TW3

Fast Forward

That was the week that was, or was it?  This last week has just flown by.  I hate to keep harping on about the countdown to leaving Romania and returning to the UK, but it has become a topic.  Quite a number of the patients are asking Kiki and me when we are off.  Time is certainly flying at the moment - it is like having the DVD player stuck on fast forward.  After today, there are some patients we will only see two more times.

Transylvania is full of spooky looking
buildings.  You might recognise this as
 the original 'Munsters' house; which
would be odd, because it isn't.

I have absolutely no idea what to write this week, but that has never stopped me before.  It was about this time last year that I applied to VfMH to do a volunteer placement.  Final decisions from myself (and VfMH) were made in about August and things set in stone for me to come out (here) at that point.  In a way the whole year has been a fast forward experience.

The cat that lived

No video of Olivia this week, but the last in the series will appear next week (Olivia Catter and the Squishy Marrows - Pt2).  Slight glitch getting her re-homed, but we do have plans B, C, D & E.  Fingers crossed.  Anyway, she is still a delight, and at least half kangaroo as I have never seen a cat jump like she does.  Here is a recent picture...

A recent picture

More animal news.  I completely missed getting pictures of the baby Rabbits (kits?) after they went through the slightly odd shaped stage.  You'll have to check back to a much earlier blog to read about Rabbit Man and the large hutch in our garden.  Anyway, another batch (litter?) of kits has arrives.  I thought I'd photograph these even though they are not yet at the cute fluffy stage.  That's mum in the background - a bit blurred because I didn't want to use the flash and frighten them.  I will try and get a cute photo if they stop looking bald and gooey before we leave.

That is not a giant rabbit in the
background.  The ones in front are
absolutely tiny.

More animal stuff.  I've just found a few more animal pictures, so I will try and build this into a bit of a theme.

The weather has fluctuated between brilliant (35 C - 97 F) and awful - rainy and jumper worthy.  There is an old saying that goes, "One Swallow does not make a Summer." (or, "It is not one swalowe that bryngeth in somer", if you're reading this in Old English).  Anyway, I have seen exactly one Swallow and it was hiding under the roofing in a local restaurant.  I really hope we get to see a second before too long.

A lot of people have problems telling
Swallows and Swifts apart.  Same with
Stoats and Weasels.  This is a Swallow.
If it were a Weasel, it would be a Stoat.
Simple, isn't it.

We were due to take a visit to Sovata which is a Spa Town with a natural salt lake.  Unfortunately plans had to be changed at the very last moment.  We still hope to make a visit before we leave.  We are told that bears often come down to the edge of Sovata and rummage in the bins.  Some of the bears are starting to get a bit too familiar...

Some bears have started TWOC'ing
small cars and motorcycles.  This photo
taken at extreme zoom

Other things



Corina and me in Sibiu a few weeks ago



I completely forgot to mention last week that Kiki and I have been on our own running the club for the last two weeks.  Corina went off to the UK for a couple of charity meetings and also to have a look at some UK Mental Health organisations and provisions.  Corina is the only paid member of staff at Volunteers for Mental Heath (www.vfmh.org.uk),  She is Romanian and works 3 days per week.  Corina is an absolute star - see early blogs about her putting us up in her flat when the house heating failed.  Patients love her.  Kiki and I just about managed, but we did miss her.

I have found a facility on this blog thing that tells me how many people read it and what countries you all come from.  Had I known before, I would have tried to be a bit more sensible - so its probably a good job that I didn't.  I kind of write it for myself like a paper diary, but am happy to leave it laying around the house for anyone to read.  If you are interested, people from the following countries have had a peek; UK, Romania, Sweden, Egypt, USA, Germany, Algeria, Italy, Ukraine, Indonesia, Belgium, Hungary, Australia and Canada.  All I can say is thank you very much.

They have started to build a house
exactly opposite us.  The foundations
went down in a couple of days.  Let's
see how far they get before we leave

If you go to Crammer Restaurant
enough, they name a salad after
you.  Welcome to the Kiki Salad!

The artwork some patients produce
astonishes me

That's enough for now.

Pe Curand

Paul