Diary Entry for 16th September 2007

Hi from a changing Siminoc

Sunday
Well it is all mine today; feeding and milking all went well. The rest of the day I spent dogging the rain and trying to keep things dry. The dogs were all in as it was so wet and the goats just pottered in and out all day

Monday
No George today he sent a message to say he may be late as he had to get the wages from his last job but did not come in at all, so it made for extra work all round and no time for getting the wood we needed for the roof.

Tuesday
Still no George and all my hopes that he would be ok for us went out of the window.
So I am now looking for another helper and George will go. Some of them are so unreliable and change jobs at the drop of a hat. The rain has stopped and we have a nice day. I went into Basarabi to sort out some more papers and then to Metro to stock up with food, that took all morning. We still have to go back with more paperwork, this time it is a grant to get the seed for planting the over winter wheat. The grant started this year we think it has something to do with the poor harvest. We will get 450 new lei (£90) per hectare on paper and take this to the seed merchant to pay for the seed.

Wednesday
Managed to get a roof rack to day, so can pick up the wood in the morning along with a new coffee maker as the one we have is just heating the water and sending out as steam not coffee and that is no good I need COFFEE. We picked up the food from the mill, we are well stocked at moment as we have a lot of work to do with the new roof and drainage to put in I didn't want to be running around getting feed. As I arrived back a young man arrived wanting to know if the job was still available, I agreed to give him a trial and he unloaded the feed for me. His name is Cristi; he is married with a seven-month-old son. The grape harvest has started and it is a constant game with the tractors when you go out of Siminoc.

Thursday
Christy was here by 7.30 so we had a good start to the day and then out for the wood.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN CHANDLERS FORD? Radio Solent says the Metropolitan and Hampshire police are all over the place due to a bank robbery at HSBC, that's my bank, I hope they leave some for us. It sounds a bit nasty at the moment, I am glad I had a text from Jacquie and Sian saying they were fine.
We are all set for the roof if the rain holds off and the wind drops a bit we will get it done on Saturday.

Friday
I had to go into Constanta today and what a day. Starting at Metro then down to Zapp, the internet phone place; on to A1 for a new black ink for the printer and then Elena needs to go to the university for some papers. When Elena went to register at the university she had to get 2 more papers. Believe it or not she needed a copy of her birth and marriage certificate, but they do not do them at the university even with the originals in front of them. You have to go to a notary so they can stamp them to say they are true copies and they charge you for that; it is just Romanian paperwork again and a waste of time. We left at 9.45 and got back a 4pm so it was a day running round and not a lot done. We had something to eat and then kids club only 9 today so not too bad. It gets cold of an evening and we are losing the light at about 7.45 now; we will have to start using the community centre again, I think.

Saturday
John rang me from Spain at 1.30 AM just to say, "Hi" I will get him a new clock for Christmas. We are doing the roof today so it's an early start, hoping the rain holds off, I think we will be ok. This was typical Romanian timing they got here at 10 and we had it all finished by 2 so not too bad just had the clearing up from the old one but that waited until I had watched the F1 Motor Racing on the television. What has been going on with the teams?
The grape harvest is well under way and ploughing has started. Our little pigs (you remember they lost their Mum) and the new chicks are doing well.

Now over to Jacquie in the UK …

Hi everyone
Well I have had a week running around different offices. But you will be pleased to hear that the Doctor thinks I could go on forever and the Optician has given both Sian and I a clean bill of health (we both had rigorous tests because of Mum). All the paperwork I needed to look at has been set in motion and my name on my bankcard is now spelt right. I am finding it strange being surrounded by houses and everywhere is so green, I didn't realise how many trees where around the area. I am finding the supermarkets overwhelming; there is just so much choice that I don't know where to begin. I have treated myself to proper bacon and cheese; I've had crumpets, hot cross buns (yes I know it is the wrong time of the year), pickle and proper brown bread. A couple of times whilst driving Mum she had to remind me to drive on the correct side of the road. Today (Sunday) I went to my first church service, the visiting Minister had chosen the hymns just for me (well it seemed that way), it was good to be able to sing without concentrating over the correct pronunciation of words most of which you cannot translate. I chatted with friends at coffee morning after the service. I am slowly being booked up with people to see, but I still have some spaces so if you want me to talk to your group please contact me on 02380 361836, if I am out leave me a message and I will get back to you.

Well I think that's all the news from Siminoc and Chandlers Ford …
So I'll say cheerio for now …