A great last full day in the village doing a bit of charity work, with a smattering of typical Romanian hicup included for good measure.
Wall to wall sunshine on waking and all day through.
Wendy Stevens is a long standing member of the charity from Gloucestershire. Sadly her husband passed away earlier this year, but in memorial a collection was taken to renovate the morgue here at the hospital. Come 9.30 I was called to pay for and inspect the first of the work. Gone was the woefully inadequate cardboard window, replaced by a (frosted) double glazed upvc number, well fitted and causing quite a stir amongst the patients. I then had a tour of the hospital - the occupational therapy rooms funded by charity being well used; the hospital proper and the laundry where one of the workers kindly offered to wash our dirty clothes, an offer we gratefully accepted (not stripping off on the spot!)
Laura, Nina and Istvan then did a couple of hours craft work with the patients whilst us boys went for a tour of the village, stopping at the shop on the way in for meat, bread and tomatoes to feed the six of us at lunch. Then on getting inside the hospital gates resplendent in Chesterfield FC shirt and two similarly dressed offspring, find a medium sized crowd of patients, and a coffin on the driveway. Quickly get hold of keys from Nina and usher the boys inside the flat past the patients and two mourners we later discover to be the deceased's family & friends.
After lunch, we hit a hicup, on ringing to see if tomorrow's rental included a map with the Astra, we were told that there would be no map, and indeed no car. Reason given was our failure to confirm the booking, this despite us receiving no instruction and having a printed reservation. Upshot no car anyhow. Then followed an hour of frantic phoning to get a car, brief consideration of taxi/train etc.. Eventually reserved a Renault for collection tomorrow (Sat) returning to Bucharest on Tuesday even though we have to pay staff overtime for the drop off.
Then Laura, Nina and Istvan distributed pop and biscuits for the final time, and come back content as each of the 140+ patients has had some of each.
We head off into Brasov at around 3.30 with a list of tasks. First and both far too difficult and expensive is changing travellers cheques to Lei. Note to self, don't bother in future. Boys and I found a self serve ice cream shop whilst waiting. Great.
Then we went up the Brasov cable car. Finished in 1975 it is all very retro communist bloc - cost around £10 for us all to go up and down, but because of the time we had to turn straight round at the top and come down again.
Then we met up with the rest of Istvan's family again and had a good time playing in the park by their flat. Met some interesting English speaking neighbours who it would've been good to get to know better, but we had to rush off back to Codlea where we were late anyway meeting Nina for a goodbye meal. Come 9pm, six of us illegally piled into the car for the short, but no less potentially lethal journey back to Mina 1 Mai. Very Romanian all round. I had finished my barbecued trout a good ten minutes before anyone else's main course appeared. They also saw fit to bring me a fresh beer without request. A great way to round off the spell with two fantastic helpers and treat them to a meal whilst sharing their company. If you ever find yourself looking for a suitable venue in Codlea I heartily recommend Pizza Alex.
Home to our flat shortly after finishing the food, and soon to bed, we have a long day ahead.
SG
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