I Wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy new year

I wish you all who read this blog a very happy Christmas and a healthy new year, may all your wishes come true. I will post my finished nativity and a glimpse of Arad this Christmas time. Best wishes and Seasons Greetings. ( Sarbatori Fereceti!)

Almost finished yippee!!!!

Well the nativity is almost finished, gosh it took some doing. I have just made a stable from a shoe box, it's not bad and the main thing is the children will love it. Went to Hungary shopping yesterday, such a long day but got a lot of presents etc. Needed a wee rest today but have managed to do the ironing, clean my two budgies and wrap some presents, (small resta in between). , and knitting too.

People ask me do I get bored, gosh how could I???? Helen is coming tomorrow a friend who has lived here about 8 years, she is from Scotland, it will be nice to have a chat and show her my apartment.She took in a young couple of children from an orphanage when they were quite young, a boy and a girl. They fell in love and are now married , still being looked after though by Helen they live with her and are very happy.

It is very cold here -3 today but sunny and bright. Well I must get on and knit the sheep and donkey, more later bye everyone.

The Nativity in progress

Well it is almost time to go to bed but I may manage a shepherd, hope so. Still I feel pleased if I keep at it now it could , , just could be ready ffor Christmas eve !!!!!!!

Getting There

Hurrah!! I have at least got one thing done today towards Christmas, as you will see my Joseph is finished and it is only 4.20pm. Because I did not feel well at all , sick and tummy ache I thought it would be a good idea to rest and get on with the nativity. I will go and make a start on Mary now and of course baby Jesus, (must try to find some straw for the stable)!!!!!!! Also it is a very dull day today which is unusual , it is not often the sun doesn't shine. Be back to show you more I hope later or tomorrow.

Almost Christmas Again

Well it is almost Christmas, I can't believe I have been living here almost a year now. I went to UK on the 31st of October for almost three weeks and saw all my family and friends. I stayed with my sister Betty and her husband Tom and had a wonderful time and many laughs, lots of chats and catching up. I had all the things I miss , like fish and chips, pork pies, black pudding and crumpets. I went out for lunch in Marple Bridge with old school friends and for a chinese meal with my best friend. Also I spent a long weekend with my brother Bill and his wife Angie and had a lovely time with them, going into Manchester for a curry and a visit to the casino ( i won £10).Boy !! did I do some shopping and got presents for all the folks here and some tit bits for myself .

So now it is not long to go before the festive season and I must get a move on and try to finish the Alan Darts nativity I started to knit. We will get the trees from the piaza the same as last year. My friend in the village has made a lovely door ornament for me from all natural materials from the garden. I will go out shopping today and try to get some presents.

3000 shoe boxes arrived last week from UK , so a big thankyou to all of you, it brings so much pleasure and many smiles. It will be all hands to the pumps now to get them all distributed. Happy Christmas.

In The Summer Time

Living in Romania was, to me like being in the forty's and fifty's in Britain. A slower pace, not as much stress and as you see many still using horse and cart. Some of my memories of my childhood in Hyde were of going out with the local farmer on his horse and cart delivering the milk. The milk was in churns and we ladled out a gill of milk and poured it into jugs that customers left on their doorsteps.

I did go quite often to visit poor villages with Kathy to see what we could help with, we took food and clothes and of course our love., for , "There , but for the grace of God go I ". I always used to help two old lady's in town who begged every day to make their meagre pensions spin out, they were very grateful and it was nice to be nice.

The country side was beautiful with fields and fields of sunflowers, lots of lovely wild flowers. We took some of the street children for picnics they thought it was great fun and enjoyed the food and juice, we played ball and other games. It was great to see them smiling and having fun.

The Long Hot Summer

We got back from the wedding and summer began,long hot and bright days. It was a time to stroll down the Boulevard and smell the blossom trees. ( when my sister came to visit she said one of her memories of Arad would be the smell of Anais Anais perfume) and that is just how it was.We went for walks along the river and visited the Thermal pools were we lounged in the hot natural mineral water. It was wonderful , very therapeutic and in lovely settings. One of my favourite pastimes was to sit outside at one of the street cafes watching the world go by. The temperatures were high some days 100 deg and always sunny, very little rainfall, the locals prayed for rain as they depend on the food they grow in their gardens.When it does rain , it rains and fantastic thunder storms that light up the sky.

I found I was feeling much better in the warm air than at home and my arthritis did not pain me as much.I also did more walking than I used to and all in all felt better. In the markets the fruit and veg were wonderful, a sight to be seen and tasted very good too. Good to be alive and there was much more hopefully to come.

The Wedding

May was approaching and Kathy (my daughter) and I had been invited to my niece Karens wedding, my brothers youngest daughter. It was in Oldham and we were to stay at my sister Betty's for a week, take in the wedding and visit friends and family. The day for us to leave came we had bought new outfits both very nice. My sister and husband Tom met us with cups of tea and hot pies, very welcome after the journey. We had travelled from Romania to Hungary and flew from Budapest airport to Manchester, then by Taxi to Hyde. The next day we still had a few things to get so went shopping and in the evening caught up on all the news and chatted for hours.

It was a nice bright day and the bride looked lovely as my brother Bill led her into church. Her husband Mark is from Scotland so kilts were the order of the day and they all looked very smart. A piper ,piped them into church which was very moving. The reception was very good, with just one small hiccup ... The fire alarms went off and we were asked to go outside whilst the fire brigade came to make sure all was well. The firemen joined in the celebrations and were photographed with two brides as there was another wedding in the next suite. It was good fun. Everyone had a lovely time and it was nice to see all the families getting together.

The rest of our time was spent visiting family and friends and shopping for things to take back with us. You can get most things in Romania now but HP sauce is not one of them and oxo cubes etc. Well it was time to say goodbye, it had been great to see Hyde again but my new home awaited me in Arad, still no regrets about moving, I should have done it years ago.

Easter in Arad

Easter is probably the most special time of the year in Romania. Easter eggs , Easter Rabbits and flowers adorn the shop windows, they are beautifully arranged and look very tasteful.The blossom trees are in full bloom along the Boulevard and the air has a fresh smell of Spring.The birds are beginning to nest too. Everyone prepares for Easter making lovely eggs decorated in many different ways. Family's gather together for the special church services. We were invited to my daughters friends Nelu and Mariana's house for a wonderful meal. Spring Lamb is traditionally eaten at Easter and is Sweet and tender having been raised in the fields around .The eggs that have been decorated are then smashed together the first person saying Hristos a inviat! (Christ is risen) the other then answers Adevarat a inviat! (He has truly risen), It was to me a touching and very nice tradition.

On Easter Monday we all went to a Picnic in the woodland, everyone brought barbecue's , lots of delicious food was shared and games were played by young and old.What a great day, it was an amazing time and one I will not forget.

Spring Events

The nexy event on the calender was the first of March, when little tokens of "Martisor"(martzeeshor) were given to all female friends and family members. This is to Herald in the Spring. Everywhere on the Boulevard, Strada's(streets) and shop windows were lovely little pins with hand painted snowdrops or dried flowers even hand carved tokens of love and friendship,small pots and posies of fresh flowers too.It was a sight to behold.What a lovely tradition. Shortly after that on the 8th of March, International Womens Day(also our Mothers Day) flowers again everywhere you looked. It was a great pleasure to take part and to give and recieve these gifts. The culture here is so different to ours and much nicer.

Those gloves !!!!

the fingerless gloves

Oh !!! The fingerless gloves done on four needles are hard, but gets better the more you knit. I hope they turn out ok, if not so good I will have them and try again for Amy, she wants pale blue anyway.

More hats

Lot's more hats done and now I am going to attempt fingerless gloves on four needles. Help!!!!!!

Hats

Keeping Busy

I tried to keep busy during the dark nights and started to crochet hats for the children, to keep them warm. I was very pleased with my results. Johanna (my granddaughter ) had made herself one and she looked so nice in it I thought I would have a go, It's years since I crocheted and was pleased I picked it up again.

I will post a photo of the hats and Daniela wearing it. I also knitted Lot's of warm scarves in a lovely chenille wool. Well it was keeping me occupied and for a good cause.

Winter

Winter was now upon us and I had been warned it could go to 20 degrees. below freezing, good job I brought my thermal underwear with me. But January, February and no sign of snow and it wasn't that cold. It was unusual and the locals couldn't believe it was so warm for winter here. Kathy and I walked along the river on a beautiful February day, the sun was shining , it was lovely. Winter never came and the trees started to bud early, the birds too were starting to nest early, yes it was Spring, a Spring I will never forget. The blossom trees along the boulevard were splendid and fresh green shoots appeared from nowhere, mother nature in all her splendour. Easter would soon be here , a very important part of Romanian life...............

First Christmas

It was coming up to Christmas, my first Christmas in Romania. It was lovely ,the tree outside the town hall was splendid, brass bands played yuletide music in the square. There were little stalls selling Christmas treats and decorations.Everyone wishing each other Craciun fericit(merry Christmas) it was a lovely atmosphere. We went to the market for our Christmas trees, (so nice to have a real one). Christmas Eve is the bigger celebration here and we were all invited to Mariana and Nelu's house in the village of Sanleani, were my family live. It was great Lot's of carol singers with fabulous lanterns and they all came into the house to sing their carols, we all enjoyed the evening and Mariana's food was delicious!! she makes the most amazing cakes, and is an excellent cook. We had wine and Tuica (a brandy made from plums) it certainly made you feel in the Christmas spirit ha ha!! Christmas day was spent mostly with the family and friends too. It was the first Christmas I had spent with my family for a very long time. Oh indeed I had made the right decision to come to live in Romania. I have not mentioned that we also had little Rosanna now, the little girl that Kathy and Kenneth are looking after since she her Mummy died and her Grandma, ( I am her granny now). It was the nicest Christmas I have had for years.

On New years eve there was a gathering at the town hall , so I baby sat for Rosanna and some friends children that were staying whilst the other members of the family went to town, lots of fireworks and a good time was had by all. I wonder what 2007 will bring for me.

My Apartment in Arad

I arrived in Timisoara airport 18th December and my grandaughters Johanna and Amy were there to meet me, Amy took me on the intercity to Arad and the apartment I would stay in until the one I was buying was ready. The apartment was bright and clean and had everything I would need. And it was right in the city centre. I soon learned to go out alone and managed to get food etc. with the help of the kind shopkeepers. I soon made friends and people waved to me as I passed by and treated me with kindness and respect.

My daughter Kathy and husband Kenneth run a small charity looking after street children, they also help the elderly and poor people. I found I was able to help in small ways and went with them to poor villages and played with the children. Their friends asked me to thier homes and fed me. We had lovely days out when we could to the Thermal pools( more about that later) we visited Timisoara (the city of flowers) life was and is great here , no going back!!!!

December 15th.2006 MOVING DAY

Well the day had come at last, a cold, rainy day in December, the day my life was to change completely. I had broken up with my long term partner. My daughter, her husband and three grandchildren lived in Romania. Was I to leave my home, my sister and brother and friends for a new life? ... Yes , go for it I had said to myself, some people thought I was crazy but it was a chance I had to take, why not I was 64 years old I did it now or maybe regret it for the rest of my life.