today, my hand washing skills are not great but I am sure they will get better quite quickly, and luckily we have a huge saucepan to be able to do it in. Woody needed to go back up the hay stack today but decided to enroll a new member to our transporting team, Harry you are about to do some work!! Using the ladder as a sled again but this time the rope that Woody and I were pulling last week was attached to Harry and with a bit of encouragement he was off and doing a very good job. With evening jobs in swing and dinner cooking, we all had a wash during the evening and then everyone had an early night it was another cold night and curled up in bed was the best place to be.
Tuesday
The temperature was worse we woke to find that the nightly low was -21, very very cold trust me. Woody was awake and started the morning jobs before me, I followed shortly and started clearing up and sorting things out ready for the days work. Dan was on the phone during the morning, they needed the battery charger Woody found it and took it down. We brought a good stock of wood in to the hall for burning but we were running low so during the afternoon Woody and I decided to make our way down to the wood yard to get another delivery of wood. We got to the shop after a lot of slipping and sliding the surface of the snow had frozen in the minus temperature and everything was like a skating rink. We started waiting for the bus we should only have about a ten minute wait, 20 minutes later and we were both freezing and still waiting for the bus, we decide that as we hadn't seen a bus either way they may not be running, there was no snow falling but the roads were so icy the bus might have been cancelled. We decide to do the shopping we had to do in the village shops and give up the idea of going to get logs. We went to Mirella's and just as we came out the door the bus passed they were running just later than the schedule's. Did we want to wait for the next one, no stuff it we would do it tomorrow it was so cold today. Again the temperature did not get out the minus all day.
Home and after getting more wood in and filling water containers up again, we both warmed up in front of the fire with a nice cuppa tea, ready to brave the cold weather again to start the evening jobs. All went well and we shut down early, and again it was bed early. This sort of cold eats away at you it is hard to describe but to try and give you a bit of an idea, it is about 7 steps from the outside tap to the caravan, this morning I did a silly thing of filling the kettle up with no glove and in the process of filling the water I splashed some water on my hand before I had got to the caravan the water on my hand had frozen.
Wednesday
We were up at nine and the morning jobs started straight away, we had to be quick today as there was a lot planned, but neither Woody nor I had quite prepared ourselves for how the day was going to end. Anyway the plan for the day was Constanta to go and see the sea, shopping then get off the bus in Vala Lui Triain and go to the wood yard for a tonne of logs before we go home to feed the animals and settle for the night. We get on the bus by about 12:30 it was a slow journey to Constanta the roads were still very icy, just as we get into the outskirts of Constanta we see the first flakes of snow, it was predicted for today but we were hoping it would hold off until we got home no such luck. First stop was the beach, we get to the top of the steps leading to the beach and yes the sea was still frozen it is an amazing sight we wanted to get down to the beach but the steps had turned into a slope of pure ice and with the snow falling harder we decided to give it a miss and try and get home as quickly as possible. So next stop was shopping, we only had two shops to visit today and it was quite painless, we head back to the bus stop and jump on the bus. We could not relax though for one there was only standing room left and 2 we had to work out where to get off it was not our normal stop as we were going to the wood yard. Woody had a better view than me and he said get ready we will get off here I think this is reasonably close and probably the last stop, unfortunately he had judged it wrong and we had about a kilometer walk through thick snow to get to the wood yard passing a numerous amount of bus stops on the way. We arrived finally at about 4pm and they were still working so we were happy. We had a bit of a wait there as they were busy dealing with a customer that wanted 4 tonnes then it was us and at about 5:30 pm the cage was filled with the logs and it was loaded on to the back of the lorry, phew we think it was starting to get dark the snow was starting to get heavy and we knew we had to unload the other end yet, but we had breathed a sigh of relief too early, we had to wait about half an hour for a driver, Mum and Dad rang to find out where we were and to tell us it was snowing in Siminoc.
finally at about 6:15pm we are on the move but before we go to Siminoc we had to deliver a load to somewhere in Murfatlar, this was beginning to get beyond a joke, but we head into Siminoc at about 6:30pm. We direct the driver and as we turn into what is known as the service road he takes the corner too fast and well that's as far as we got, the driver was stuck well and truly stuck the van wouldn't go backwards and wouldn't go forwards, I now have one very angry Romanian driver trying to blame me!!!!!!! my thoughts LEARN TO DRIVE !!!!!. We borrow some spades and start digging the van out but it was going to take a lot of work, and he informs me he was not going any further, you get me out and you unload the wood here. I start unloading the wood and do a desperate call to Flori, to see if she could get some man power down to help push the van out of the position, she was on her way down to see what she could do. She see's me unloading the wood and say's this is a bad idea, I said it would be fine we would manage. I didn't quite know how, but the old saying goes, where there's a will there's a way. Woody and I had a quick talk and had planned to wheelbarrow the wood it was about a twenty minute walk and the roads were not great with the snow still falling but we saw no other option, it was going to be a very long night. Flori overheard the conversation and made a sneaky phone call to her dad, about 20 minutes later Stilica and Ticca arrive to help, they have an argument with the driver and with a lot of heated conversation it was clear that the driver was not going any further, another sneaky phone call was made without me knowing and it was all arranged that Catalin from the farm would bring his horse and cart down to transport the wood. We finally finish unloading the wood and get the van out, the driver was on his way and I for one was glad to see the back of him. So now we have a tonn of wood on the side of the road and we have to wait for Catalin. Jacquie has told me that wood never keeps you warm just once, she always says it keeps you warm three times moving it (1) cutting it (2) and burning it (3) and yes Woody and I would have agreed with her and sometimes we have managed to stretch it to 4 or 5 times of warmth as we have had to move a couple of times but today the wood was definitely not keeping me warm, I had to wait with the wood stack for about half an hour before Catalin arrived. and that was cold work, but I knew if I left it would not be there when we got back. We thank the two young lads that had lent us the spade and helped digging as they went inside on their mum's order's I don't blame them it was getting cold and late, at least it had stopped snowing. Catalin arrives with the horse and cart and another helper followed quickly by Stilica, Ticca and Vali, who had come back to load up, Woody started the walk home for the second time to help unload the other end. We load up the first cart and it is off and we only have to wait about 20 minutes before Catalin arrives back for the second load. While we are waiting Lili walks past on her way home from work, she asks what we are doing Stillica teases her that we are selling wood, then explains she puts her handbag down and wait with us knowing another pair of hands would always be welcome. With all the wood in the drive way we say a huge Thank You to everyone and head inside to feed, it seems our Guardian Angels come in many shapes and sizes, I think if we didn't have help Woody and I would not have finished getting the wood home until the early hours of Thursday if we were lucky. We all sit down for dinner at about 11:30pm, a long day was over, bed was calling, and snow was falling at quiet a rate now.
Thursday
With another good covering of snow over night and a few flakes still falling we start and finish the morning jobs. After yesterday it was a quiet day the essential work was done and a few extra's like cleaning Minty's back end up she has had the runs and it has stuck in her wool. but other than that it was a very quiet day. All went well but not much was done. We had an early night and the snow had started falling again and it was heavy again, surely we can't get much more, we are over waist deep in some places now and if we get much more we wont be able to walk in some places.
Friday
We wake and the snow had not eased during the night and the path that had been cleared was once again covered in about 30cm of snow, it was not snowing at the moment though which was a good sign. On with the days jobs, and after all the routine work had been done and lunch had been eaten, Woody and I took a walk down to the shop with Latty. its always funny seeing the little dogs in the snow she was struggling but enjoying herself at the same time as we turned the corner to go down Collena's road we noticed that it was not just Latty that was coming for a walk Panda was joining us, he came about 15 minutes in to the walk and then decided he was going to play in a tree, until a dog barked at him and he belly flopped into a pile of snow and shot round the corner and headed for home. When we got home Latty curled up and slept until dinner but she had enjoyed herself. After a quick cuppa it was time to get on with the afternoon work before feed and then settle down for a quiet night wondering if there is going to be anymore snow tonight.
Saturday
Up a little late today thanks to a certain young dog called Missy, we have worked out why she barks at night. To sound really silly she is scared of the dark for the past week we have been taking a small rechargeable light through to bed and she has been settling well but last night we forgot it and paid the price. Mum was very pleased with herself this morning, as she had had an early night last night she was first up and managed to let the dogs out and make herself a cup of coffee, it is nice to see her getting back to normal but I wish she wouldn't be so adventurous when no one else is up, we just worry at the moment but she is happy and that is the main thing. Morning jobs in full swing and everything went well, apart from the fire lighting, not too much of a problem though as it was considerably warm today. By lunch time I had made a start on dinner and it was cooking slowly. During the afternoon I did a bit of a clear up and some house work and Woody pottered with some outside jobs that needed doing and at about 4pm the routine of filling water barrels back up and getting ready for feed started. The evening jobs went well and for once all flowed with ease, in fact we were shocked when we were all sat down relaxing by 8pm having had dinner and even the dogs had been fed, we were finished for the night and nice and early in time for a good film on the TV. Woody informed us all that Astra would probably be having her babies in the next 72 hours her udder had filled totally in the space of the day, we would have to keep an eye on her. Woody decided to go to bed at about 9pm he was suffering from a headache. At about 11:30pm I went to let the dogs out before they settled for the night and decided to do one last check on Astra and the rest of the sheep, to my surprise in amongst the face I recognized there was a little baby looking back at me in, It was one of Astra's I first race to the caravan to get Woody and then inside to get a coat, I had to do some shuffling of animals it was planned for tomorrow but it seems Astra didn't want to wait. Woody was with me in less than 5 mins, and Astra was carefully moved to her own pen so we could see exactly what was happening. Woody is very confident with birthing now and while he stayed with Astra I went to collect Mum, who was getting her shoes on ready to come and see the new arrivals, Mum, Dad and I took a slow walk back to the animal house and were just in time to see the second lamb being born, Astra is a very good mum, she knows exactly what to do and was happy with her two new bundles of joy. They are both boys which is a shame but Mum and Babies are doing well, what was an early finish turned into a very late finish and by the time Woody and I had done all the checks we didn't crawl into bed until about 2:30am.
Sunday
Up in good time but the horrible sound of rain was with us, its going to be a wet day. A lot of the snow has melted due to the rain but there is still a lot to melt, so today's main job after feeding was clearing the snow, in the rain. Woody choose that job while I picked the job of writing the diary early and checking on Astra and her two little boys, they are all doing well but we keep an eye on them for the first day or so. Minty is quiet pleased as she now has some sheep company and another Mum to talk about baby stuff with. While clearing the snow Woody decided to attempt to build an igloo it didn't go very well at the moment its a pile of snow if it improves next week I will take a picture for you. During the afternoon Woody decided to stay inside and we made an investigation of the loft we have some leaks but at the moment there is not a lot that can be done apart from monitoring them. With the evening drawing near the evening jobs started, dinner is on and cooking and the Diary is in good progress. While feeding Woody decided to build a snowman. I think this will be the start of a family if the snow doesn't melt over night. Everything shut down for the evening and we are just waiting for dinner and the diary will be with our Web Master before 9pm which is a record, it is usually sent between the hour of midnight and 1am Romanian time, but after a late night last night I think everyone is looking forward to an early finish.
Pictures this week
Just for your information the lambs with the brown jackets on are Emma and Chris,Minty's babies the first born, please don't get confused not all our lambs.
Then the two in orange jackets are Astra's two boys born Saturday.

Jacquie is doing well and says hello to everyone, we thank the supporters who have donated money towards the car fund, I think Woody and I are going to try and organise something while Mum and Dad are in the UK, but I will keep you posted. At the moment Mum and Dad are waiting patiently to be able to return to the UK, weather conditions are making travelling hard, we thought that the snow might be coming to an end but looking at the forecast we have more coming during next week, so we will see what happens.
So for now I am going to leave you until next week and go and enjoy my roast dinner knowing I have nothing left to do after I have eaten it. Bliss : )
L8RZ Peepz