Happy New Year 2011

for all NNRT members and for all readers of this blog!

For the car,

I bought the compulsory insurance (RCA) for 2011. Interesting is that is cheaper than last year. Last year I paid 360 lei and now is only 275 for a year.
I also had to buy at last a new car battery as the old one could not start the car. I charged it quite often, last time it was charged 6 days ago. Hope the new one will have a longer life.

Christmas in images

Merry Christmas!

and happy holidays everyone!
May God bless you this Christmas.
"For unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Son is given..."

A group of musician Santa's,

singing the Jingle bells in the front of our flat. Christmas is coming!

Family shoebox gifts in Mina 1 Mai

Today I had my last visit in Mina 1 Mai for 2010. In the kindergarten I have distributed many family shoebox gifts from Link Romania. Also went to the hospital and gave some goodie bags for some of the downstairs patients. I did this together with my family. Garofita is also sending her best wishes for the team. Below are the photos.

                             Waiting for the presents in the kindergarten

                                          Here is the first class

And here is the second class

                                        I drove in right to the front door

        This is John who proudly began his computer study with... Windows 98

              In the center of the village stands this big Christmas tree

Exhaust replaced

The middle and the rear part of the exhust pipe had to be replaced on the car. The middle one was full of rust and little hole and the rear one due to the rust break it. In these days the car was so noisy like a tractor. Glad that is done now.
The cold weather came back, we had -15 C early this morning.
Thanks Vanessa for MSG. Hope is not lethal! We'll try it in small dosage.

Monday,

a long driving to the airport, as the team left today. Hospital staff and head nurse were very thankful for all.

Sunday,

been in the village, visited the hospital. Karina joined us once more. We have distributed all the Christmas gifts for the patients this afternoon.

And in the evening the Christmas cards too.
Andy and Sharon been at us for a short while in the evening and than went into the center of Brasov.

Again, it was snowing and generally was a cold day.

Saturday,

In the village with the team and Karina joined us today. In the morning the hospital was visited and later on we went shopping for Christmas presents. We bought a lot of stuff for the 150 patients and Karina was excited to make those presents, so later on we did all the bags. They are ready for tomorrow noon, when we shall distribute them.

Andy and Sharon bought a washing machine for the hospital. I asked Vladimir to help us in transportation, and he came immediately.

Karina really enjoyed the day, especially when making the presents.

Friday

After I left last night, the power came back in 1 hour according to the villagers. This morning was quite warm around the flat and pleasant. Road is full of snow, and have to drive carefully. Today we had  a meeting with the head nurse who is hospital official, school and kindergarten teachers, dentist in Vulcan, and also been at the Metro for sourcing prices. Nina was with us, helping. We shall make Christmas presents for all and distributing on Sunday, which is the last full day of the team.
Requests from the hospital for now: a washing machine (not industrial size) for washing the staff's uniforms, Christmas presents, as they had none for St. Nicholas day.

Ideas for 2011: Building an extension for the existing OT building as a kitchen to train patients in cooking. It may be possible to convert the head nurse's existing storage for kitchen but than make another storage area for her.
Also they would need another clothes drying area, similar one we did in this year.
Today we have seen that the whole drying area was full with wet clothes, also the attic as well, and they still had washed clothes and had no place where to dry.

Team has arrived,

however the plane was delayed 2 hours. Driving was safe, stoped in Brasov for a meal and than went to Mina. Road conditions here were very difficult. Started to snow, and it was a storm as well, road filled with branches... Arrived safely to Mina at 10.30 p.m. Due to the storm there was no electrical power in the whole village, including the hospital. Hope that this will be resolved today.

Leaving to the airport

to fetch the NNRT team members. Arrival scheduled at 14.40 today at Bucharest.

Preparing the team visit

I have been out again, this time for preparing the team's visit. The flat is clean, bought some food and put it in the fridge, prepared the sleeping bags and the heaters. Also took with me the NNRT tool box from the lorry and put in the secured room.
There is snow there as you can see.

Heavy snowfall

Winter has arrived here as well. We had a heavy snowfall yesterday and today morning. We also experience intreruptions of the phone line and internet.
                                                          Last night

...and this morning

Congratulations for the Tolsons

as they are grandparents again!
The baby:  Effie May Tolson arrived today, 2.19pm 6lbs 14ozs
God bless them!