What a  fabulous journey with two great guys, John and Mark. We traveled across France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Vienna, Hungary, Romania and finally to Moldova.

We had three O/N stays and didn't pay more than £30 per head for dinner bed and breakfast and they were all fabulous. It was tiring John and /i shared the driving whilst Mark did some filming, snoring, munching and general sighing in the back as most 16 year olds would. We all got along great and had a few good laughs along the way.

Fortunately the guys didn't hold it against me when I steered them about 50 miles in the wrong direction just before we hit Romania, they were very kind!!

We had a couple of interesting scenes on the boarder as the Romanian guards tried to rip us off to the tune of 100 euros! and matched me away on my own to tell me I was being fined for not having road tax for Romania.

I played my best trump card of acting blond and stupid and got away with giving them 20 euros in the end.

Meanwhile on the moldovan boarder I was told that my UK insurance wouldn't count in this country and had to purchase car insurance from them. This meant john and I leaving the boy, hitching a lift a couple of Kilometers, purchasing a green card from a kiosk and hitching a lift back. All in all three hours later we were in!!

I am now informed that I must leave the country with the car every 180 days as the car can't be registered here but I will be allowed to drive it provided I stick to the rule.

When i arrived at the village it was a real heart sink moment as we drew near to my home, we discovered that it was almost hidden behind 6 feet high weeds and as I entered the building the spiders webs were clinging to my face as I climbed up the stairs!

We were pretty tired and fed up but had our spirits lifted by a draft beer at a local pizza place on the way. Probably my last beer for a while!

I had a visit from Nellie who told me that Melia (my lovely Melia ) had died just a few days before I had returned, I was really saddened by this as I loved her and will miss her enormously.

I have visited all the oldies now and they are in fine fettle and were pleased to see me. I can't wait to have them housed in a lovely home were they can be loved and cared for.

Just waiting for my builder friend to return from Moscow any day now and them we will commence the work.

Great news also, my little doggy has come back, she is such a sweetie. Mark has made her a little house to keep her in the shade as the temperature is almost in the 40's. I will be traveling with Mark to Bucharest on Thursday evening and then traveling home on the O/N train back to the village on Friday. i will miss my little helper, he has been great and we have laughed a lot.  

It's good to be back....... i will keep you posted.............