Beauty in the rain

Well we got a bit of the good old British weather here the last couple of days - in that it has not stopped raining! Yes many people have been laughing at me in my wellies. I mean why would I want to choose practicality over fashion it's such a ridiculous notion. Jeez! However, it has been nice to have some cooler weather and the parched earth has certainly been crying out for this watering. Rather than complain I've been enjoying the simple beauty that is all around this town and attempting (although badly as I only had my phone and not my camera) to capture it a little.

Raindrop on rosebud (@ the Bjork house)

A short stop to feed a hungry horse and ease stiffened legs

Dampened roadside poppies

A stroll in the rain trying to sell strawberries

Free range hens

Grapes beginning to grow

The Balla family

Last week I went to the Balla family with my friend to drop off the kids after bath time and see how baby Anita is. Six months ago today I spent the day in the hospital with her mum as the staff mostly ignored her and told her (even though she has given birth to 6 other children) that she was not in labor. Finally after many hours they agreed that yes she would probably have the baby that night and within an hour of that little Anita was born.

Aside from the feeling of sadness, that this scared woman was in my opinion not treated very well, it was a great experience to be there with her and hold her hand through it (although not while she gave birth because no one but the doctor and nurse is allowed with the mother then!). It was also interesting to see how quickly the baby was whisked away from her - literally 10 secs after I heard her cry a nurse came and took her away. I don't think her mum held her for at least 3 hours - in fact I held her first! Concreting the understanding of why it is that so many poor mothers feel the ability to abandon their babies. Can you imagine all that pain and then nothing? Your baby taken out of you and then from you. Wow!

However, even though this family are extremely poor (living 9 of them in a tiny 1 room house) they have kept all their children. Life is hard and education severely lacking but it is neat to see how bonded this little girl is to her mama and I hope she will carry on growing and developing as she should. I just hope that in some way we can help educate them a little better than what they have just now as without that, without a better education, I worry for their future.

Anita and I

We were also able to bring Csilla with us (blue top) a Romanian girl who lives at the halfway home run by the foundation and also works with me at the school.

Anita and her mama

Claudiu (6 yrs)

Their little house

2 day old lamb - their father is a shepherd and so sheep and lambs live alongside them

that Ionut and I got to stroke :)

Beautiful Anita

Good Friday Market

I know that for most of you who read this Easter has been and is a distant memory but for us, here in Romania, this weekend is Easter. We ventured to the market today into a very busy town where cars stood bumper to bumper on the main street and a gauntlet of people milled around on the pavements. Friday is market day here anyway but this Friday the market was even busier than usual and packed full of people, animals, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Here are a few shots from the morning there.