Rain all night long. Finally hit the hay at 00:15. Boys had been in bed since about 22:30 - we hadn't got back from an evening at Istvan's until late. Really interesting to see how under 10's for whom their age is almost all they have in common get on so well, play, laugh and communicate with one another. The boys got on brilliantly with Karina the whole day.
Nina arrived before 10, and we walked down the village to the shop where we came to a commercial agreement and purchased 36l of pop and 10 packs of biscuits. Istvan and Karina arrived just after 11 and we all went out to the hospital grounds, the kids and I playing football with some of the patients whilst Laura & Nina encouraged others in painting and drawing. After half an hour or so we were told of a problem. The doctor who only spends two hours a week at the hospital let it be known she was not happy with children in the grounds, this was a shame as we'd just encouraged 5 or 6 patients to join in, but equally understandable, it's not as if we'd be able to do any of this back home, then again there is less need there. Respecting the doctors orders I took the kids away for a walk, we looked in on the football pitch but it was too wet to play.
Whilst we were shown a red card, Laura was really encouraged by the mornings work with the patients. There had been a really good turnout - some 15 had come to paint and draw, and a bonus in the interest shown by a few of the staff. It would be great to share some pictures for you to better appreciate the environs, and see happy engaged patients, but the hospital have banned photos, so all we can do is write and share the "holiday snaps" from the other side of the gates.
Beef bourgignon and rice for lunch with the strangely appetisingly dry local bread, after which Laura, Nina and Istvan dolled out pop and biscuits in the hospital.
Mid-afternoon and with the sun starting to break through we set out to Bran. Strange how we have different standards. We've become so used to booster seats and their rationale that we brought blow up versions with us for the boys even though not obliged to. Istvan on the other hand will gladly carry four on the back seat of his Ford focus even if his daughter doesn't have a belt on. Back to Bran. It's home to a castle - aptly named Bran Castle, quite impressive hill top royal residence, with links to the infamous impaler Vlad, and later some other Brit by the name of Stoker. Predictably then there is a healthy amount of tat for sale, but the place actually retains some charm. Anglo-Deutsche relations are obviously fit and well as a group of German bikers gave us two adult tickets (20lei each - about £4.50) surplus to their requirements, and they continued to smile as we battled our way round the castle with three kids!
On completing the castle, there kids had a go on a bouncy variety (slide variation) for ten minutes before we headed home to the flat. After tea we had a good walk round the village before story time all round, bed time stories for the boys and blogging for me.
The weather has improved immensely, and it feels like we are starting to settle - shame then that tomorrow is our last full day, but four days were always going to pass quickly.
SG
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