Romanian Holiday

Hi! I wish I knew how to make what was 2 weeks really wonderful time HOME in Romania, communicate to you my faithfull readers what we had experienced. We had decided to go back to Romania in August as my parents were celebrating 50 YEARS of being married something that we certainly felt was worth celebrating. Here is a pic of how it was all set up...(my dad made the gazeebo?! I provided the table arrangements, and my creative mum sorted the voil and the summer coloured umbrellas)

It was a wonderful hot summer holiday. Our flat is self contained above mum and dad's (my old family house). I was able to look down on the grand garden first thing and last thing each day which I loved. I remember being young and dad and mum talking about how one day they will extend and make more room for us all now I actually lived to see their many dreams come trough and enjoy the fruit of their hands.

 My dad makes amazing things...the strairway the covered area (where my brother parks his car, he does live in the other half of the house) and the garden with the various nice metal works.

 As it was sooo very hot we often gone to the TIME OUT caffee where the best coffees were enjoyed and my lovley sister in law Irenke and Hannah my niece came with us too. It is not something that locals can afford often its a luxury still at home to go to a caffee:(( I found that a bit sad but I am glad we were able to enjoy it there.

Another thing I often heard when I was young was that my little town will one day have its own thermal water spa. I was so glad to be able to take kids there and they had an amazing time. Boys really did enjoy it and I was once again so glad I lived to see it happen. Again, a bit expensive for the locals but such a great little treat when they can make it there and enjoy the nice warm water and a little swim.

I am sorry about the washing....but this is part of my parent;s garden we lived in it day and sometimes night too. The brick wall...stands between our garden and the old communist orphanage (I used to hate being in the garden for I heard many unwelcomed and upsetting cries from the kids who were dumped there and mistreated...now I am glad to see it empty and I hope there will never be again sorrow behind that wall). On the other hand the wood you see piled there is the wood every good man has to provide heating for their home for the winter....! The inflatable pool was our saviour when days got madly hot!!

 We also went to to the hills surrouding my town because my town is totally surrounded by hills and mountins. I was able to enjoy some peace and quite and a rest with my older sister Ellie. The gentle noise that this gorgeous stream provided was truley relaxing and Zac loved finding stones that upset the serenity of it all and splashing us as he threw them in the water....:))

 My older brother now 46 surley is a big kid at heart got into the freezing water with Reuben for some splashing....! It was about 50 cm deep here. Reuben loved it so much I had to pleed with him to get out. Don;t kids feel cold?! Lucky things.

 With the cousins looking for some treasure:)

Back at the house....my dad thought R how to make a fire if he was ever stuck in the woods or wanted an impromptu BBQ:)) this was one of the most exciting evenings. they had carried the wood (yes proper wood), set the paper in the middle, used matches and set fire....kept the fire going and well occasionally stuck a stick in it...lets hope we do not have this recreated at home:))) or else Fireman Sam must come and help us and we might have to move to ROMANIA:))

 I was particularly proud of Reuben for the way he enjoyed Romania. Not once has he mentioned missing England, it was just natural we were there. He made friends with everyone....often kept chatting to them even when Romanian boys felt embarrased at their English or lack of it and hid away from him. Reuben insisted on following them and smiling at them then holding his hands out to them inviting them to play. I love seeing how kids really interact with no spoken words. Here we were playing in the nearby town's playground with my childhood best friend Erna's children Matyas and Toni. They really bonded as after a good play they decided they needed the toilet and since we couldnt find one they all together decided to water some trees (actually all watered one poor old tree) and came back to report they made an X sign on the tree....I live the rest to your imaginations:))

Back at the house....the kids got aunty Irenke and Hannah in the pool as they were, fully dressed...and why not? the sun will dry you soon said Reuben....and like that Aunty Irenke (who by the way adores my boys) did just that, Hannah followed.

What were we doing? Well, Jonathan who never gets in the water...was up to no good...

 Now, this is something coool unique and full of vitamins...on the negative side it does stain teeth....fresh BILBERRY (yes that is correct) latin name vaccinum myrtillus this is something unique to our part of the world. Has amazingly fab qualities but I have to say Zac's nappies were something you would never want to experience....however has def helped with getting them vitaminised....:)

 Both kids loved loved these BILBERRIES they are sooo yummy they had them every day at any given time...when offered with this irresistable smiles on theoir faces. Mama had even made jam and we have some in the fridge...yumm.

 Basketball at my old highschool PE field. Harry was the coach and he was an amazing help while at home with childcare:) He was faithfully with us at all times and making sure none of the English cousins had a moment of boredom....wish we could have brought him back with us. He is such a wonderful and cute kid.

Hanniel (Blue T shirt) my eldest nephew was at hand to make sure boys had a good time while at the park. Hanniel is studying in the nearby city...we had enjoyed trying out the trams in Oradea (and we got and old fashioned strange one) and he speaks brilliant English.

 another picture of the thermal spa we enjoyed every so often.....

 Aunty Rebeka has stayed with us and travelled with us in Uk all of July (THANK YOU REBEKA) was and is my DREAM SISTER, I can not say how much I love her (she is the one holding Reuben) I am not ashamed to say that since I had Reuben and Zac, she has spent most of her holidays with us. She lavished and entertained my children with her undivided attention, love and care. This is such a special photo for me as we saw Betty (blond niece) and Harry (the boy on the floor) first time a few days after we arrived home. Boys were thrilled (as you can see ) to see them. Hannah (pretty flowery dress) lives in my parent;s house (with her family) and boys loved having her at hand too. I love how happy everyone looks in this photo.

Ups. Back at the STRAND (spa) boys had a fab time with yet more cousins. In my home town live quite a few of my first cousins. Its great to hook up with them too. They are very close to me as we grew up together and spent most days together...really they are like my siblings too.

 And fnally the event!  It was sooo exciting!! Mum and dad have really done such a good job....just look at these summery colours and the imagination....My dad's actual hard work in making mum's ideas come true...could there be a more ideal couple?!

 At church Reuben got to be a "sweet" distributor....with the Pastor's daughter Boroka. This meant that he had the job of carrying a basket full of sweets through the church and offer people sweets after the service. He was brilliant at offering sweets. One moment I will never forget was when he has gone out his way to find this old gypsy woman who was waiting at the gate of the church for some left overs and offered her the same way sweets as he did to those who were in the church hall. I loved how oblivious he was to the difference between those who were in and these few gypsys outside. he has noticed them and wanted to share with them.....I love that there was no fear, no prejudice and no sense of they should not have what we have...I silently prayed..."GO BOY" stay like that all your life!

 A picture with the happy couple....I am so proud of my parents!! Can you tell?!?!

 A rare moment...all four of us together....not sure where the fifth one has dissapeared my sister Rebeka....but indeed its hard to get us all together. My brother (blue t shirt) lives with mum (massive house with many rooms and more bathrooms:)) he is 46, then its my sister Ellie (lives in Slovakia and she is 42) then the boy I always wanted to marry as a young girl Misi (my older brother) he is 42 and lives locally few streets away from my parents;s house, and me off course far away in England....the ever so young, fresh and beautiful one:)))

 I had been waiting for this moment for such a long time. This is the brother who often saved me, stuck up for me, scared all my boyfriends away, scared me away from all the friends he had whom I eyed up for myself, the one who fulled me around, dearly loved me, held my heart, who was my rock and my shield, and the one I could not fall asleep in the evening until he was at home, the one that used to take me on crazy bike rides...got me to drive, let me share his drinks, his dreams....I miss him so so badly. I want to be a child again when he is around me because he made me feel so safe, he also was the most hilarious and funny boy. I hope he feels the same way about me...I hope he also misses his little sister...and I hope we will still share many happy memories....cause God knows how much I love him.

 And finally the family....I cant but get emotional when I look at this. My mum and dad I think also can hardly believe their eyes. Two young people set on their journey with very little...to have gained sooooo much....I look at my nieces and nephews at my beautiful sister in law's and my big and generous brother in law....I am so blessed so very blessed. My boys and us have experienced such a unique and brilliant time of true true FAMILY time. All cousins together with their mums and dads and grandparents (two of them)...we ate together, sang together, laughed and cried together...we needed no words at most times cause LOVE NEEDS NO LANGUAGE. I know we won;t all be together again like this for some time...but I will treasure these moments these special times when my boys (including my gorgeous and faithfull loving husband) had exeprienced FAMILY HOLIDAY. I pray that we are able to hold these memories and treasure them....so that when life gets tough we can look back and scoop up some love...to keep us afloat. For now, LONG LIVE THE HAPPY COUPLE and massive THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY FOR GIVING US SUCH A SPECIAL TIME.

I asked Reuben what was the best he remebers of Romania, he said EVERYTHING and WHEN CAN WE GO BACK?!:) He misses his cousins and mama, tata and REBEKA and wants them all to come for Christmas....! Well done Reuben for being a brave, happy, content, enthusiastic, funny, adventurous and loving boy through the two weeks of your holiday in ROMANIA. You did have an amazing time....and I am sure you will remeber it when all the photos will get printed in your album.