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Dear Everybody, Since my return it's been a bit of a non-stop dash to pack as much in to a day as possible, except this morning when I forgot to get up at all and surfaced around 11h, completely surprised to find that most of the morning had slipped by without my noticing. I had so hoped to see Nely, but maybe tomorrow instead. Yesterday following three hours of grammar with Eugenia (left), I met Craig for lunch. As he was rather fed up to find himself de retour in Bucharest after a few weeks holiday back in UK with his family,... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody, Sorry this is late, but what with that Toad article, I rather lost my rhythm... Back from Iasi in Moldavia now for a full day and I'm glad to be back in my Bucharest once again. I really do love this city. It's home, it's where I belong. I am fully aware that it's polluted, full of some of the most cretinous individuals on Roumanian soil, has dire traffic problems and could do with a really good clean, but...it's my city. I was so glad to visit Iasi at last. After so long with it on my agenda, finally getting... [Lire la suite]

In relation to article below: Oh, what a pile of absolute piffle! And as DaniK says in her comments on Ziua (amongst other things), what possessed the journalist to choose THAT particular photo - so relaxed, so self assured, and if that's a sorry face, then I'd love to see a don't care one. It's a real revelation of his personality. Absolutely no conscience, no shame... And as for the comment "I'm sorry to all those who appear in my notes but I say with conviction that they didn't suffer"...excuse me?!!! Is that an apology? How can... [Lire la suite]

Imi cer iertare fata de cei pe care i-am turnat Ziua, 20/08/2008       -- E regizor, director al Teatrului "Ion Creanga" din Bucuresti si fost vicepresedinte al Uniunii Teatrale din Romania. Are "origini burgheze" si timp de 60 de ani si-a ascuns legatura cu Securitatea, cu care a colaborat din scoala si pana la caderea comunismului, care i-a "dat voie" sa lucreze in Televiziune, sa faca spectacole omagiale pe stadioane si teatru tv in studio.       ... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody, Back from Timisoara, a few days in Bucharest (with Aura and Aylin, dear Nely, as well as Tantza and Mandita - please spare a thought for poor Nicu, back in hospital again and operated on a broken elbow) and tomorrow off once more, this time to the city of Iasi, Moldavia. I've always wanted to spend time in this city for several reasons. Not only was it the birthplace of Milla's father, but it's also a cultural hubbub and known for its churches, monasteries and some drop-dead gorgeous architecture, not least the... [Lire la suite]

40 years ago today (I mean, yesterday - it's long gone midnight - I'm so sorry) two wonderful friends I love very much fled their homeland and the terror and persecution of the communist regime to freedom, the right to follow their dreams and embrace a future. I cannot imagine how it must have been. We have discussed it often and each time I just want to hug them tight and be sure they'll never suffer from anything ever again - I can't however because they're the other side of the Atlantic. I hope they know how much they mean to me... [Lire la suite]

Hi Chris, Thanks so much for your message. Sorry to reply to you here but there was no e-mail address. Please let me know where I can contact you. I'll be in Iasi from Wednesday evening until Saturday night if all goes according to plan. You know how it is if you live here... there's something magical about Roumania - things never go quite as you expect, and I don't mean that in a bad way. That's half the adventure! Look forward to meeting you and Marina. My best, Sarah

Romania wins marathon 17/08/2008 15:16:06 News Talk, Auckland Romanian Constantina Tomescu-Dita has won the Olympic women's marathon in Beijing. The 38-year-old made her move at the 20 kilometre mark, clearing out from the chasing pack and never to be headed. She slowed over the final two kilometres, but still won by a comfortable 22 seconds in a time of two hours 26-minutes and 44-seconds.

Romania's Sandra Izbasa Wins Floor Gold By Sonia Oxley BEIJING (Reuters) - Romanian gymnast Sandra Izbasa impressed judges with her flawless tumbling and elegant leaps to win Olympic gold in the floor exercise on Sunday. The last competitor, she took to the floor with confidence to score 15.650, eclipsing American world champion Shawn Johnson by 0.150. All-around champion Nastia Liukin grabbed the bronze. China's Cheng Fei, one of the favorites, burst into tears after slipping up for the second time in a day.... [Lire la suite]

Dear Everybody Damn! I just lost a long post I'd written and hadn't got round to recording. Start again. This time a shorter version. Here I am in the lovely city of Timisoara, the Banat region of Eastern Roumania. There are more rolling hills than mountains here and the views from the train are nothing less than breathtaking. The Danube separates this part of the country from Serbia, the customs comprising of a hut on a bridge! The train stopped there for ten minutes so I got out for a bit of a nose. They aren't strict customs... [Lire la suite]