Jacquie's Diary Entry for 31st December 2006

Hi everyone,
As I sit to write the diary this week I think it will be a short one; for two reasons - one last week's diary went through to Tuesday and - two, Lew and I haven't done very much this week. We have taken a couple of days off - well we haven't done much else other than feed, put it that way. I have a riddle for you - Why is everyone that is driving out of Siminoc, towards town, driving on the wrong side of the road?

Wednesday, and we woke to a problem the temperature had dropped to minus eight during the night and we had frozen water pipes. I left Lew working on the problem and I went into town to collect the Christmas Stockings from customs. As I left I picked up last nights bottle of milk, I might have time to take it into the family at the shack. As I was in town I went to look for my young, street friend; if you remember I had promised her a Happy Meal for Christmas, but I have been looking for her since the Saturday before Christmas and haven't been able to find her. Again, she wasn't about in town. So, off to Tomis Nord and the customs post office. I had the usual long wait as the queue inched forward, I agreed the weight of my parcel and was sent though to the customs officer. He asked if I knew what was in the parcel, I told him Christmas Stockings and then had to explain what I meant, then he told me I could go ... he didn't want to see them ... if only the postman could have brought them out to me we could have used them. As it is I will put them in a mouse proof container and into the loft for next year. Yes, even with five cats, we still have certain areas that are not mouse free. Into the supermarket for mince, they have the best mince. Oh! Bother! I had forgotten to bring the disc with the picture for the calendars with me, so it isn't Sian's fault they are late out to you. While I was in there I picked up some bread, tins of fish and a tin opener - in case I have time to get into the family in the shack. Lew rang to say pick up a gaz for the blow lamp, he had thawed the pipes in the bathroom and we had a leak. Anyway a trip into town has to 'work for its living' so to speak, next stop the vegetable market for maize, I didn't have time to go to the market last Sunday. Then on to Metro to buy dog food. I wanted some noodles for us they are a quick standby if Lew and I don't feel like doing the potatoes and a packet of packets for the family, they will make a good meal with the fish. Well I had to go to the family now and I drove down to train station and round the back. What a change in the room. The few bits we had given Mum had given her a lift. She had moved things about to fit the table in and had made more room on the floor for the children to play. The whole room had a cheerier feel, it was lovely and warm, the funny heater they have works well. They had found from somewhere a bigger Christmas tree (it looked to be an old style one), it was sitting on the table and was decorated with the chocolate Father Christmases (or perhaps it was the empty wrappers). I was pleased to see that one of the jumpers I had put in the bag for the oldest fitted perfectly; I was worried about her size. One of the others had one of our hats on, yes I know when its one of ours. (Bill, from the Isle of Wight, says his colleagues have looked at the web pages and it is great to see the clothes and teddies they have sent.) Mum thanked me for the two carrier bags of food and the milk but asked if we could help with some pampers, something I must admit, to my shame, I hadn't thought of before. I told her in the best way I could that I would remember them next time. I must tell you here that pampers, or their equivalent, are not used once but are rinsed off, dried and used again, with all the poorer families; I have seen them drying in the houses in the village. Yes! I know! She had a friend with her, so I didn't stay long, plus with no translator I can't chat. Home for coffee; Lew has fed so nothing for me to do but dinner, we decided to have samalie with salata and pickles - no one had to cook, the samalie warm up well in the microwave.

Thursday and Lew works on the pipe to get the water back to the bathroom, luckily it didn't need any soldering it was one of the flexi-pipes that had split. I wandered up the field and brought down some stalks but that was it. Lew spent the afternoon watching the television and I spent the afternoon playing Su-doku. I wonder whether the kids in the village would enjoy playing the game, perhaps we could have a Su-doku Club, it is a good game to improve logical thinking. Lew went onto the net and found a web site with a large number of free printable games - something to think about.

Friday This week has always been clean out the animals week but I just can't summon the energy, so cleaning is earmarked for next week. But, my mummy bunny needs cleaning out, so I do both hutches. The babies are doing well and look like proper little bunnies now.

Saturday and I drive into town with the disc for the calendars. Laura in the photo shop is pleased to see me, the calendars will take just over an hour and will be ready just as Laura finishes her shift. I arranged to have coffee with her. I go to get a sack of potatoes and went into Metro, Lew wanted a bigger roasting tin for the turkey I bought on Wednesday. No we haven't had enough turkey. The bird Lew bought for Christmas, (he was assured it was a turkey) was a goose; we had a bit, but the security and mouse crews enjoyed finishing it off. So we are trying again. I had to abandon the trolley in Metro having queued for half an hour I was no where near the check out and going to be late meeting Laura. We have been getting to know Laura over the past three years, she develops all our 35mm films and has recently begun making prints from the digital camera for us. I think I am safe telling you now, that Laura is pregnant, the baby is due in April. I think we were one of the first ones to know when she told us in September. We drove into town, she was hungry and wanted something to eat, we argued over who was going to pay, we compromised I paid for dinner and drinks, she paid for the ice-cream. We sat talking about families, Romania, England and life for a couple of hours. During this time she told me that her and her friends at Christmas time make up bags of sweets and take them to the orphanage, where the children have parents but they cannot afford to look after them. Guess where the last of the aid, the Isle of Wight Rotary sent us, will be heading? I opened a box marked 'blankets' Christmas Day to take them to the church, it was 'children's jumpers' ... they were destined to go to the orphanage - I think. I do not know very much about the orphanage yet, but I suspect that there will be enough teddies found for each child to have one. I will tell you more as this contact is followed through. Every week, just lately, I have seen that the hand of God has been working away unknown to us ensuring that everyone was in place when we were able to accept our first lorry load of aid. I can only pray that he will soon send me the Romanian permanent help that I think we need. I had been talking to Laura for so long that it was nearly dark when I left town, I rang Lew and told him I would be late, so he went ahead with feeding.

Sunday, New Year's Eve, a traditional time for making a great deal of noise in Romania. The first group arrives making noises with drums and song, they are accompanied by a costumed man. They sing the traditional song for New Year and go on their way. The next group are young and make their noise by cracking whips. They sing their song and go on their way. The last group arrive with a horse pulling a plough which is decorated with the Christmas tree and whips to make the noise. I do not understand all of the songs sung but they were blessings for the land, prayers for good crops and the health of our animals. Then there was a blessing for the house and a prayer for our good health. It would not be appreciated by the rest of the village if we did not join them in these festivities, they are a farming community steeped in the traditions brought with them from Moldova.

What's been happening in the village this week? The answer to the riddle - that side of the road has been resurfaced and everyone is driving on the new road.
Well I think that's all the news from Siminoc this week ...

Which just leaves me time