Welcome to my new life

I hope as I tell you the events of my life in Romania you will enjoy and find it as interesting as I have.

Saturday 26 April 2008

Good Morning, It is Easter here (Orthodox)

Hi Everyone!!

Busy week again so not had much time to do my blog. but here we go. I spent a lot of time at the beginning of the week researching Mosquitoes and solutions to them biting me, I have 26 bites already and it is only April. I am afraid they just like biting me!! However after many hours (yes hours), I found out about a patch, a Thiamine (Vitamin B1) patch which has been tested in severe circumstances and one patch on your body gives protection for 36 hours. I have of course tried everything else, sprays, gels, plug ins
, electronic devices and antihistamines but I remember being advised by my doctor in UK 3 years ago to take Vitamin B1. So I have ordered some and will let you know the out come later in the summer, meanwhile I am eating Marmite every day (VIT. B) and taking as much of the vitamin as I can. Well that was a bit boring, yes? but you never know it may help someone else.

On Wednesday Ramona had a special class for the Italians so I did not go but went to the English club at the Hotel Arad. Gosh it was packed!! Met Chris from Dorset, a
girl from Poland, Tim was there from America and all the usual crowd from Romania of course. We had many laughs and Lot's of good conversation, a few drinks and Papernash (a kind of hot fresh doughnut with jam and sour cream) delicious! I did not get home until 11.45 but once again had a great time with people I now consider to be my friends.

As promised Gloria came for me at 11am Thursday and we took a Taxi to the Primaria then walked along the Boulevard chatting and looking in the shops along the way. I took he
r to a nice dress shop I know where I manage to get larger sizes as my waist line is expanding ha ha! I got a lovely pair of summer trousers . We then crossed over and I got the lovely hand made glasses I wanted for Pattie and Roberts wedding present. It was time for a sit down so off to Libalula for apple strudel and coffee ( no wonder I am expanding) we sat for nearly an hour chatting about our lives here, family etc etc.She is a lovely lady and I am sure we will be good friends. Lastly Ziridava and then back to her house in Subcetate. It is a great house, huge, and a lovely garden and balcony where we sat another hour with green tea, biscuits and more chat. We are hoping to go for a manicure and pedicure next week so I shall look forward to that.

It was Good Friday now and Kathy was putting on a party for the street people at The Secret Garden so I wanted to do my bit, I cooked 30 eggs (hard boiled) got nice biscuits and some packs of fruit teas. Hajni made cakes and potato salad, some ladies from the church came with meat and salad and we all made sandwiches. Also a lot of young people from France, Poland, Spain and Germany were there to offer help. We waited for the street people but no one came just two boys and a young couple, Kenneth went to look at the station, where they hang out to see why they hadn't come. They were all at the back of the station holding a birthday party for little Lissa... so I went home then, I was tired and needed a wee rest but Kathy decided they should all go to the party and take our food with them. I will let you know what happened then later when I find out myself. So that was my week,certainly not boring I seem to meet new people all the time and it is great, I love it.

Sunday 20 April 2008

Happy Sunday to all my fellow bloggers

Just to say , have you time to read my Daughters other blog, clokescrazycasa , you can click onto it from my blog. I think it makes interesting reading it is about her family and her extended one too, go on give it a whirl, thanks Rose.

Surprise!!!!!

Well I finished my last post by saying "you never know what may happen" (or words to that effect). Kathy and Kenneth came to see me, great!! we sat and chatted and Kathy gave me a few guidelines on my Romanian study, which really helped a lot. She seems to think I will master it, hope so, there are so many reasons why I want to learn the language. I want to be able to chat to my neighbours, to the Taxi drivers (who are so kind and patient with me) I usually use Verbita, they have never let me down and very polite on the phone.also to be able to go to the doctors and all sorts of places and be able to ask questions and converse with them. Instead of having to ask Kathy or one of the family to go with me , they have enough to do with out always having to help me they do a lot anyway and look after me in Lot's of ways, so thanks gang!!!!

We then decided to go for a meal at Pizza King and on to their home in Saleáni so that was a nice change too and the apartment now looks lovely and cosy.
Yasmina was a delight as usual, she is quite a character and Rosanna had been out at a friends and she came in to see me too. Kathy suggested we go to Practikca a store similar to B&Q , we got plants to brighten up my porch. Hydrangeas which I thought were very appropriate for me , coming from Hyde ha ha !!!! and a nice "Box " to go in the lovely pot which was a present from Betty, Angie and Pattie on their visit, so I have made a start but hope to have Lot's more and maybe a couple of fruit trees. So I ended up having a super day thanks Kathy and Kenneth, Oh I also got brass numbers to go on my door.
Well I have had a really busy morning, cleaned the budgies, hoovered, swept and scrubbed the porch and front path and now I think a short rest is deserved yes???

Saturday 19 April 2008

Learning the Language!!!!

On Wednesday I made my way to Strada Marasesti to the ILC (International Learning Centre) where I was to sit in on a class to see if I thought I would like to attend regularly to learn Romanian. There were four Italian men and me !! They did not speak English and I ,of course know no Italian so it was a little confusing to say the least but I actually was able to follow what was going on. The tutor is very nice , Romona, and she took me on one side and said if I would like to go she would address me in English and that she thought I could do it as I do know a little already. So I shall go again next week and give it a whirl, I really do want to be able to speak the language.

Feeling slightly brain dead and a headache(through concentrating) I set off for the Hotel Arad to the English Conversation club, I soon relaxed with the friends I made last week and we all had a great evening talking about alsorts . I really do enjoy this club , the people are so nice .

Thursday Hajni came , my friend from the village (Subcetate) with her little "KA" and took me to Billa (supermarket) to replenish my food supplies.We had a coffee when we got back and I played with little Alexandra.

Friday I was busy in the morning doing my jobs and then sat down to try to study the Romanian exercises I had given to me on Wednesday. The door bell went and standing there was a lady, I greeted her in Romanian but she answered in English!! She had been trying to find my apartment for a few days , then saw my name on the door, I asked her in and gave her some tea ( Yorkshire tea of course!!). She is called Gloria and is from Ireland, she lives in Subcetate and had heard an English lady was living here. We chatted for ages it was so nice to have the company and compare notes. Anyway we are going to go to town next Thursday and do some shopping and have a coffee. It will be lovely to go with someone as it is not the same going on your own. She is a very nice lady and I am sure we will become friends , she too gets a little lonely as her husband works here but is out all day. Well that was my week , it is Saturday now and I have no plans but who knows what might happen!!

Sunday 13 April 2008

It was an interesting week to say the least!!!!!!

I had not been feeling well for about 10 days, so Kathy took me to the doctors on Tuesday, I was having a lot of pain (won't go into details), they asked me to go back Wednesday and gave me an Ultra Sound (how quick is that? No chance in UK of getting a test that quick). The result was I had a kidney infection so antibiotics were prescribed and I soon began to feel better. Kathy said if I felt well enough would I like to go to the Hotel Arad Wednesday evening to the English club where Romanians who want to speak better English gather and just chat in English over a beer and a snack. It is run by Marius (a charming man) and was great fun. They like English speaking people to go and as I have a broad Lancashire accent it was a big challenge for them to understand me.

My daughter Kathryn was brought up in Scotland and spent most of her married life there too and she speaks beautifully with a lovely Scottish accent so she has been before but it was easier for them to know what she was saying. The people there were very nice and very friendly, we had a laugh and a few serious discussions , I really enjoyed myself and look forward to going again next week. The room we were using at the Hotel was as near an English pub that I have seen here, the staff were great and the food excellent. Marius also suggested I go to the Romanian class on Monday so I shall give it a whirl and see if I can improve my Romanian, Kathy doesn't need to go as her Romanian is excellent.

On Friday Hajni was so excited as she now has a little car , so she took me to Metro shopping . I got a suitcase for my trip to UK in May and stocked up on household stuff, it was good not having to get a Taxi as Kathy is so busy most days she just does not have the time to take me. Saturday I got some housework done and then Rosie came for a few hours as Kathy and Kenneth were moving furniture for Johanna and Philip to their house in the country, so all in all a busy, interesting week and to top it all the weather was superb, hot and sunny some days 20 degrees.

Friday 4 April 2008

Weekend with my family

Last weekend was spent mainly with my family. Amy came Friday night and stayed overnight. We had a nice breakfast of poached eggs on toast together and chatted. Then Irina came to do a little cleaning for me, I give her some money and some food and it helps her out. Daniela came too and insists on helping . I did not feel well at all so Amy went for my shopping for me. Later in the afternoon Kathy called me to see if I would like a short stroll in the park and go for coffee at the continental hotel so I made the effort and went. It was nice to be with them all and this is how Romanians like to spend the weekend, with the family. Amy came back with me and we had a good evening together. On Sunday we all went to Timisoara, it was a beautiful day sunny and warm and the square was full of stalls selling lovely hand made gifts. We went to our favourite restaurant, Casa cu Flori (House of Flowers) where I had trout again. The whole weekend was great and I saw Kenny too and his apartment in Timisoara.

I have not been well all week and very unlike me have not been out. I kept myself busy with a bit of knitting so I didn't keep thinking about how ill I felt. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and I hope to have a better week next week.

Rosie and Yasmina just out of the bath!!

Rosie and Yasmina just out of the bath!!
My wee adopted Grand children

Watching Tweenis on computer

Watching Tweenis on computer
If your happy and you know it clap your hands!!

Johanna with her Dad

Johanna with her Dad

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

Jackson Here we come!!!!!!!

Jackson   Here we come!!!!!!!
anything you want ,, they got it !!!

Beautiful Roses

Beautiful Roses

My New Apartment

My New Apartment
Hope this is the last move!!!!!!

Snowdrops

Snowdrops
heralding the spring

Martisor

Martisor
1st March

Angie with baby Oliver

Angie with baby Oliver

Bill in the garden with Niamh

Bill in the garden with Niamh
I expect he is teaching her how to grow things

Blanket for baby Oliver

Blanket for baby Oliver
Hope it keeps him cosy