The first part of this week's blog is being written in Romania. My plan is to finish it in the UK and post it on Monday as (nearly) normal. Slight difference this week. I am going to turn the comments option on (or at least I am going to try - sorry if it doesn't work). I would be interested in any comments or questions about anything on the blog or the work etc. I am fascinated, having found the 'stats' option a short time back, on the number of people reading it in different countries. I will post one more blog on 11th September just over a month after I get back to the UK just to give some reflection on the last 7 months after a time back in my 'normal' environment. And also to try and answer any questions if people leave comments.
Don't forget to have a look at the charity's website if you haven't already - or even if you have. www.vfmh.org.uk
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| There was a photo of Kiki and me on our first day in the club back in January. This is us leaving the club after our very last session. The smiles are false. |
It has been a sad week. We saw people for the last time this week. We had prepared ourselves for this and actually Monday and Tuesday went better than we had hoped. The actual club sessions are so 'in the moment' that you have little time to get sentimental. However, the ward round on Wednesday was heartbreaking. I'll copy below some words I emailed to a friend which almost sums it up,
"Wednesday was the worst day. Thursday and Friday were not brilliant, but Wednesday really was a concentrated emotional scenario. I think it was worse that we said our goodbye's in the wards. Although I have visited the wards every Wednesday for the last 7 months (except the week when my sister and daughter came over), I still cannot really get my head around just how awful they are. The only difference is that when we first visited they were full of unknown, anonymous faces. Now they are full of lovely friends all with a personal story."
The patients have been so generous in wishing us a safe journey and 'lots of years'. One lady was very nervous about the fact that we were flying and couldn't quite get her head around the fact that we were taking a direct flight. There will be a gap before the next volunteers come out which means no club for a while. I feel wretched about this. I am sure I will think about the patients a lot when I get back to the UK.
None of the patients in the hospital get to read this blog, but nevertheless I want to say to them - I love you all, a lot.
Packing & Travel
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| 2 minutes to pack. 2 hours to close the lid |
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| The white cliffs of Dover from the train (unusual angle). They don't seem to be cleaning the green bits off any more - Part of the cuts? |
I hate packing. However, it is a lot easier on the way back; no choices to make, just shove everything you have into the case. Thanks again to Wizz air who ignored the fact that I was nearly 1kg over the limit - and it is quite a generous limit at 32kg. We needed to be at Turga Mures airport at 04:00 which meant leaving the house at 03:00. Sunday was spent cleaning and clearing up the house and eating - no point going to bed and then oversleeping. Everything went very smoothly and I was back home by midday on Monday (today). In fact, the only problem about 'modern' travel is that it is too quick. Ideally I would have liked to travel back slowly by road and get some idea of the distance and cultural gradient between Romania and the UK. Nice to see the sea again.
Anyway - that's it!
La revedere
Paul
