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Jacquie's Diary Entry for 3rd December 2006
Hi everyone,
This week I must start by introducing you to a new member of the Security Crew. Shadow, a black spaniel, arrived on our door step on the 13th of September. He could hardly stand, was covered with sores and you could see every bone in his body. He came through the gate and collapsed. We gave him the once over and all agreed the kindest thing for him, was to put him to sleep. We couldn't really take on another dog and no one in the village would take him on in that condition. Even so, he was under our roof, so to speak, so he needed feeding until we could sort him out. I warmed some milk and put some bread in it, I think if we had given him anything heavy he wouldn't have been able to cope with it. We made him as comfortable as possible outside, the weather was warm so we just made him a shelter. Lew went into the village the next day to collect the vet, but he couldn't be found. Later in the week, when we did find him, he wasn't in a fit state to give an injection. After two weeks Shadow, as he became known, was on solid food, but still hardly moving about. Rain was forecast and I didn't want him getting wet so we brought one of the old rabbit hutches down and put it in front of the caravan, it is sheltered there. Slowly he gained his strength but we could see he had hip problems. It began to get cold and he had started settling down in the animal house at night. I brought down the best of the old straw bales for bedding for the piglets and stacked it in with the maize stalks. That evening Shadow made himself a house. Lew still thought the best thing for him was to be put to sleep and on Saturday he saw the Vet in the village, he told him what he wanted, they went to the Vet's house and picked up his bag. The Vet gave Shadow an injection while Lew held him, I went out to make a fuss of him and be with him. Lew said it isn't very fast acting. Then the vet came over with another injection, an antibiotic; the first had been a vitamin injection. Shadow was here to stay. I don't think the Vet's here carry 'that sort' of injection; if you don't want a dog you dump it somewhere. Shadow will continue to sleep in the animal house but he has made himself a warm comfy bed there; he will need a proper dog bowl now. He still is very thin, but he is lively, running around with Minty and Murray, who aren't worried by him. He follows me when I'm up the field, keeps getting covered we the spiky weeds. Well, now you have met the latest member of the Security Crew.
And on with the diary ...
Monday and Lew is threatening to throw my trainers away, I slipped again this morning; down I went, landing on the pig trough with my other hip. After a couple of minutes I managed to get up and back to the caravan; Lew finished off the feeding for me. I made a coffee and sat down. But I wasn't going waste another day with aches and pains, so I got Lew to bring down some of the aid boxes that still needed putting into sizes. I spent the day working in the caravan, in the warm, on the aid; we were now ready to take the first clothes out to the families. But I needed one of my translators, neither of them were free till Saturday.
Tuesday and it was a quick trip up to Medgidia to pay the electric. Do you remember I said the television was only 30p a month. Well, sometime in the last few months it has gone up, it is now £3 a month, because it is in with the electric bill I hadn't noticed. Back to shower and get ready for Laura's birthday party, we had been invited.
Wednesday and having spent the morning sorting out the feed, I went to the mill. I spent the evening on the internet finding out about Christmas Trees for the story at Kid's Club on Friday. I found some facts, a couple of stories and a colouring picture.
Thursday was a normal day, just feeding, collecting stalks and pottering. Nash2 has been nest building today so we left her in the hutch on her own with extra straw and hay.
Friday and after lunch I got ready for Kid's Club. I had thirty kids this evening but neither of my interpreters could make it. One of the mums that arrived helped me out. I had two little four year olds, I set them off colouring and they were happy. I had taken some cars with me, the young boys spent ages playing with those. I had found a pack of flexi straws, you build with them. The young teenage boys had fun building with those and the mechano set. No photographs this week I'm afraid. I had lent the camera to someone and they hadn't brought it back yet. We discussed the Christmas Party, they told me what they would like to do; very much the same as other parties really.
Saturday and we have baby rabbits, we don't know how many yet, Mum is being very protective and as it is her first litter we don't want to upset her. Elena was free this afternoon so we took the clothes to the first of the families. Nicoleta wasn't home she was in the village doing some shopping but the three children were there. Larisa the eldest is fourteen, and she knew me so we went in, I carried in a large sack, inside was a carrier bag of clothes for the two youngest. I gave the clothes for the baby, Alexandru, to Larisa; he had babygrows, jumpers, a jacket and a hat. Elena, you may remember has just married, became very 'clucky' playing with the baby. He was awake today, he is a cheery little fellow, gurgling away and smiling. Of course, like all babies, he was fascinated with my glasses. Then it was Maria's turn, she was a bit shy, but when I took out a pink t-shirt she became interested in what was in the bag. I took out each item, held it up against her, (I knew it would fit), I nodded and gave it to her. I was trying to make her feel special, making her feel these items were chosen especially for her, giving her ownership of the clothes. I had co-ordinated the clothes so that the jumpers and trousers went together and made sets. She also had a warm, padded jacket with a hat the same colour. Next was the shoe fitting, we tried a pair of pink trainers, she pushed her feet in them, but Elena and I were convinced they were too small. It was only when I pulled another pair of shoes out of the bag for her to try, that she agreed they were tight; we fitted her with a purple pair of shoes. Larisa hadn't been measured when I was there before, she was at school, I measured her and told her I would be back with something for her. I think she was just pleased that her brother and sister had received something. Then on to the next family. I pulled a sack from the car and this time we were invited inside. (This is the family where I measured the children outside, but Lew had been inside when he had taken food down for them.) We walked through a small outer room that contained a double bed and a camp cooker, into a larger room which contained a bed, wardrobe and a Romanian fire. I had clothes for four of them, but Mihaela is a skinny teenager and I haven't found much for that size yet. Dori wasn't there I think he may have been on my field collecting stalks again; I gave his bag of clothes to his sister, Mihaela. Daniela was the first to be fitted, I took her bag of clothes out of the sack. Again, I took the clothes out one at a time, put them against her, and gave them to her, giving her ownership. The first pair of shoes we tried were again too small but I found some to fit. Then it was four year old Rebecca's turn, I knew I had two four year olds here (one daughter and one granddaughter), so I had chosen very similar things for both bags. Rebecca was speechless, the shoes that didn't fit Daniela, fitted Rebecca. Next was Emila, she was running a temperature; she had had a cold but now it was on her chest, she didn't want to look at clothes and shoes but I wanted her to look at some of the clothes. I pulled out a long sleeved t-shirt, it had six motifs on the front; a lamb, a doll and a gingerbread man, that gave me the edge I needed to fit her feet. We told Mihaela that I was still looking for the right clothes for her. On to the next family, Lumineta (Mum) was at home, one of the blankets I had given them was on the bed. Gabi was the first to be fitted, I had a pair of trousers that I thought might fit. He went to try them on for me, he came back with his shirt and two jumpers tucked into the trousers and they were six miles too long. I said I would find him a smaller pair, but he insisted they fitted. The shirt and jumpers were a much better fit and we fitted him up with a pair of trainers. Then it was the turn of his younger brother, Marinel, we fitted him out with trousers, shirt, jumper, jacket and shoes. Another young lad was there, Lumineta's nephew, he is living with her at the moment, so I measured him. We met Madi as we were leaving, she is free Tuesday morning so we have arranged to met to visit more families.
Sunday and it was off to market for feed and check out the price of pigs. Coming back from the market we passed a guy in a cart, he must have had an early start he was fast asleep ... I hope the horse knows its way home. Then we passed an overloaded bike, yes there is a bike under that lot. Then it was back to start writing to you.
What's been happening in the village this week? We have a new village sign ... looks posh. They have been repairing the roads into the village this week, they haven't arrived at the worst of the holes yet.
Well I think that's all the news from Siminoc this week ...
So I'll say cheerio for now ...
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