Romanian Trip, November 1998.

In November '98 John Rushworth, Ernie Hedge and Jim Bradshaw accompanied by three new volunteer drivers, set off once more with the three vans loaded with goods all aimed at making life a little easier for at least a few people in Romania. Our biggest problem we knew was going to be the weather, and so it proved to be.

After a good fast start we drove through snow across Austria and into Hungary where we had a break from driving with a stop over in Budapest so that the new co-drivers could see this rather beautiful city. We drove on next day to our base in Cluj.

Our first job Monday morning was to deliver five Dialysis machines to Cluj City Hospital Renal Unit. This was carried out in freezing conditions accompanied by snow. These were so well received that although they were delivered almost in pieces the technicians had three of them together and working before the end of the week. In the afternoon Baby Milk Powder, clothing, nappies and toiletries were taken to a Children's Clinic with 2 000 children on their books!

During the rest of the week we delivered tools, screws and writing materials to the Institute for the Deaf and a delivery of "Shoe Boxes" full of 'goodies' to a Kindergarten which put smiles on a lot of children's faces.

On Tuesday the team split up with John and Ernie taking a rather dangerous journey south through the ice and snow over the mountains with a full van load of desperately needed goods such as soap, surgical gloves, nappies, babies bottles and detergent for a Maternity Hospital in Brasov. The rest of us headed north to the village school at Negrelesti.

Brasov is situated in the Carpathian mountains where the Castle of the original Count Dracula used to abide. With a Dr. Mary as guide the party was taken to the village of Timisu were a Handicapped Hospital was situated. Outside looked really nice as it was covered in snow but the reality was inside - old rusty beds, a shortage of bedding and personal storage, showers with no heads and a central heating system that was not working with outside temperatures sub zero.

There are 80 physical and mentally handicapped patients mixed together with only two care workers on duty as a time! Since most of the physically handicapped are missing legs one can understand why the place is in such a mess. Something has to be done for this hospital next year, God willing.

Educational Equipment for the village school in Negrelesti which is situated in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains were delivered by the northern group. The fit chaps on the team surprised the pupils by organising and joining in a game of football. A comment by one of the children surprised us, it was that " no adult had ever played with them before!"

All in all, looking at the above we appear to have had a busy time.