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.