The Days' Diary Oradea, Romania 1 October 2009

What a difference it would make if we took time to appreciate others! Tell them what you like about them. Speak out your thanks often. Words of appreciation are like bright emeralds shining in dark places.
Roger Charles Day

Technical hitches
After an enjoyable long summer we are very busy again. Unfortunately, not everything has worked. Our computer died a slow painful death and has now been replaced. Our car broke down (twice). A friend amazingly found a garage open on a Saturday evening and everything was put right for just £20.

Therapeutic training
We recently started a series of two-day training/therapy events in sandtray therapy. These are aimed mainly at business people who want to learn the skills and also discover more about themselves. At the first event there was a pregnant mother. As a result, the theme of many of the sandtrays by the delegates was future children they might have and the importance of play for those children. (Our photos this time are examples of sandtrays from other events to protect confidentiality.)

Visit to Serbia
Last week we made a road trip to the nearby country of Serbia for a professional conference. Just before the border Romanian police along with two soldiers with balaclavas and machine guns stopped us and all other vehicles looking for terrorists. The Serbians refused us entry because our insurance green card was not valid in their country. After going back and forth three times through the border (Roger's Canadian passport was put through the computers many times!) we ended up paying 120 Euros for three days' insurance. No wonder Serbia's roads are virtually empty of traffic.

Ruined city
Roger was examiner for two people wanting to become psychotherapists (they both passed). Christine meanwhile explored the beautiful park, ancient ruins and city walls of the capital, Belgrade. Millions of Euros are spent on excavating ancient history while buildings bombed less than 10 years ago remain in ruins.

Guns in therapy
Together we ran a workshop on play therapy skills for a large group of 60 people from most of the former Yugoslav states. Although large cannon and guns of all ages are prominently on display in the castle grounds, we explained carefully to people with sad recent memories of the troubles that toy soldiers and guns are vital for protection and defence work for clients in the play therapy room.

Therapy for street children
One psychologist told us that the workshop inspired her to use play therapy in her work with street children age four to 18 in her country. These boys and girls are trafficked by gang masters. Before the age of 10 many of them have been sold into sex, become HIV positive and turned from glue-sniffing to hard drugs. What a privilege to pass on the skills we know to such devoted professionals working with these little ones.

Roger & Christine