Curtains for the apartment

I was hoping I would get the voile curtains up before Angie came but I am afraid Kenneth and Kathryn have been to busy at "The Secret Garden", Lot's of street children are coming every day and it is lovely to see them but hard work again for Kathryn and Kenneth but this is what they were hoping for so all is going well and what does it matter about my curtains as Angie says " we are coming to see YOU Rose, not the apartment" Better get on I get carried away when I am blogging.

Projects

Well I am nearly ready for my visitors now, been out today to do the last of the shopping, the beds are made up and all ok. Although I have been really busy I still have managed to get on with my projects.















Olivers blanket is finished and I have started another for the jeweler and his wife on the boulevard, they are expecting thier first baby. I made friends with him a few years ago when I was just visiting , he is very kind and a "Gentleman", I also started a little pullover top for Alexandra and am finishing a scarf for Pattie to take back with her to UK for her sister Alma.



The last two days have been lovely here with lots of bright sunshine and quite warm , hope it keeps like this for them coming.Must rest a little now , my arms are hurting,,,, No wonder !!!!!!!!!!

Welcome Oliver!!

Just to welcome the new addition to our family , my brother Bill and his wife Angie have a new Grandson and a brother for Niamh. Their Mummy , Kirsty was one of the first volunteers to come over to help with the charity, the street kids loved her and are so pleased she is coming again this time with her husband Nick and the children. I hope this time instead of working hard as she did before they will do some sight seeing and have a bit of time with the family.

It has been snowing all day today and looks very pretty but it is freezing, I had to put my boots and thick coat on to take out the rubbish. Glad I opted to stay in and have got lots of jobs done for Angie and Pattie coming next Saturday, can't wait to see them I am sure they will like it here and lots of lovely shops and markets to see . I hope to take them to Timisoara as well (the city of flowers).

Well I will take a break now and watch a film I have down loaded and have a beer or maybe two!! Must try to finish the blanket for Oliver it is almost big enough now.

"The Secret Garden"

The day centre is up and running now and some street children come most day's. We have called it "The Secret Garden" because it reminds us of the house in the childrens story.Think you will agree it does? It is looking better every day hard work for Kenneth and Kathryn who are trying to make it like a home as it is the only home these kids have. The room I will show you is sort of the reading room and they get a little education as Kathryn and Kenneth are both school teachers. There is a play room too and showers for them to wash and get a change of clothes. They get hot drinks of coffee, tea or soup and sandwiches as the kitchen is not done yet , we await more funding.I think they have done wonders with the help of many volanteers and all the people who have given money and gifts for the secret garden, many thanks to all of them and a lot of young folk come to help which is lovely to think they spare their time and effort to help these kids. The street kids vary in ages there are small children , babies, teenagers and young adults,all desperatly in need of help and love which we all try to give them. I do try to help in small ways but wish I could do more , but every little helps eh?????

My New Apartment

I thought some of you may be interested to see my new apartment, so I inlude some photo's. It is really feeling like home now ans Kenneth does a few jobs for me every time he comes. He put some pictures up the other day and soon he will put the poles up to hang the voile curtains I had made last week. My two budgies have settled nicely and seem to like their new home too. They are called Anica (yellow) and Theodore(green) I am hoping for some babys but they are still quite young birds so we shall see!!!

I am crocheting a blanket for the newest arrival to the family Oliver, George my nieces new baby, hope to have photo's of him soon and his sister. Will try to get some crochet done today I have done all the cleaning I intend doing and have a head cold so it is a good excuse to have an easier day.

Martisor

Gosh !!! it is nearly " Martisor " again, always a nice time of year when we herald in the Spring. Here in Romania we give each other little Amulets, exchanging them is a gesture of love , friendship, respect and appreciation. These amulets at the beginning of the 19th century were worn around the neck or on the left hand in the belief they protected and brought you good luck for the year. People wore them from the 1st. March to the 12th March and waited for the first birds to appear in their village then they hung them in the first tree they saw in blossom. I think this is one of the nicest traditions but there are many more here.

I saw the first snowdrops yesterday, lovely a sure sign Spring is round the corner. I must say it has been a very mild winter here again , not many days that I had to wear my thermal undies!!! I am hoping my visitors (Angie and Pattie) from Oldham, near Manchester will be able to see the many little stalls on the Boulevard selling flowers and amulets for "Martisor" I am sure they will think it is a lovely tradition too.

Shopping in Arad

Well I have been busy shopping for things for my new apartment I haven't had time to do my blog. On Monday I went to look at voile curtains I have nice blinds, but wanted curtains to dress the windows and look pretty and homely. The textile shop I went to on Strada Eminescu is fantastic . It makes me laugh when people say Romania is a backward country , I think UK have a lot to learn. The array of curtains and soft furnishings is awesome, They have a bedding department too and splendid haberdashery. I also thought I would call at the Piazza Mica ( big market) and get my fruit and veg. and some freshly baked bread it's yummy.

Tuesday I was off out again and had a hair cut and blow wave then met Helen a Scots lady who has lived here 10 years. We had a coffee in town , called for sheets of pork ribs at the Alimentara then she ran me home and we had Yorkshire tea and digestive biscuits and chatted.

Wednesday I have Rosanna she stayed last night and practised her knitting , she is doing very well and doing the purl stitch too.We had breakfast and did some cleaning then off to town again to pick up the curtains and called at Billa for food etc. So at least I have had a productive week so far.

It is only 17 days now to my visitors coming I can't wait and they are bringing goodies with them , Oxo cubes , jellies mixes for chili and bassets liquorice allsorts ha ha . Hope you like the pictures of the markets.